This book draws together the experiences, insights, and findings of some of the world's leading staff developers in open and flexible education. It is designed to provide an overview of the trends, influences and events which are shaping the work of these professionals, and the policy changes, processes and outcomes they are helping to bring about…

Describing Poland's 1978 educational model based on what is termed the "open school" concept (a concept similar to what is known in the U.S. as community education), this document presents: (1) Data on the Polish People's Republic; (2) The Concept of an Open School; (3) The Role of School in the Transformation of the Rural Community and…

To examine the cultural context and theoretical basis of an educational system similar to the British infant school approach, this study undertook observation and analysis of a British middle school practicing what is called "informal education" (to differentiate it from other similar innovations such as open education, individualized…

A portrait of future North American society is painted, and the role of formal education within that society discussed. The importance of adaptability as a means to meet the needs of a changing society is stressed. Open education and an increased attention to cultural pluralism within the educational structure are encouraged, and a discussion of…

Articles from a conference on nontraditional education and state-level issues are presented. The first article by Frederic Jacobs and George B. Weathersby summarizes some of the major trends and policy issues regarding nontraditional education. Next Samuel B. Gould considers why states should support nontraditional education and what strategies…

This collection of 14 papers explores aspects of open education for middle level schools. The first paper challenges open educators to work for the reform of absurd and obsolete educational practices. The second discusses management of the open environment. The third investigates problems of linking learners and learning activities. Other papers…

The Middle Years Alternative program (MYA) designed for seventh and eighth graders, stresses such objectives as ungraded classes, informal assessment, personal goal setting, and parent and student participation. This evaluation report examined progress toward achieving MYA objectives, and tests two hypotheses implied in the literature: first, that…

Six selected nontraditional approaches to curriculum at the University of Minnesota, each leading to a baccalaureate degree, are described. The programs are designed to provide flexibility to students enrolled in the university or to extend a university education to people not otherwise served. Each involves individual student selection of work to…

New York State schools have adopted a variety of alternative schools and programs. The schools and programs include free schools, community schools, open education schools, street academies, schools without walls, minischools within schools, minicourses in the curriculum, and alternative programs that bridge the gap between schools and colleges,…

This catalog presents 40 of the optional educational programs developed in New York State that accommodate factors such as student needs, parental preferences, and teacher interests. The catalog includes guidelines for establishing alternative learning programs and a request for information from other New York schools that have established such a…

The National Literacy Mission Authority has begun pilot testing an innovative open distance education program for newly literate individuals in 20 districts of India. Using open and distance education where literacy is at its infancy is feasible because newly literate persons can manage to read printed material and have the motivation to read and…

The Sudbury Valley School was founded in 1968 by a group of Massachusetts parents who felt that a child is a person, worthy of full respect as a human being. It was intended that a nurturing environment be created in which the children themselves chose what they wished to do and scheduled their time. Democracy was a cornerstone of the school's…

The Sudbury Valley School is a nontraditional private school founded in 1968 as a place where each student could be trusted fully to make every decision about how to grow into an adult. This book describes a study conducted in 1991 to determine what became of Sudbury students after they left. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data…

Two interviews with Akira, a 7-year-old student, describe life at a Japanese residential free school. Modeled after the Summerhill School, the main components are voluntary lessons, self-government through weekly schoolwide meetings and smaller dormitory meetings, and extensive experiential learning through project work. Akira likes Kinokuni…

New educational technology supports a new vision of learning and teaching at Silver Ridge Elementary School in Silverdale (Washington), part of the Strategy 2020 design of the Central Kitsap School District. Technological and pedagogical innovation features extensive use of computers, flexible building arrangements, and special education in…