Answer: As the old African proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." One could imagine then that it would take a community to raise a school. We can't rely on local, state, or federal governments to take ownership of the issues we face locally. We need to work as a community to nurture our schools for our particular community needs.
I believe the answer to real education/school transformation is strong, authentic community connections and actions. When families, community groups, business and schools band together to support learning, young people achieve more in school, stay in school longer, and enjoy the experience more.
Great examples of school/community partnerships are happening all over the world. We need more of them, and we need to ensure they are healthy and relevant to the needs of 21st century learners.
Throughout my journey setting up the Reinventing School Challenge, I did a significant amount of research to ensure I had a thorough understanding of what existed already, what worked, and what was possible.
The more I searched, the themes for successful school transformation emerged:
Community/business school partnerships
Parental collaboration
Curriculum connected to real world experiences
Student voice
Cross generation learning
Locals designing solutions to local problems
Whole Community Engagement Is Key
To lift up and raise our schools to a place that suits all 21st century learners, help needs to come from many parts of the community. The leading roles should be alternated according to the need and focus of the particular aspect of the transformation project.
If we respect each other and acknowledge our unique contribution, we can move forward quickly in a positive environment where we can all be teachers and learners.
I'm approaching this post from an inclusive, design-focused view, and I put to you ideas that target and engage the four main players I believe can make all the difference in transforming our schools and curriculum today: students, parents, seniors/grandparents and local businesses.
Answers & Comments
Answer: As the old African proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." One could imagine then that it would take a community to raise a school. We can't rely on local, state, or federal governments to take ownership of the issues we face locally. We need to work as a community to nurture our schools for our particular community needs.
I believe the answer to real education/school transformation is strong, authentic community connections and actions. When families, community groups, business and schools band together to support learning, young people achieve more in school, stay in school longer, and enjoy the experience more.
Great examples of school/community partnerships are happening all over the world. We need more of them, and we need to ensure they are healthy and relevant to the needs of 21st century learners.
Throughout my journey setting up the Reinventing School Challenge, I did a significant amount of research to ensure I had a thorough understanding of what existed already, what worked, and what was possible.
The more I searched, the themes for successful school transformation emerged:
Community/business school partnerships
Parental collaboration
Curriculum connected to real world experiences
Student voice
Cross generation learning
Locals designing solutions to local problems
Whole Community Engagement Is Key
To lift up and raise our schools to a place that suits all 21st century learners, help needs to come from many parts of the community. The leading roles should be alternated according to the need and focus of the particular aspect of the transformation project.
If we respect each other and acknowledge our unique contribution, we can move forward quickly in a positive environment where we can all be teachers and learners.
I'm approaching this post from an inclusive, design-focused view, and I put to you ideas that target and engage the four main players I believe can make all the difference in transforming our schools and curriculum today: students, parents, seniors/grandparents and local businesses.
Explanation: