Love for Life

The Living School - Boulder Colorado USA

Children do not resist learning, they resist teaching —John Gatto

Welcome

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Our Mission is to establish a trusting, supportive, and evolving environment where children and adults can learn, guided by curiosity and intrinsic motivation.
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About Us:

What Is The Living School?

The Living School is a democratic, learner-centered educational environment that is community-based, experientially centered, and focused on the creativity and intelligence inherent in each student. We foster inquiry in each participant by allowing the school itself to be a living experiment in learning.

We are a non-profit educational corporation (IRS Section 501-C-3) which welcomes your tax deductible donations and volunteer services.

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A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure - Bernard Iddings Bell, Chaplain, University of Chicago
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Philosophy

Education in the Post-Modern Era

Is it possible to have a school in which a child's education is an integral part of the community, not an institution disconnected from the whole of life? Must a school be operated as a hierarchy or can the participants direct their education through the same democratic principles we demand as adults in our society? Does freedom foster responsibility?

In an age of ever expanding information and machines that hold that information, has the nature of education changed from the memorization of facts to the understanding of how to access information as needed and the creativity to use that information?

What do we want to impart to our children? Is the drive to compete the cutting edge of the human capacity? Is the achievement of top grades and test scores the measure of our children's education? Is it the measure of their happiness now and in their life ahead?

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The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without a teacher — Elbert Hubbard
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Self-Directed, Democratic Learning

At The Living School, children are free to pursue the creative and academic areas to which they are naturally drawn. The school provides a supportive location for this learning activity as well as access to a wide variety of mentors and experiential learning situations.

Young people today face the increasingly difficult challenge of self-determination in a world that is constantly and rapidly changing. Most learning systems are designed to apply external motivation through teacher direction, tests, and grades in the attempt to teach a series of seemingly unrelated facts and figures.

We believe that the inner drive of curiosity is the best motivator and is directed by what holds our interest. As such, learning does not require a predetermined curriculum nor is it proven by a test result. Self direction and self motivation lead to true learning—learning that is not limited to bits of knowledge but is integrated as a unified experience and expression of a creative life. At The Living School students have the freedom and responsibility to fully explore their numerous and diverse interests and to engage various challenges, thereby learning to deal with the world as they find it. This creates an environment where there is no external reward for finding the "right" choices. Students define what is right for themselves as they work together in a community of learners.

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If anything concerns me, it's the oversimplification of something as complex as assessment. My fear is that learning is becoming standardized. Learning is idiosyncratic. Learning and teaching is messy stuff. It doesn't fit into bubbles — Michele Forman
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Community

We live in community, we learn in community. Therefore students are not segregated by age or grade at The Living School, allowing for natural peer-to-peer communication and learning to take place. In our democratically run school, students and staff make all decisions together regarding school rules, the use of resources, and organized activities. This empowers each person to have input and understanding of the underlying reasons for these decisions. We view engaging one's needs in relationship to others and our environment as an essential part of the growth process.

Mentoring, apprenticeships, and community involvement are a vital part of The Living School. Our students are engaged in the world around them and make use of the vast resources available in Boulder County and beyond. We maintain an extensive database of people and places who work with kids, from the artist who teaches paper-making to the website designer who accepts apprentices to the teen wilderness adventure program.

Education Creates Our Future

Our school is the expression of a deep concern for nurturing our children's capacity for self-determination, relationship, communication, and creativity.

This environment also nurtures the development of qualities and skills that get students into college and that stand students in good stead throughout their lives and careers: self-knowledge; self-confidence; mastery of specialised skills and areas of knowledge; research; communication; co-creative problem solving; entrepreneurial skills; creativity; and initiative. These are the very qualities that college admissions boards and employers look for.

While there are many areas of knowledge and practical skills that we need as adults, it is our view that the love of learning, creative expression, and fulfilling relationships are also essential components of life. When better than in childhood to practice and master these fundamental qualities?

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Has nature, then, made a monumental error in creating a child who compulsively spends most of his or her time in apparently nonproductive and even antisurvival activities of fantasy, magical thinking, and play? — Joseph Chilton Pearce
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Our Purpose

1. to provide an integral education that grows out of the entire community—the whole child cannot be educated in an institution disconnected from the whole of life.

2. to provide choices and opportunities that allow children to develop at their own pace and follow their own interests, so they can define who they are and what they want to be.

