Gotcha,
I looked into one of the proposals I did for a new paradigm school during my B.Ed. I changed the original name (Curve) to EVER. Have a read through and feel free to use it for your studies/proposals (i.e plagarize away). I think I will post under the Canada section, I hope you do not mind me using the EVER name, if so I can change it back.
EVER School
Mission Statement:
The mission of the EVER school is to create a healthy and comfortable environment for students and staff to promote a low stress and engaging learning experience. The program is designed to offer students choices in the direction of their education within the EVER Curriculum. Teachers help students find their passion and give them guidance and critical thinking skills to pursue it. Some courses will still remain necessary (i.e. literacy), but this flexible system offers students more input into their own learning. The daily schedule, school design, and number of students all differ from that of a typical school.
The philosophy and curriculum were created with accountability and autonomy in mind. Teachers have control over their methods and approaches, and are encouraged to think outside the box, but they will be held accountable and will have to show how they have met outcomes in critical areas (i.e. literacy). The information collected from teachers will help with statistical analysis to allow administrators to plan for the future and show areas of weakness and strength to entice collaboration. Teachers and students are held to a high standard of learning and are put on the path to become self directed, life-long learners.
(Note: Literacy has evolved beyond reading and writing. People build literacy skills to be able to communicate and comprehend the world around them so that they can develop new understandings and new knowledge. Problem solving and decision-making skills help learners construct new meaning and adapt to a new educational world. Hopefully with these new skills students will get fulfillment from their learning and be better equipped to critically evaluate their community and become part of the new global culture.)
How is EVER different?
Number of students: The atmosphere at EVER school will be different from a traditional setting in many ways. The biggest adjustment, and the key to making the system operate smoothly, is the number of teachers and students. Numbers will be limited to 150 students per grade. The reason for this is based around research that shows that people have a higher level of accountability and responsibility when they are in a group of no more than 150 people. W.L Gore & Associates is a successful manufacturing company that has repeatedly been given the title as one of the best companies to work for, and a major reason for their success and employee satisfaction is derived from the fact that all of their operations are kept to 150 employees. Once a factory reaches 150 people they build a new one even if it is right beside the original. When the group size is kept to these numbers, teachers and students will start to recognize each other and build relationships in a way that is not possible when you are working with the larger numbers of a traditional high school. At EVER students will not pass through the hallways unrecognized, they will be part of a learning community that challenges and pushes them to succeed. If the initial pilot program for EVER is successful then more schools will be built, but the number of 150 students per grade will not change.
Pass/Fail system: The grading system is based around a pass/fail system where student must achieve an equivalent of %70 or higher to receive a P. Anything below this will receive and F and will have to be resubmitted before being considered again for a P. This grading system helps discourage competitive ranking and encourage students to take ownership of their own learning and to become lifelong critical thinkers and learners. More universities are beginning to recognize the benefits of the pass/fail system and more schools are starting to introduce this system.
Modifications and IEP’s: Students with learning disabilities will be put on Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) that are suited to their learning needs. Adaptations and modifications to curriculum will be permitted if necessary. We will have access to assistive technology such as kerzwiel and dragon, and will have a resident expert to help facilitate the use of these tools. In class students who need some extra help will be able to get slide notes, receive extra one-to-one help, and be given extra time for certain assignments and tests.
Resource: EVER school is set up to allow maximum mobility and resources for students with disabilities. The school design completely accessible and the resource centre and specially trained staff are there to assist in any way. Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible at the EVER school, and one of the many ways we do this is by making students with disabilities feel comfortable and integrated.
Selecting Courses: Much like the university system, students will have the option of choosing a stream that interests them such as, Arts, Science, Business/Law, Trades, or a combination. Some students will also come away with specific job training so that they can enter into the workforce right after high school. For example one such program that already exists where students can do this is the cosmetology course. Students will come out of high school as a certified cosmologist and will be qualified to work at a salon. Other program such as carpentry don’t allow students to work right out of high school, but they will be ahead of the game when entering into college and will be able to start at a higher level.
Technology: Classes and teachers will be equipped with 21st century skills and equipment to help ensure success in an ever growing IT economy. If useful and effective after initial pilot programs, Tablets will be issued at the beginning of the year. At EVER we encourage experimenting with digital technology to help assist teachers and students in the classroom.
Classroom setup: The smaller class and enrolment size allows for some much needed space in the classroom. EVER classes are designed to be comfortable and inviting. They are specially designed to allow for movement and different set-ups in the class. There is a private cubicle section at the back of the class for times when silence and independent work is needed. Then there is the more traditional set- up in the front of the room where there are ergonomic chairs and desks, but there is also added space by the whiteboard for movement activities. Off to the side there is a comfortable section and in all classes there is a water access, fruit and light snacks for students who may need energy. Computer access will also be available in every class with 5 high-end computers per class. This will allow students to work collaboratively manageable group sizes and will give them access to publishing, photo, video, music, web design, and other important software’s.
Discipline: Discipline will be dealt with on an individual basis. In the most severe cases of unacceptable behaviour students will be suspended or expelled. Primarily discipline will be dealt with in class or with administration. A detention/school service format where students who are sent out of class will have to do school service, or have to attend a detention class after school will also be used.
