New Elementary School Opening near the National Cathedral

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would totally pay 20,000 for a school to "homeschool/unschool" my child (which, to me means child led learning with some guidance from teachers, who better be very very qualified, and maybe a pared down list of objectives or benchmarks the student needs to meet each year though the student and the teacher can together decide how to meet these standards). BUT, go no to the computer and the conservative ideology. Here's the thing - in texas, homeschool and conservative ideology go together. In the DC area, homeschooling and progressive ideology go together. Progressive are much more suspicious of computer delivered content wanting their children to have an old fashioned, hands-on childhood but not an old fashioned eduction (no rote memorization). Conservatives are going to be much more comfortable with the old fashioned education - worksheets, lectures - that a computer provides.

So the demographics of this are just slightly off. I can see how it would be perfect for Texas though and some parts of Virginia.

These things would translate into something other than unschooling. the whole point is no teachers (the Acton website refers to "guides" not teachers), no benchmarks, no standards.

I think the lectures are a total straw man. What elementary school has lectures? Its an exaggeration.

Yes, I know what unschooling is, but you aren't going to get it at a school. My post above is about as unschooling as you're gonna get at an actual school - I'd be all in, if it was something different than it is. I don't think computers have any place in education till high school, maybe, in small doses and only for research, in middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would totally pay 20,000 for a school to "homeschool/unschool" my child (which, to me means child led learning with some guidance from teachers, who better be very very qualified, and maybe a pared down list of objectives or benchmarks the student needs to meet each year though the student and the teacher can together decide how to meet these standards). BUT, go no to the computer and the conservative ideology. Here's the thing - in texas, homeschool and conservative ideology go together. In the DC area, homeschooling and progressive ideology go together. Progressive are much more suspicious of computer delivered content wanting their children to have an old fashioned, hands-on childhood but not an old fashioned eduction (no rote memorization). Conservatives are going to be much more comfortable with the old fashioned education - worksheets, lectures - that a computer provides.

So the demographics of this are just slightly off. I can see how it would be perfect for Texas though and some parts of Virginia.

These things would translate into something other than unschooling. the whole point is no teachers (the Acton website refers to "guides" not teachers), no benchmarks, no standards.

I think the lectures are a total straw man. What elementary school has lectures? Its an exaggeration.

Yes, I know what unschooling is, but you aren't going to get it at a school. My post above is about as unschooling as you're gonna get at an actual school - I'd be all in, if it was something different than it is. I don't think computers have any place in education till high school, maybe, in small doses and only for research, in middle school.

But that is not true. Sudbury schools are pretty close to pure unschools. Schools that have teachers adhering to benchmarks and standards is the opposite of an unschool. And its not what this school is offering either.

[Anonymous]

I would also pay $20K for my homeschooled child to go to school; we just haven't found the right school and we have looked! If you're taking a poll, I would like something with a lot of outdoor time, hands-on activities with a lot of child-led time, in our religious tradition, and LD-friendly. We've managed to cobble together all of the above with homeschooling. I think this particular computer/child-driven method got some attention when they put those laptops in a poor neighborhood in India (I believe) and the kids taught themselves. However, I'm not sure that its effectiveness will necessarily translate to our children living in the US.

[Anonymous]

I'd be wary of any school that has to gain publicity by posting on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of any school that has to gain publicity by posting on DCUM.

Can you suggest a better place to gain publicity for a new private school? East of the park list serves where most of the kids are either in DCPS or charters or DCUM where there are many current and aspiring private school parents? I have no bone in the fight but I think disseminating the information via DCUM (whether well received or not)was a great idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be wary of any school that has to gain publicity by posting on DCUM.

Can you suggest a better place to gain publicity for a new private school? East of the park list serves where most of the kids are either in DCPS or charters or DCUM where there are many current and aspiring private school parents? I have no bone in the fight but I think disseminating the information via DCUM (whether well received or not)was a great idea.

I agree that it was a great idea - those trying to shout the idea down may not be interested, but many skim these forums and know enough to disregard the intolerant views.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also pay $20K for my homeschooled child to go to school; we just haven't found the right school and we have looked! If you're taking a poll, I would like something with a lot of outdoor time, hands-on activities with a lot of child-led time, in our religious tradition, and LD-friendly. We've managed to cobble together all of the above with homeschooling. I think this particular computer/child-driven method got some attention when they put those laptops in a poor neighborhood in India (I believe) and the kids taught themselves. However, I'm not sure that its effectiveness will necessarily translate to our children living in the US.