3. to allow children to be free from external assessment (tests, grades, and rankings) so that students can develop their own goals and sense of achievement. Grades and test scores are not the measure of our children's education and do not predict the success or happiness of any child now or in their life ahead.

4. to allow children to be completely free to engage in their interests and play as much as they like. Creative and imaginative expression is an essential part of childhood and development.

5. to allow participants in learning to direct their education through the same democratic principles we demand as adults in our society.

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I believe that school makes complete fools of our young men, because they see and hear nothing of ordinary life there — Petronius, Satyricon
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Community Assembly

The Living School is directed by the Community Assembly. This group is comprised of all the students, staff, parents and board of directors who are interested in participating in this process. Decisions made include determining the yearly budget, hiring of staff, promotion of the school, events and fund-raising, etc.

School Meetings

The day to day workings of the school are determined through the weekly School Meeting. This meeting is run by the students and decisions are made democratically with each student and staff having one vote. The School Meeting decides how to spend the discretionary money, rules of conduct and what activities and classes the school wants to engage in.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is addressed in two ways. Anyone can ask for mediation to work out interpersonal issues. The staff and many of the students are trained in basic mediation. We also address conflicts or the breaking of rules though Council Meetings. Council Meetings can be called by anyone at anytime. Everyone interested gathers to hear what occurred and to support people in mutually supportive outcomes. The Council Meeting does have the power to decide on consequences should that seem appropriate and these are again voted on democratically. Any decision can be re-evaluated should the need occur.

How to Enroll as Full or Part Time Student

The first step in the enrollment process is for parents and students to learn about our approach by exploring our website, reading some recommended books, and attending an informational meeting or open house.

The second step is to schedule an admissions interview. This interview is an open discussion during which your family and our staff can make sure that The Living School is a good fit for you and your child. Both the student and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must attend the interview, where we will provide further information about the school and answer your questions.

We have an open admissions policy and accept new students at any time during the school year. If there is space available, an enrolling student must satisfy our main requirement: to be able to function as a responsible, self-directed, and self-regulated member of the school community.

We enroll all year long -- Schedule an enrollment interview: Call 303.449.0866 for more information or email admin @ livingschool.org.

Once the admissions interview has taken place, you may fill out an enrollment form and return it to the registrar with a down payment of 10% of the annual tuition to reserve a space. All enrollment forms are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. You must pay the balance of the full tuition before the first day of enrollment, although exceptions can be made at the discretion of the registrar.

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Why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as well as prohibition did, in five years Americans would be the smartest race of people on Earth — Will Rogers
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Tuition

Full-time annual tuition for the 2008-2009 school year is $7500. For part-year enrollment, tuition is prorated based on the number of days remaining in the school year. For part-time enrollment, tuition is prorated according to the number of days per week attending. Part-time enrollment is available to students under the age of seven and to home-schooled students; the minimum enrollment is three days per week.

Financial Aid

To apply for tuition assistance we ask each family to submit current financial information accompanied by a copy of the past years of income tax return. Tuition assistance is available and allocated based on need and through exchanging actual work for tuition according to the resources and needs of The Living School.

Attendance Requirements

All full-time students over the age of seven are required to attend school for a minimum of five hours per day, five days per week. This policy satisfies Colorado requirements and ensures the development of a strong school community.

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Just as no two sets of fingerprints are alike, the genetic plan for the development of intelligence is unique to every human — Joseph Chilton Pearce
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The Living School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or national or ethnic origin.

RESOURCES

Audio Files
(files are in MP3 format)

Educating the Whole Child: http://www.livingschool.org/audio/ed150_whole_child.mp3

Learning and Fear 2: http://www.livingschool.org/audio/learningandfear2.mp3

Steven Harrison at CU, Part 1: http://www.livingschool.org/audio/harrisonatcu1.mp3

Steven Harrison at CU, Part 2: http://www.livingschool.org/audio/harrisonatcu2.mp3

The Relationship between Democracy and Education: http://www.livingschool.org/audio/democracyandeducation.mp3

The Learning Edge: A Conversation with Chris Mercogliano and Steven Harrison: http://www.wetwaremedia.com/chrismercogliano.html

Articles

The Six-Lesson Schoolteacher: By John Taylor Gatto, New York State Teacher of the Year, 1991: http://www.cantrip.org/gatto.html

Books: To see a list of recommended books please go here: http://www.livingschool.org/resources.html

FAQs:

Questions About The Living School - See Answers Below Questions

How can my child learn if there's no externally directed curriculum?
Are there classes?
Can my child attend particular classes without enrolling in the school?
Will my child learn all he needs if he's not "exposed" to everything?
How does one choose among all the areas of interest?
How are rules created in the school?
What do students do all day?
What does the staff do?
What about state education requirements?
What about accreditation and certification?
What about testing?
Will my child get into college?
What about transcripts?
What hours is the school open?
How long is the school year?
What ages are the students?
How many students are there?
How large is the staff?
How is the administration of the school structured?
How do volunteers get involved?
How do I enroll my children?

