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Show n,.,niii ' ir ip- if C School ommunity 3 j for Creativity ! : $ i $ i i t ,i s i What is impressive by Barbara Smith person was walking through a forest, saw a man carelessly drop a lighted cigarette in a growth of beautiful ferns that sparked into a blazing fire; and Suppose j I 1 that person walked away, oblivious to the amount of destruction the fire could 4 produce. Whowouldbe to blame for the death of the forest? The man who carelessly dropped the cigarette, or the man who nonchalantly walked away? Or i : a should both take the responsibility of the outcome? Who should take precautions so that it doesn't happen again? Both men, or the people who I ? i ( television heard about it on and said "Now, isn't that too bad?" Many decades ago, a group of men designing the school system dropped a spark that set off a blaze that even now exists, destroying naturalism and activism in children, encouraging passivity, conformity and unhappiness. the cause of such a high degree of cheating that exists among students? What about the high rate of skipping classes and the increase of the high school drop out rate? The figures keep What going higher and higher. j s is Members of the school 4 system should take more notice of the community schools that are springing up in neighborhoods. They seem to meet the needs and the interest of : 3s the students. Should one go to Redwood Community School at about closing time, one would see a very strange sight - children being bribed to leave, children begging to stay, and happy, industrious children learning. Somehow the ; j ; t I teachers there are able to 4 integrate the grass root mechanics of with creativity, producing a relaxed, happy atmosphere allowing freedom for exploration. Classes at Redwood include a i i ii a subject Family Recreation Night, i 3 lapidary (stone cutting, polishing, setting), trampoline, furniture r 1 i ; i t" basic upholstery, education, drama, English, math, GED, Fun with Family Foods, Girl Scouts, open library, r i and nursery, roller skating, sewing wonders from waste, ballpoint painting, liquid embroidery, basic survival and playschool i i i i firearm' safety, ceramics, guitar, home haircare and make-up- , crafts and craft variety, modern dance, girl's sewing and a cultural enrichment class. is the a mount of communication that goes on in the school. No one has to raise their hand in order to get permission to speak out as in a regular classroom. Opinions and ideas bounce about the rooms and halls freely. Children are learning to relate to one another and to adults since the school is designed to attract all ages. Gary Allen, Coordinator doesn't sit in an office all the while. Rather, he can be seen directly associating with the students and teachers. Redwood Community School has produced a warm, cheerful setting that provides a fertile soil for the student's personal growth and maturation. If anyone would like to contribute to the success of the school, they may contact Mr. Allen at 484-800- |