The school I visited was a sustainable farm school. The students here do not spend their day in a classroom but rather at a farm. They take part in projects and hold their classes right at the farm. The courses are taught by volunteer teachers, like Dr. French. The class that I observed was Dr. French working with three students who are making animal masks, just like the students at the Environmental Science Magnet School in Hartford.
The difference at the farm school is that the masks are related to stories they have been reading. The students have been reading in class and for homework Native American stories about trickster animals. In the class I observed Dr. French helped the students develop a connection between the Native American stories and sci-fi stories about aliens. The stories all relate to how we view the world around us and what we can give and take from our world and the consequences of those actions.
I was very impressed with the responses of the students in the class. I believe that because of the non-traditional approach that their education is taking the students have developed a very different perspective from students who are following a traditional public school path. These students clearly saw the connection between the readings and quickly picked up on the comments the writing make on the world around us.
At first I was apprehensive about seeing this school because I followed the traditional path of education but after hearing from these students and seeing how intuitive they are to seeing problems and solutions in the world around us I was very impressed. This visit was a perfect example of how education can be adapted to fit any learning style. Clearly these students are thriving being outside all day and learning in an environment they are comfortable in. I would dare to guess that they would not be successful students if they were trapped in a traditional classroom all day.
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