How can my child learn if there's no externally directed curriculum?

Children can move at a pace that suits them to master their pursuits. Their natural drive to learn and understand how things work allows each child to create a curriculum that is meaningful. top of page

Are there classes?

The Living School offers a wide variety of classes that are also available to the area homeschool community. In addition, any student can create a class through structuring time with staff, recruiting an outside teacher to hold a class at the school or attending a class external to the school. Other options include distance learning, apprenticeships, work-study and community projects created by the student. top of page

Can my child attend particularclasses without enrolling in the school?

Yes. Classes are available on a single-class, fee basis for non-enrolled students. Check the class catalog and class enrollment instructions. We offer a wide range of individual classes open to anyone, for class schedule and enrollment information click here. .top of page

Will my child learn all he needs if he's not "exposed" to everything?

Through books, newspapers, magazines, television, movies, radio, the Internet, observation, and conversation with the people in the student's life (other students, staff, family, friends, neighbors, etc.)—in other words, through living—your child will be exposed to everything relevant to his or her life. In our day and age, overexposure is more of a challenge than lack of exposure. top of page

How does one choose among all the areas of interest?

At The Living School your child will have the opportunity to discover what they are passionate about, build on their strengths, and learn what they need to be effective in the world. Staff and student work together to develop a learning plan that emcompasses these areas We offer a wide range of individual classes, as well. top of page

How are rules created in the school?

In the democratic structure of The Living School, freedom comes with direct responsibility for actions and interactions with others. Rules are created by and for the entire school community to serve all its participants. top of page
student photo

What do students do all day?

Students attend classes they initiate, as well as converse, play, read, study, make decisions concerning school resources and personnel, participate in classes, go on field trips, hold apprenticeships, help run the school. The possibilities are endless. Students can create a business, grow a garden, explore nature, create a complex game involving the whole school, sit and read quietly, converse about the meaning of life, share secrets, paint pictures, learn to play an instrument—whatever the child is interested in doing and learning. top of page

What does the staff do?

Members of the staff serve many roles. They respond to students' requests for instruction, perhaps by tutoring, teaching a class, arranging an apprenticeship, or helping the student find an instructor or resource within the community at large. They also perform administrative and maintenance tasks that keep the school functioning. top of page

What about state education requirements?

The Colorado Department of Education does not mandate a prescribed set of adopted textbooks, approved curriculum, or course of study for public or private schools. Private schools are required to provide a basic academic education, but are protected from untoward interference by any board of education, state or local. As a Colorado Independent school we offer instruction in reading, writing, communication, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science and much more. We are open for a minimum of 172 days per school year and our facility meets all building and health standards. top of page

What about accreditation and certification?

As a private or independent school we are not required to be accredited or certified. We are established as a federal educational nonprofit 501(c)(3) and are incorporated in the State of Colorado. top of page

What about testing?

This is not required by the state for a private or independent school. Students at private or independent schools are not required to take the CSAP standardized tests. If students choose to take the SAT because they wish to be admitted to college, they will be able to take time during school to focus on preparation. However, colleges make far less use of SAT scores in the admissions process than they once did, thanks largely to the great increase in home-schooled students who are accepted without these scores and do well in college. top of page

Will my child get into college?

A Living School education nurtures the very qualities and development of skills that get students into college: self-knowledge; self-confidence; mastery of specialized skills and areas of knowledge; research, communication and entrepreneurial skills; creativity; and initiative. These are qualities that college admissions boards and employers look for, and that stand students in good stead throughout their college and professional careers. top of page

What about transcripts?

The Living School transcript includes the student's years of attendance and describes how the school works. It does not list the particular activities undertaken by the student while enrolled. Students applying to college supplement the transcript with a portfolio of their work and letters of recommendation from staff. Students obtain an interview at the college when possible and take extra care with the essay that is part of most college applications. Students from schools based on principles similar to ours have great success with this approach. Again, the advance of the home-schooling movement has made such alternatives to the traditional transcript a familiar sight in college admissions offices. top of page

What hours is the school open?