Not to derail the thread, by why does your ideal school need to include your religious tradition? Can't your child attend religious schooling outside of their "traditional" school environment? I wonder if you dropped that requirement if you'd have better luck finding what you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also pay $20K for my homeschooled child to go to school; we just haven't found the right school and we have looked! If you're taking a poll, I would like something with a lot of outdoor time, hands-on activities with a lot of child-led time, in our religious tradition, and LD-friendly. We've managed to cobble together all of the above with homeschooling. I think this particular computer/child-driven method got some attention when they put those laptops in a poor neighborhood in India (I believe) and the kids taught themselves. However, I'm not sure that its effectiveness will necessarily translate to our children living in the US.

Not to derail the thread, by why does your ideal school need to include your religious tradition? Can't your child attend religious schooling outside of their "traditional" school environment? I wonder if you dropped that requirement if you'd have better luck finding what you're looking for.

Thank you for asking so kindly! We are actually in the process of looking at a school that is close, but does not quite meet all the requirements. Our religious tradition would be ideal because there are certain things we do throughout the day and throughout the year (daily prayer, dietary requirements, festivals/holidays, etc.), and I'd like DC to be able to participate in these at school as well as with the family.

Oh, and I forgot to add less than a 10 minute drive from our house -- now that's ideal!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also pay $20K for my homeschooled child to go to school; we just haven't found the right school and we have looked! If you're taking a poll, I would like something with a lot of outdoor time, hands-on activities with a lot of child-led time, in our religious tradition, and LD-friendly. We've managed to cobble together all of the above with homeschooling. I think this particular computer/child-driven method got some attention when they put those laptops in a poor neighborhood in India (I believe) and the kids taught themselves. However, I'm not sure that its effectiveness will necessarily translate to our children living in the US.

Not to derail the thread, by why does your ideal school need to include your religious tradition? Can't your child attend religious schooling outside of their "traditional" school environment? I wonder if you dropped that requirement if you'd have better luck finding what you're looking for.

Thank you for asking so kindly! We are actually in the process of looking at a school that is close, but does not quite meet all the requirements. Our religious tradition would be ideal because there are certain things we do throughout the day and throughout the year (daily prayer, dietary requirements, festivals/holidays, etc.), and I'd like DC to be able to participate in these at school as well as with the family.

Oh, and I forgot to add less than a 10 minute drive from our house -- now that's ideal!!!

Got it - I can see why you'd want that, I guess I had it more in my head that you were looking for religious education, but of course the customs that are part of your daily life are important. Good luck with your search!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would totally pay 20,000 for a school to "homeschool/unschool" my child (which, to me means child led learning with some guidance from teachers, who better be very very qualified, and maybe a pared down list of objectives or benchmarks the student needs to meet each year though the student and the teacher can together decide how to meet these standards). BUT, go no to the computer and the conservative ideology. Here's the thing - in texas, homeschool and conservative ideology go together. In the DC area, homeschooling and progressive ideology go together. Progressive are much more suspicious of computer delivered content wanting their children to have an old fashioned, hands-on childhood but not an old fashioned eduction (no rote memorization). Conservatives are going to be much more comfortable with the old fashioned education - worksheets, lectures - that a computer provides.

So the demographics of this are just slightly off. I can see how it would be perfect for Texas though and some parts of Virginia.

These things would translate into something other than unschooling. the whole point is no teachers (the Acton website refers to "guides" not teachers), no benchmarks, no standards.

I think the lectures are a total straw man. What elementary school has lectures? Its an exaggeration.

Yes, I know what unschooling is, but you aren't going to get it at a school. My post above is about as unschooling as you're gonna get at an actual school - I'd be all in, if it was something different than it is. I don't think computers have any place in education till high school, maybe, in small doses and only for research, in middle school.

This school (mentioned in another forum) is pretty close to unschooling, with less flexibility and parental involvement, but an established community: http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/10/students-lead-the-learning-experience-at-democratic-schools/

[Anonymous]

This thread is a nice entertaining departure from the norm. Thanks op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their guru, Clark Aldrich, who wrote Unschooling Rules and is the book that the entire Acton philosophy is based on ...

I read that book earlier this year, and I really liked it and found it thought provoking, because it challenges a lot of common assumptions about education. The school must be only loosely based on its principles, though, because there was nothing about Socratic dialogue in there, for example, and none of the talk about heroes, etc.

[Anonymous]

Will the school emphasize rigor or vigor?

[Anonymous]

The OP-founders are also advertising on Ward 3 listservs (Tenley, Cleveland Park, CCDC I think (not sure on that one)). So, there's that.

Judging only by national election returns-by-precinct in this area ^^, I would predict that the Ayn Rand, market-driven, computer-taught hero would not get many takers. I'd guess all of the people on my street are more of the Ox-Fam, social justice crowd -- even the big Catholic families who attend BS.

But, I could be proven wrong

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering what the deal is with the 11 month school year.