Gaia Democratic SchoolOur Philosophy |
Gaia Democratic School has its roots in Second Foundation, an alternative school that served Minneapolis for 42 years before closing its doors in 2013. Many of the staff and students from Second Foundation continued their learning experience by together starting Gaia, which is now in its second year.
I visited Gaia in December, right before Christmas break. Visiting a democratic school is always a very different experience from visiting, say, a Montessori school, a charter school, or a public school. Though most democratic schools have similar philosophies and ideals, the very nature of the philosophy gives freedom for each school to vary wildly in its experience. Most democratic schools I've visited have basic similarities: there are children all over the place, many things are going on at one time, adults do not have an "in charge" demeanor, and I am expected to wander and determine my own visiting experience. |
The flavour and energy of each school differs - some seem chaotic, some are welcoming, some have a buzz of excitement and learning, in others it feels like nothing is going on. In some, the adults seem to me to be somewhat defensive, ready to argue that their school IS an authentic place of learning (no doubt from years of responding to naysayers), in others the staff are laid-back and welcoming. Some seem to ignore me, and I come to realize that I must make my own needs and desires known in order to get answers; as I do this, I realize that this IS part of the educational philosophy of self-directed learning, translated (perhaps unconsciously) to the visitor's experience. It seems to me that much of the democratic school experience relies on two unintentional influences: the number of students enrolled, and the personality of the founder and the main adults. The larger schools, when well-run, tend to have more options and experiences for students - much is happening to spark students' interest and to inspire them to pursue their own interests with like-minded peers. Where there is only a handful of students, the atmosphere is more of a family working on getting along and trying to communally figure out what to do and what to work on. Both models provide students with social and learning challenges to grow from, but in very different ways.
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"Each student adds dimension to our culture, diversity to our community, and energy to our school. Our school values the innate originality and potential in each person and honors each student's individual learning needs. Our school aims to provide students with a safe, intellectually nourishing, and socially positive environment based on academic freedom. Our community recognizes the importance of individual freedom, mutual respect, and putting democratic principles into practice." |
"It's just a fun, safe environment. There's no bullying. We're all family here."
Gaia is a small school with a family atmosphere. Starri Hedges is the Executive Director and lead teacher. A bandana-wearing firecracker of a woman, Starri has a background in Women's Studies, Holistic Education, Human Development, and Educational Psychology. She leads a small but energetic staff of teachers who are assisted by a large group of volunteers, parents, and community partners. During a typical day one class is offered at a time, which students are not required to attend. Classes are based on the interests of students, teachers, and parents. Learning is encouraged through "movement, experimentation, and real-world projects" while "nurturing students' natural desire to learn."
The day I visited there were approximately 15 students and a handful of adults present. At first glance, not much is going on - one of the things that people sometimes have difficulty getting their heads around with democratic education is the value placed on giving students space and time. It certainly doesn't have the frenzied pace, scheduling and organization of a public school. As I wandered the halls I passed a math class led by math wizard and esteemed teacher Jon DeArmand. A parent confessed to me that her preteen daughter, who had previously hated math, had recently joined Jon's math class and was suddenly showing a formerly unrealized excitement and pride in her ability to master math concepts. As I walked by the well-stocked library, a young child was perusing books with the help of an adult volunteer. A sulky adolescent stormed into the school mid-day, went into the library, and proceeded to read for two hours, earbuds firmly in place. In another room a youngster was doing a self-initiated art project while others worked on computers and chatted. A drama practice for the school play was about to start, led by an older student who was waiting for the end of an impromptu football game (with 6 year olds and 14 year olds playing together), and several students were teaching each other to 'pop' while dance music played. Starri was setting up in the kitchen for a class on herbs and cooking - she eagerly greeted a former student who had come to help her teach. In the afternoon I sat through a whole-school meeting: one student took notes, and there was opportunity for children and adults equally to bring up issues, make suggestions, and talk about the week's schedule. Gaia emphasizes conflict resolution and emotional development. Specific classes are offered in communication and self-awareness, and there is ample opportunity to practice in democratic meetings and day-to-day problem solving. A teen-aged student voiced her disappointment that a former student had visited earlier that week and she had missed it. "I thought you two hated each other," remarked Starri. "We did at first, but now he's my favorite person!" said the teen. "That's a good thing about being here - you really get to know people."
The day I visited there were approximately 15 students and a handful of adults present. At first glance, not much is going on - one of the things that people sometimes have difficulty getting their heads around with democratic education is the value placed on giving students space and time. It certainly doesn't have the frenzied pace, scheduling and organization of a public school. As I wandered the halls I passed a math class led by math wizard and esteemed teacher Jon DeArmand. A parent confessed to me that her preteen daughter, who had previously hated math, had recently joined Jon's math class and was suddenly showing a formerly unrealized excitement and pride in her ability to master math concepts. As I walked by the well-stocked library, a young child was perusing books with the help of an adult volunteer. A sulky adolescent stormed into the school mid-day, went into the library, and proceeded to read for two hours, earbuds firmly in place. In another room a youngster was doing a self-initiated art project while others worked on computers and chatted. A drama practice for the school play was about to start, led by an older student who was waiting for the end of an impromptu football game (with 6 year olds and 14 year olds playing together), and several students were teaching each other to 'pop' while dance music played. Starri was setting up in the kitchen for a class on herbs and cooking - she eagerly greeted a former student who had come to help her teach. In the afternoon I sat through a whole-school meeting: one student took notes, and there was opportunity for children and adults equally to bring up issues, make suggestions, and talk about the week's schedule. Gaia emphasizes conflict resolution and emotional development. Specific classes are offered in communication and self-awareness, and there is ample opportunity to practice in democratic meetings and day-to-day problem solving. A teen-aged student voiced her disappointment that a former student had visited earlier that week and she had missed it. "I thought you two hated each other," remarked Starri. "We did at first, but now he's my favorite person!" said the teen. "That's a good thing about being here - you really get to know people."
I spoke at length with an eloquent and confident 16 year old student, who was emphatic about pointing out that he wasn't always that way. "I joined Gaia back when it was Second Foundation...I wouldn't even get out of the car - my mother had to go in and leave me there." He soon discovered that he could be himself here, and hasn't looked back. When asked for a quote about Gaia, this was his response: "It's just a fun, safe environment. There's no bullying. We're all family here."
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For more examples of democratic schooling, see my articles on Windsor House and Village Free School.