Reproductions Supplied by EDRS Are the Best That Can Be Made from the Original Document. CHALLENGING WT
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 442 604 RC 022 491 AUTHOR Leue, Mary M., Ed. TITLE Challenging the Giant, Volume IV: The Best of SKOLE, the Journal of Alternative Education. ISBN ISBN-1-878115-13-8 PUB DATE 2000-06-00 NOTE 498p.; For previous volumes, see ED 356 930, ED 367 519, and ED 438 989. AVAILABLE FROM Down-to-Earth Books, P.O. Box 488, Ashfield, MA 01330 ($14.95). PUB TYPE Books (010) Collected Works General (020) EDRS PRICE MF02/PC20 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Book Reviews; Community Schools; Conferences; *Educational Philosophy; *Educational Practices; Elementary Secondary Education; *Free Schools; Higher Education; Interviews; *Learner Controlled Instruction; *Nontraditional Education; Public Education; Small Schools IDENTIFIERS Sense of Community ABSTRACT This book compiles articles, interviews, student writings, and other offerings first published in SKOLE, the Journal of Alternative Education, 1995-99. Sections include:(1) talking about education (seven interviews on the foundations of learning, the Modern School movement, educational philosophy at the Albany Free School, life at a Japanese free school, child rearing, holistic education, home schooling, and vouchers); (2) schools and school people (descriptions of free schools and community schools);(3) teaching and learning (democratic education, alternative school in Russia, lifelong learning, encouraging creativity, discipline, and teacher "professionalism");(4) school as community as school;(5) history and character of innovative education;(6) reports on alternative education conferences;(7) teaching and learning in higher education;(8) social change and commentary;(9) educational alternatives in many forms;(10) the plight of our children (overuse of Ritalin);(11) book reviews;(12) studies of Japanese education and full inclusion; and (13) humor.(SV) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. CHALLENGING WT Best of KOAE, Tks journiaL of rnative Education VOLUME IV "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY ,- L?irrt P1 TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Off icof Educational Research and Improvement ED AT1ONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this Sty document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy M. Leue, editor BEST COPY AVAI E volume IV 2 CHALLENGING THE GIANT volume IV 3 Also by the editor: Challenging the Giant: the Best of EKOAE, The Journal of Alternative Education, volumes I, II and III The World's Goin' to End at Loonchtime: Poems of the Free School Community As author: Jessica Dragonette's Fiery Breath Love Songs for the Irishwoman (poems) Rushing to Eva Looking for One's Shadow at Noon, volumes I and II The Flying Bird Brings the Message India Journal 4 CHALLENGING THE GIANT: The Best ofEKOAE 2fie journal of Alternative Education Volume IV Mary M. Leue, Editor DOWN-TO-EARTH BOOKS ASUFIELD, MA 01330 June, 2000 CHALLENGING THE GIANT, the Best of EKOAE the Journal of Alternative Education Editor Mary M. Leue Publisher Down-to-Earth Books P.O. Box 488, Ashfield, MA 01330 First printing: June, 2000 ISBN: 1-878115-13-8 Printed in the U.S.A. Visit our web page for Down-to-Earth Books at http://www.crocker.comh-maryl 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS FIRST PAGES: Editorial Comment TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION: Interview with Richard Lewis, by Chris Mercogliano and Mary Leue 1 Interview With Jon Scott, by Chris Mercogliano, Larry Becker and Mary Leue 18 Interview With Ron Miller, by Chris Mercogliano, Ellen Becker and Mary Leue 39 Interview with Akira by his father, John Potter: Kinokuni Children's Village: A Child's View (in two parts) 65 Interview with Professor Urie Bronfenbrenner, by Chris Mercogliano and Mary Leue 79 Interview with Day le Bethel: Why Alternative Education? 94 Interview with Jonathan Kozol,by theIKOAEstaff 108 SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL PEOPLE: Adventures Among the Granola People, by Adam Adler 115 It Takes a Community, by Sarah Scott 128 A Morning At East Hill School, by Jack Coleman 134 PSCS: Rooted in Joy, Supported by Growth and Nurtured by Community, by Robin Martin 137 TEACHING AND LEARNING: Our Experiment with Democracy, by Ted and Jane Strunck:.144 Teaching at an Alternative School in Russia, by Ananda Kantner 146 "Lifelong Learning": A Holistic View, by Nathaniel Needle 149 The Artist Within by Scott Hathaway 156 Retrospective Musings, by John Potter 159 Revisioning Discipline, by Orin Domenico 162 Transmitting Life: Revisioning Professionalism in Teaching, by Orin Domenico 179 SCHOOL AS COMMUNITY AS SCHOOL: Sharing One Skin, by Jeannette Armstrong 194 Caritas in the Classroom, by John D. Lawry 199 Face Value: Arthur Morgan School from the Viewpoint of a Former Student, by Paul Houde 206 An Eulogy for Ena Neill, by Albert Lamb 209 7 HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION: Freedom In Education, by Elizabeth Byrne Ferm 