Democratic schools are educational institutions where students can actively participate in decision-making processes. The idea of democratic schools is to provide an alternative model of education that promotes autonomy, creativity, and responsibility among students. In this article, we will explore the top 15 democratic schools around the world that have made a significant impact on alternative schooling and education.
1. Sudbury Valley School: Located in Massachusetts, USA, Sudbury Valley School has been operating for over 50 years. It is one of the oldest and most well-known democratic schools in the world. At Sudbury Valley School, students are given complete freedom to decide what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.
2. Summerhill School: Founded by A.S Neill in Suffolk, England, Summerhill School is one of the most famous examples of democratic schooling worldwide. Students at Summerhill enjoy a self-governed system where they decide how their school operates.
3. Brooklyn Free School: This New York-based school was founded in 2004 and is known for its student-centric approach towards learning. Students participate in creating their own curriculum based on their interests.
4. Sands School: Located in Devon, England Sands School offers a holistic approach towards learning with an emphasis on community engagement.
5. Albany Free School: Based out of Albany New York since its inception in 1969 this school provides children ages K-12th grade with opportunities for self-directed learning through play & exploration
6.The Circle School: The Circle school located at Harrisburg PA which emphasizes non-coercive education methods such as experiential learning & cooperative decision making while encouraging individuality
7.Free Minds Independent Learning Center- Located just outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania this program supports highschoolers who are looking for more autonomy than traditional High Schools offer while still having access to resources like college advisors if needed
8.Antioch Community HighSchool – Antioch Illinois has implemented a program called the “Antioch Community High School Democratic Education Committee” which gives students a voice in decision making
9. Alpine Valley School- Located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado this school offers an alternative education model to traditional schooling. Students are allowed to pursue their interests while being guided by teachers.
10. Agile Learning Center – Founded in 2005, Agile Learning Centers originated in New York City and has since expanded internationally with schools located worldwide including Spain & Mexico. They place importance on creating a self-directed learning environment for students who want autonomy over their educational journey
11. Clearwater School: Based out of Seattle WA this school lets young people discover themselves through activities like art, music, drama and outdoor exploration amongst many others
12. The Highland School: The Highland School is located in Silver Spring Maryland and provides its K-8th grade students with opportunities for self-directed learning based on student interest.
13.Avalon Sudbury School- Located outside of Washington D.C this school emphasizes democratic decision-making as well as freedom for each student’s unique educational journey
14.Park Day School: Park Day located at Oakland California encourages critical thinking among its K-8th-grade students while also emphasizing social-emotional growth through community engagement
15.Mountain Laurel Sudbury School – This school is situated in New Britain PA that allows children to have control over their own education so they can learn at their own pace without any pressure from adults.
In conclusion, democratic schools offer an alternative approach towards education where students play a fundamental role in deciding what they learn and how they learn it. These 15 schools showcase different models of democratic schooling that promote creativity, responsibility, autonomy and community engagement among students all around the world.
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