| OCR Text |
Show Come all the way up to KGDL. series of interviews. Despite all these breaks with con- ventional education, each student is guaranteed a high school diploma. And a number of prestigious colleges and universities have expressed eagerness to receive applications from Village School graduates. "How do we know this experiment is a good thing?" a recent visitor to Village School inquired. A shaggy-heade- d senior in patched blue jeans and a worn sweater grinned and replied, "We don't yet. Check up on us about 20 years from now and see how we made out." And a pretty junior girl added, "I know it's a good thing because I'm so eager to come here every day." Village School, only a few months old and still groping toward satisfactory formulas, came to be after a number of teachers, students and parents agreed that many youngsters today simply are not attracted to or fulfilled by the conventional educational structures. Typical student comments: "It dawned on me last year that I was totally bored with high school. It was too big. I was a little zero in a vast system. I couldn't follow my own inter ests. Now I'm deeply involved in medial reading. Two days a week I re- go to the junior high and help kids who need it." "Sure I learned things last year but learned only what they wanted me to learn. I had no individuality. was constantly told what to do." "The regular high schools place too much emphasis on competition. Get a higher grade. Beat out the next guy. Finish at the top of the class. Nothing about development of personality or good harmony with those about you." "The regular schools promote discipline, obedience and standard products. The Village School promotes thought." I I Some convention Village School's 24 seniors and 24 juniors do have access to several con- ventional courses. Its three teachers, basically humanists devoted to stimulating students' interests and bringing out their strong points, offer courses in social studies; math, science and technology; and English and philosophy. In addition, students go over to the conventional schools, if they wish, for such Flat taste got you grounded?. subjects as music, driver education, or mechanical Or, special drawing. teachers drop in at the school for languages, physics, chemistry and other studies. But just exactly what each student does in these fields is determined by his own interests and abilities and, he alone, makes the final decision. There is great freedom to specialize. One boy attends almost no classes but goes nearly every day to a conventional school where he's studying the effectiveness of communication between teacher, and pupils. Another goes frequently to New York where he makes motion pictures. Several are teachers' aides in grade school. One goes to adult night school to study design. The atmosphere in Village School is all its own. A class may be held in a corner of a room with kids just sprawled around on chairs or the floor. There's a great deal of student participation a class seems like a bull session. "We do a lot of rapping at Village School," a junior confides. Also there's a very noticeable communal spirit. At semester's opening all the kids joined in redecorating the annex of the Village Youth Center four-roo- which houses their school. "It was just great," says a junior girl. "It brought us all together into a sort of family." And a senior boy, a bright, sparkling lad who'd make good in any system, says that he's very worried about one boy who hasn't caught on at Village School. "I'm pretty sure can help him," the senior says, "I'm just waiting for a tactful moment." I Not masters Village School philosophy holds that teachers are helpers and guides, not masters. Hence, the kids call the teachers by first name Arnie, Dave and Mai and think of them as friends. "Friends care about each other," a senior girl explains, "so if the teacher is your friend you know he's going to do his best to encourage- your progress." When Village School was set up on a first-yebudget of $50,000, a total of 1700 students who would be junior or seniors this year were notified of eligibility and 225 asked for permission. Parental approval was necessary. After first enrolling a small group of youngsters who'd been instrumental in de- - ar m conti nued 17 |