214 Introduction: Elizabeth Byrne Ferm-1857-1944: A Biog- raphical Note by Alexis C. Ferm 214 Chapter I, Creative Development in Education 225 Chapter 5, Who Wins? 232 Cooperative Community Learning Centers, by Bill Ellis 236 ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION CONFERENCES: Fear And Trembling At The International Alternative Education Conference, by Emanuel Pariser 243 Commentary on a Commentary, by Chris Mercogliano 256 A Dramatic Time In Israel, by Jerry Mintz 259 Alternative Education Conference in Japan, by Sandy Hurst, Upattinas Resource Center 262 TEACHING AND LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: Release The Body, Release The Mind, by Martha Goff Stoner 267 How To Construct A Good, College-Level Essay, by Richard Prystowsky 274 Has Higher Education Abandoned Its Students? by William Willamon 281 SOCIAL CHANGE AND COMMENTARY: Digging in the Ground, by Orin Domenico 291 The Scientific Management Of Children, by John Taylor Gatto 311 EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES COME IN MANY SHAPES: Vital Questions For Families To Ponder: Jerry Mintz' AERO survey 333 "Partial Vision" in Alternative Education, by Ron Miller 336 Celebrating the Difference; for Partial Vision in Alternative Education, by John Potter 342 THE PLIGHT OF OUR CHILDREN: Rid-A-Him, Intro.,, Chapters 1- 4 by Chris Mercogliano 348 Commentary On Rid-A-Him, by Emanuel Pariser 370 Childhood as Disease, by Dr. Edward Hamlin 412 REVIEWS: The Teenage Liberation Handbook, by Grace Llewellyn, reviewed by Josh Hornick 413 The Modern School Movement by Paul Avrich, reviewedby Chris Mercogliano 416 Summerhill School: A New View of Childhood, by A.S.Neill, ed. Albert Lamb, reviewed by Chris Mercogliano 418 Amazing Grace, by Jonathan Kozol, reviewed by Mary Leue 420 Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy, by Karin Kasdin. reviewed by Mary Leue 424 A Life in School, or What the Teacher Learned, by Jane Tompkins, reviewed by Mary Leue 428 Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goleman. reviewed by Chris Mercogliano 432 Natural Learning Rhythms, by Josette and Sambhava Luvmour, reviewed by Chris Mercogliano 433 Reviving Ophelia, by Mary Pipher, reviewed by Nancy Ost 435 The Wildest Colts Make The Best Horses, by John Breeding, reviewed by Chris Mercogliano 438 Children's Past Lives, by Carol Bowman, reviewed by Ellen Becker 442 STUDIES: Japan's Education: A Time for Change, by John Potter 446 Full inclusion, a Study of Integrated Special Education Students in Regular Classrooms, by Rodney E. Machado M.S. Sp. Ed., by Anthony D. Belew, Michelle and Allyn Cunha 463 HUMOR: Just For Fun (sent by Robert Kastelic) 476 Buttered Cats and Other Mysteries (sent by Andy Smallman) 476 Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide! The Invisible Killer (sent by Tom Leue) 478 Deep Thoughts 479 Where Does Wisdom Come From? 481 9 EDITORIAL COMMENT This is volume four of this anthology culled from the little quarterly EKOAE ("SKOLE"), the Journal of Alternative Education, which was published from 1985-1999. The issues covered range from the fall of 1995 to the winter of 1999. When I started the compilation, I thought it would be thelast volume of the series, but I was wrong! There will be one more, because I was forced to omit so many absolutely wonderful pieces from this one, in order to keep its compass down to even 500 pages! And the worst omissionfor me was the in- spired writings by children that filled so many issues during a two year period of the Journal from 1995 and 1998.So that section will be a prominent feature of volume 5,plus an interview with Ivan Illich, several fiery articles by John Taylor Gatto and lots more, as we always say. Watch for it! I am still as dedicated to the issue of what David Gribble calls "Real Education" as I was when I started The Free School in Albany in 1969, and am relieved and delightedthat a better-funded, more easily available publication (Paths of Learning: Options for Families and Communities) has taken the place of EKOAE. I pray for their success. The technological revolution, especially the Internet, much as it scares me by the enormityof the cultural changes it brings in its wake, also brings great promise to familieswho are choosing to let their kids learn at home or in some other alternative educational setting. The breadth of information available on every conceivable topic, virtually at the touch of a fingertip, amazes and awes me! In the area of educational alternatives, this kind of informational support is rapidly growing, and is becoming a vital part of a family's support in finding what kinds of choices are available that can possibly benefit their children. In fact, that support goes beyond in- formation, and extends to the possibility of finding allies among people engaged inworking within the educational process. I find it inspiring that so many parents are nowin a position to find this kind of help and even allies to support their need to act wisely when doubts about thevalue of traditional schooling create incentive to begin to make changes.