Grow a School

Dear Advocates for True Education

I'm searching for people who share similar values regarding
Student-Centered, Earth-Centered Education
in order to open a dialogue about how WE might create a life-giving learning environment for adolescents.

These values include:

An interested in creating a holistic learning environment which addresses the needs of the student, the family, the human community, and the natural community
An appreciation for the inter-relational nature of these systems and how they all effect and are effected by each other
A belief that fostering a deep understanding and appreciation of the Earth through all of the senses and realms is essential to optimal human development & well-being AND that of the Planet
A desire to provide adolescents with a learning environment in which they are encouraged to explore who they are within a healthy context of peers, supportive adults, meaningful work, and a cooperative social structure which is integrally connected to the land
A vision to provide a rich and meaningful curriculum that both excites and challenges the budding adolescent as s/he embarks upon this transitional journey to adulthood

As a Lover of Earth, and of Learning, I have been researching forms of holistic education which honor and encourage a deep connection with the Earth and in which the learner's needs are fully respected and addressed. At the same time I have become increasingly concerned with the ineffectiveness of traditional education to meet the developmental needs of adolescents.

I have recently found a bright beacon of hope which I feel addresses all of these challenges. Hershey Farm School in Clarksburg, Ohio, is a model learning environment based on Maria Montessori's concept of an Erdkinder. Enjoy the Hershey Farm School web site. It is filled with a wealth of information on this philosophy of education of the Adolescent.

This is not, however an advertisement for Hershey Farm School, but rather an invitation to join me in discussing how we might create a similar school in Mid-Michigan. It is now time to plant seeds. I am seeking fertile soil and eager gardeners who are interested in helping bring forth this new creation. If you would like to join the discussion of such an exciting endeavor,
join us on our Head to Heart Learning Facebook page