 In this post I am offering my perspectives on how education today remains firmly entrenched in what is often called the Factory Model, which was designed for the Industrial Revolution. The majority of students at that time were educated to prepare for work on farms on in factories. This is an obsolete model of a by-gone era. But it is still with us today, well into the 21st century: 
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 The "cemetery method" is a reference to the practice of arranging classrooms that is similar to cemeteries in that the students are in rows, very still and very quiet.
That may have been acceptable decades ago when schools were designed on the factory model. During the Industrial Age factories needed workers who were on time, obedient and able to perform standardized tasks. They did not want workers who were creative thinkers.  Now that's what I'm talking about!
We included 2 very brief videos just to give you a quick glimpse of what we saw. On the left is a video I took from the library at the Zoo School - look at that snow! Temperatures were well below zero during our visit to Minnesota! Moving to a more hospitable climate, we next visited the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio! I begin this post with a quick commentary about the weather - it mattered! Then follow the "Read more" link to read my analysis of these two schools in terms of our criteria for an Exemplary 21st Century School. You will also find a link to a page entitled, "What we did NOT see, thankfully!" My next post will provide more information about each of these truly 21st century, phenomenal schools.
On February 26 and 27, 2014 we enjoyed the opportunity to visit two schools. These schools represent the finest in the design of schools for the 21st century - from their educational paradigms, to the curriculum and instruction, to the design of their buildings and grounds! These schools were intentionally designed for the needs of the 21st century student! On the morning of February 26, as we made our way from the taxi cab to the door of the school the temperature was about 4 degrees Fahrenheit. It had gotten down to 18 degrees below zero the night before! I am from central Texas, and my guests are from Chennai, India, where they have three types of weather, "Hot, Hotter and Hottest!". As we walked to the building we passed small groups of students in the snow practicing Winter Weather Survival Techniques. We had happened to visit during one of the school's "J" terms, a 7-day intensive focus which takes place between trimesters. The video above, on the left, illustrates the amount of snow; this has turned out to be the worst winter in Minneapolis recorded history! We had arrived at the School for Environmental Sciences, located in beautiful Apple Valley, Minnesota; it is popularly known as the Zoo School because it is adjacent to the Minnesota Zoo. The students conduct research at, and collaborate with, the zoo personnel in real world projects! The second school we toured was the Anne Frank Inspire Academy in San Antonio, Texas. The weather was very hospitable! The school was completely amazing. Construction is 95% complete, and students will begin attending this school in the Fall of 2014. Read more to learn about what it is that makes these schools exemplary 21st century schools . . . |
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