School hours are 8:30 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

How long is the school year?

The school year is from September to June. top of page

What ages are the students?

Children aged 5 and up are generally eligible for enrolment.

How many students are there?

We have a variety of kinds of students, full-time and part-time enrolled as well as classes serving the home-school community. Along with staff, parents, and volunteers, the school is a learning community center.Our intention is to maintain its small community character. top of page

How large is the staff?

We try to keep a staff-to-student ratio of no less then 1 to 10.

How is the administration of the school structured?

Students and staff collectively determine school rules.top of page

How do volunteers get involved?

Volunteers are needed in many capacities. If you have energy and enthusiasm for creating this kind of school, see our volunteer page—we can use your help!

How do I enrol my children?

See our Enrolment page. We also offer a wide range of individual classes open to anyone, for class schedule and enrolment information click here: http://www.livingschool.org/class_schedule.html

LINKS

Alternative Education Resources

The Alternative Education Resource Organization - a clearinghouse for alternative schools, colleges, and homeschooling; produces a radio show, The Education Revolution; and maintains a comprehensive directory of alternative schools: http://www.edrev.org

National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools - group of schools that advocate participant control of education: http://www.ncacs.org

Informal Education - information on education at its best: http://www.infed.org/index.htm

Students Against Testing - lobbying effort to abolish academic testing: http://www.nomoretests.com

Association for Experiential Education - promotes experiential learning, publishes books, directories, and the Journal for Experiential Education: http://www.aee.org

Great Ideas in Education - the joint website of Holistic Education Press, Psychology Press, and the publishing division of the Foundation for Educational Renewal: http://www.great-ideas.org

The International Association for Learning Alternatives - interesting articles and links to all kinds of alternative schools: http://www.learningalternatives.net/index.html

Alternative Schools

The Sudbury Valley School - This 30-year-old school run on student-directed learning and democratic principals is a gem in education: http://www.sudval.org

Summerhill - 75 years later the school described in A. S. Neil's Summerhill and Freedom, Not License is still going, now run by Neil's daughter: http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk

Brockwood Park School - one of J. Krishnamurti's schools (in England) founded on education as inquiry: http://www.brockwood.org.uk

Albany Free School: http://www.albanyfreeschool.com

Australian Correspondence Schools - a global distance-learning provider: http://www.acs.edu.au

Blue Mountain School - a publicly funded, nonprofit democratic learning community in Oregon: http://www.bluemountain-school.org/index.html

The Circle School: http://circleschool.org

Clonlara School - an independent, innovative school headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Also offers a Home Based Education Program extension, serving families in ten countries: http://www.clonlara.org

Laurel Springs School - an international K-12 school offering independent study and distance learning, as well as an internet-based homeschooling program: http://www.laurelsprings.com

The Meeting School - an alternative boarding school for high-school-aged students with a Quaker philosophy: http://www.mv.com/ipusers/tms

The New School of Northern Virginia - a small, holistic school that seeks to educate the whole child: http://www.nsnva.pvt.k12.va.us

Puget Sound Community School - ensures the freedom of students of all ages to think for themselves and to control their own destinies: http://www.pscs.org

Windsor House (North Vancouver, BC, Canada) - for more than 25 years has offered an academically noncoercive environment in a democratic structure: http://whs.at.org

Home Schooling

Life Learning Magazine - magazine covering homeschooling and unschooling: http://www.lifelearningmagazine.com/index.html

Jon's Home School - links and text related to homeschooling: http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs

Home Education Resource Magazine - resources and a discussion area: http://www.home-ed-magazine.com

Cafi Cohen - lists of diploma-granting independent-study schools and includes the first chapter of her book, "And What About College?": http://www.homeschoolteenscollege.net

Links to folks who help make the school possible:

Sentient Publications - publisher of alternative education books (including "The Happy Child" )and continuing supporter of The Living School. Numerous books on alternative education: http://www.sentientpublications.com

INDEX

About Us
Summer Programs
Enrollment
Events
Newsletter
Resources
FAQs
Contact Us

CONTACT US

Phone: 0011 1 (303) 449-0866

Website: http://www.livingschool.org

Email: admin @ livingschool.org

Write: The Living School, PO Box 6105, Boulder, CO 80306