Getting rid of a social hierarchy: Giving students access to the same technology and resources will help create a level playing field for students who do not have these privileges at home. There will be no streaming of students at EVER. Those who are enrolled in a program such as French will have separate classes for that subject, but will take other classes with a mixed group. Streaming can have negative consequences for students who feel as though they are in a lower class, so each class will be made up of a diverse group of students. The decision to use uniforms is still being taken under consideration. We want the EVER school to be an inclusive and inviting space for all students. (After publishing and further research, MBTI streaming may be something that is worth exploring but there should also be times where mixing is encouraged.)
Professional Development: Professional Development days will be scheduled when there is a relevant topic that can help teacher build their skills; instead of having one that is on a set schedule. The problem with a set schedule is that often teachers feel as though they are not getting anything from their PD days. We want to ensure that PD days will be relevant and beneficial to our staff, that is why we there will be a review process of the speakers before implementing the PD day.
Collaboration: One of the benefits of smaller class and staff sizes is that it will allow for collaboration in a way that is not possible in larger schools. Teachers will be responsible for recording their teaching methods and will meet weekly to submit their lesson plans and assignment marks. During this time they will discuss what they feel is working or not working, and talk with other teachers about the possibility of cross-curricular collaboration. For example a history teacher who is going to be teaching a unit on the Renaissance may suggest that the English teacher works on literature from that time period. This way students will be immersed in the topic and be able to draw connections between classes.
Private vs. Public: Having a sustainable school model that is profitable is not a realistic option unless you charge a substantial premium for enrolment. Putting money into the youth of tomorrow is an investment, not a way to make money. With high education inflation today, most people are not interested in paying high tuition fees. The private system can also create a class distinction, which is not the aim of the EVER school philosophy. That is why we propose the EVER school is launched as a pilot program by the department of education. Applicants to the school will initially be accepted on a first come first serve basis, for those looking for an alternate school experience. If the program is as successful as anticipated it will expand on the property and shift to a House system. The second House, House B, will be set up exactly the same as House A. The numbers of students, schedule, and staff collaboration times will be kept the same so that the system runs effectively. As the numbers of Houses start to grow on the campus to keep up with the higher demand of students, executives from the house will meet monthly to ensure that curricular outcomes are being met and to discuss any problems or new ideas.
Expectations for teachers: Teachers who are hired on at EVER school are expected to be leaders in their field. We hire innovative thinkers who are not afraid to try new things in the classroom. All teachers at EVER are given room in the curriculum to make learning possible for all students, but at the same time they are expected to record their process. This requires a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication but those are the kind of teachers we want working at EVER. In short, there will be no “chalk and talk” teachers who sit at the pulpit and spew out information. Our teachers will be engaging and creative and will always be looking for ways to improve their craft. There is nothing worse than a teacher who gets tired of their work makes every class stale and boring. Our teacher will always be trying new approaches and will have a supportive and collaborative staff to help them along the way.
Funding:
Payroll
8 Grade 10
8 Grade 11
8 Grade 12
1 Principal & 1 VP
1 Maintenance Staff
2 Janitorial staff
6 Resource teachers
1 Librarian
1 Youth Worker
2 Guidance Counselor’s/Mental Health Professionals
1 Fitness director/ nutritionist/ athletic director
Schedule:
8:00- 8:45: Breakfast program. Students & teachers convene in the cafeteria to have a nutritious breakfast provided by the school. It is meant to be a relaxing social setting where people are encouraged to chat, read the newspaper and get started. Much like the staff room in a typical school, but with students, as this is an opportunity to get to know them outside of the class.
Menu:
Bagels, Apples/Bananas, Cereal, Oatmeal, muffins, Coffee/Tea, Milk, Water, Juice on Fridays,
8:45-9 20: Morning stretch for entire school. Located in the cafeteria students and staff will participate in a light stretching exercise.
9:20-10:45: Class 1
10:45-11:00: Personal Reading, writing, drawing, individual music, knitting, brainteasers, solitaire, gaming, or other quiet personal hobbies. This is meant to be a relaxing time for students to work on something they enjoy doing alone. It is not meant to be a time for socializing or being idle and it will be supervised and facilitated accordingly.
11:00-12:00: Lunch. Students are allowed to go off school property for lunch or remain in the cafeteria. Lunch will be purchased and not provided. However, if there is a cooking class offered before hand they will serve a discount dish once during the week.
12:00-1:00: Class 2 elective
1:05-2:05: Class 3
2:10-3:10: Class 4
After School Programs:
-Detention, sports, art, music, video editing, community projects, gardening, cooking class, yoga.
Conclusion:
EVER school is not intended to be “better” then its existing public school counterparts, but it is designed to approach to schooling in a radically different way. More manageable school sizes, different classroom setups and scheduling all play a part in the new approach to student-centered learning. Our hope is that students will enjoy going to school and will find a passion for learning about a subject they are interested in.
Quotes:
“A better schooling experience for the people who matter most to you.”
“Any system that is resistant to change will inevitably fail. If our schools do not adapt to today’s learner then we are stuck teaching using yesterday’s methods.”
“Break away from the docile routine of school, get active, get creative, and start your lifelong journey of learning with EVER.”
Adjectives:
life-long learning, student centered, holistic, natural, inviting, calming, Technological, experiential, real world learning, community involved, collaborative, inclusive, experimental, interactive, cutting edge, connected, 21st century, manageability, accountability
