Democratic Education in San Diego?

Sitting in a café on Adams Ave and see this posted on the wall:

Schools Are Prisons
http://leewaysudburyschool.org/

Ironically, I'm currently researching collaborative designs for learning with students.

At Flex Academy, High School Mimics the Workplace

http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/03/at-flex-academy-high-school-mimics-the-workplace/

Staggering Numbers & An Inquiry

"In recent decades, as more districts and states have adopted zero-tolerance policies, imposing mandatory suspension for a wide range of behavioral misdeeds, more and more students have been sent away from school for at least a few days, an approach that is often questioned as paving the way for students to fall behind and drop out." - NYTimes

This article reminds me of a question - Is our attempt to develop stricter consequences for behavioral misdeeds actually exacerbating the problem and contributing to a further decline in behavior or attitude?

The rest of the article here:
Black Students Face More Discipline, Data Suggests
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/education/black-students-face-more-harsh-discipline-data-shows.html?ref=education

Empathy

From Changemakers.com (http://www.changemakers.com/empathy):

Why Empathy?

Empathy is a critical skill in a world defined by rapid change--one that is foundational to the social, teamwork and leadership skills required to contribute succesfully to society.

As the pace of change accelerates, the level of empathy required to collaborate in the workplace, or on other types of teams that bring change to the world, is higher than ever before.

If you aren’t proficient in empathy, you’re severely limiting your opportunities to contribute to society, and are at risk of being left behind. If we are to create a world where everyone can be a player, provide input, and create value, we must grasp, practice, and develop empathy.

Empathy is more than just awareness and concern. It is about cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution. It’s about the ability to communicate effectively and understand the motivations of others. Empathy is about standing up, not standing by, uncovering what’s below the surface through active listening and putting words into action.

This is why Ashoka is launching a global initiative to ensure that children master empathy, enabling them to be effective citizens, leaders and trailblazers.

Creating the future we envision demands we rethink our approach to school culture and curricula. By launching an online collaborative competition, Activating Empathy: Transforming Schools to Teach What Matters,we’re challenging teachers, principals,

parents, students, and other innovators to share ideas—whether by a project, a program, or a new learning experience—for advancing empathy in education.

Enter the competition today to share your passion for creating a world guided by empathy and collaboration, one led by empowered young people who succeed in the classroom and in every walk of life.

Equality vs. Excellence in Finland's Schools

http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/12/what-americans-keep-ignoring-about-finlands-school-success/250564/

This American Life: Kid Politics

Teachers Resist High-Tech Push in Idaho Schools

"Ann Rosenbaum... and many of her peers in Idaho are resisting a statewide plan that dictates how computers should be used in classrooms."

Read on:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/technology/idaho-teachers-fight-a-reliance-on-computers.html?_r=1