Re: beyond democratic classrooms
lholzman who-is-at sescva.esc.edu
Sun, 31 Mar 1996 12:37:07 -0500
Amy asked if any of the democratic schools teach foreign languages. One
feature of these schools is that they are not focused or centered on
curriculum. their activities are ever-changing; the activities are generated
and created by the students and staff. this looks different in the different
schools. For example, at the Sudbury type, "lessons" are given only when
students request them, so if there are students who want to learn a foreign
language, there will be a class. At the Barbara Taylor School, the staff's
role is to bring their interests and expertise to what the students are doing
and to then toghether organize various performances. Re foreign languages, our
experiences are having a sign language interpreter as an intern--she led the
school community in becoming signers through all kinds of games spontaneously
created during the year. Staff and visitors who are fluent in more than one
language will, in the course of a day's activities, support the students to be,
e.g., Japanesespeakers (regardless of whether they "know"Japanese). As far as
I know, most of these schools function as we do in the sense that if the school
community wants something--like to learn Spanish--the school will seek out
opportunities such as volunteer teacheor having the kids go to where they can
be immersed in the language for part of the day.
Lois