Voices from the New American Schoolhouse (trailer)

View the full 82 minute video free online:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...

Voices from the New American Schoolhouse explores life outside the usual educational box. Narrated exclusively by students, the film chronicles life and learning at the Fairhaven School in Upper Marlboro, MD which practices an undiluted form of freedom and democracy that turns mainstream education theory on its head. Filmmaker Danny Mydlack enjoyed unrestricted access over a two-year period to produce this candid and unblinking encounter with kid-powered learning.

• Category

  Education

[glowingdarkmatter25]

Yeah, whatever happend to diversity? For those who want traditional and untraditional I agree with oneother video poster that putting a most 2 hrs in the morning of traditional schooling, then letting them have at it the rest of the day. For the homeschool lovers. You get your fix, and then they get theirs. Best of both worlds.

[dmydlack]

This comment assumes that each individual student isn't 'getting their 2 hrs.' I got news for you.

[alibug2u]

Children are perfectly capable of determining what is expected of them with out being told what to think. The point here is they are also capable of examining the situation and deciding whether it's in their best interest to do what is expected of them. To many people in this world do what is expected of them because "it's what everyone else is doing". Children here develop a sense of self. I Graduated here and I am perfectly capable of understanding algebra.

[quinnsans]

I think of this more as an analogy. take for example a young child being forced by his/her parent to learn piano. (ie my little sister & also me) however due to the fact that authoritarian constraints were placed on the child, the child will have a dislike of the piano.

However if they were on their own terms, they may or may not have chosen to play piano, but they would've been happier.

Just me trying to get some thoughts out of my head.

[Nate Lavallee]

Really? You don't believe in age or gender? You must therefore believe that it is acceptable for a 60 year old man to fuck a 6 year old girl. You must also believe that it is possible for two members of the same sex to procreate. That's crazy, and I'm sure that you don't really believe those things.

[Nate Lavallee]

How do you think your education at the school affected your potential for success in post-secondary school and life after that? Was it a help or a hindrance? What are you, or anyone you know who's graduated from the school, doing now?

[JadeEarthRabbit]

Oh my goodness I would love to go here. I hate being surrounded by inarticulate 13 year olds all day. these children don't say "like" and "um" every other word. These kids described everything I have ever felt. I hate the public school system and I wish so badly that I could go here :(

[MusicPlaylistEmail]

btw i found this video googling,i hate doing homework :)im in college,and i just dont feel like writing a paper about a work of art.if i wanted to know about a work of art,then i would on my own time.and also for english class, i wrote an argumentative paper on sexual harassment awareness...instead of writing some long paper,which i hate,i couldve talked to the director of diversity department and interviewed him.that wouldve been more effective.i dont think im going to survive for long

[MusicPlaylistEmail]

i dont believe in age, i dont believe in gender. it's great to hear others stating beliefs deviant from conventional wisdom. a breath of fresh air

[Mango Swiss]

I'm in love with a youtube playlist.

Great work. Loved the film.

[youteacher78]

These results mean absolutely nothing because most or all of the research is done with kids who have had a lifetime of traditional schooling and because discovery learning in a traditional setting equals democratic education precisely zero. It's the freedom and not the type of learning that matters. There is data about it, I can't paste links here, just try Sudbury Valley or send me a mail.

[clandestineirony]

(continued from above comment) while going there, and guess how that happened? By playing a video game. Wish I could have stayed longer.

I am currently attending University for my bachelors. My work as of this point focuses largely on social justice. I have done some world travel, interned with a local art studio and currently am laying the foundation for new non-profits to work with disadvantaged youth and homeless populations. I will attend Amnesty International's US conference in the spring.

[clandestineirony]

Bravo. I'm a former Sudbury school student too, went to Clearwater in Seattle (now it is in Bothell, it's moved around a few times). Unforturtunately, my parents had a hard time letting a girl make her own descisions, so I only got to go there a year. Still the best year of my life though. I later on took a nanotechnology class at community college because I became interested in the subject while going to this school. I actually became extemely interested in all the sciences