Forwarded from <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I think the MaIne folk schools might be interested in the Gates Foundation
program to support small schools. Below is what we are thinking of in
Franklin County. If you know homeschoolers in this area that might like to
join let us know.
A Coalition for Self-Learning
Bill Ellis, General Coordinator
POBox 567
Rangeley, ME 04970 USA
<www.CreatingLearningCommunities.org>
PEOPLE ARE NOT THE PROBLEMS, THEY ARE THE SOLUTIONS
IF THE PEOPLE LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW.
----------FORWARDED MESSAGE-----------------------
I'm using the list <CCL-LLCs> as a sounding board on a two pronged proposal
to the Gates Foundation.
1) First as a model of networking 3 or 4 local learning communities.
2) One of the "learning communities" from Frankln Cty, Maine
Nothing is cast in concrete. And any group with their own operating
learning community with a 501(c)3 status status might do their own proposal.
And the form of the Franklin Cty learning community is probably unique to
this area. It is here only as an example of what other neighboorhoods might
do.
If there are others who want to join this, or some other form, of joint
proposal to the Gates, or any other, Foundation under the TRANET 501(c)3
status I'll be pleased to help develop a collaborative networking proposal.
Please send a one page pre-proposal of what you are and what you hope to
become with cost figures if you have them.
-----------FIRST DRAFT ROUGH PROPOSAL FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY----------
A COALITION FOR SELF-LEARNING
POBox 567, Rangeley, ME 04970, (207)864-3784. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
03/03/03
Memorandum
TO: Homeschoolers of Frankllin County
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing $31 million to nonprofit
groups to start 1,000 small, non-profit alternative high schools for 36,000
students. This works out to be 1000 highschools with 36 students each with
an average grant of $31,000 for each school.
The program fits well into an idea developed by �A Coalition for
Self-Learning� to create �learning communities� owned and controlled by
self-learners themselves with their familiies. Our concept is to move
beyond homeschooling alone and establish local networks of self-learners
working in mutual aid to develop local learning opportunties for all
children and adults.
It strikes me that Franklin County of Maine is a perfect community in which
self learners could work together to become a model for other rural counties
and poorly served neighborhoods across the country. This memorandum is to
explore your interest in participating.
As you know Franklin County of Maine is a conglomeration of some 10 small
towns of roughly 1000 citizen each separated from one another by an average
of 20 miles served by our �city� center Farmington with a university and
about 5000 citizens. I�m not sure of exactly how many self-learners there
are in the county but in our one town of Rangeley there have been 5 that I
have turored in science or math. I know of a larger group in Kingfield and
scattered others in Phillips, Stratton, and Strong. Our first job will be to
find just how large this group is.
�A Coalition for Self-Learning� is a transnational ad hoc collection of
indviduals and groups who believe that the future learning system will be
based in the concept of each individual having the opportunity to learn what
s/he wants, when s/he wants, and how s/he wants with the support of the
family and the community. The Coaltion met on the Internet in 1999. In 2000
a member in Japan suggested we write a joint book. A member in Denmark
offered to put individual chapters on a website. A member in Vermont agreed
to edit and publish the book. In August 200O, �Creating Learning
Communities� was published.In 2001 the book was followed by an addenda
Guidebooklet on how to organize learnin communities. In 2002 an editorial
task group initiated a newsletter �Learning Cooperative Quarterly.� In 2003
the group is developing information on �Financing Learning Communities. All
this has been accomplished with few of our transnationa members ever meeting
one another face to face.
If you are interested in following up on these ideas and their history up
cam borrow a copy of "Creating Learning Communities" through you local
library from the Maine State Library of the University of Maine. I can sell
you a copy for $21.95, and will provide a copry of the Guidebook to
homeschooler in Franklin County that wants one. They sell for $4.00 each
should you want others.
The long range goal of the Coalition is to create a network of networks of
independent self learners and the services and facilities they need. The
Coalition is inviting other learning communities, homeschool support groups,
learning circles and other forms of learning collaboratives from across the
nation to join together to work together to provide self learning
opportunties, necessary facilities, mentors, equipment. amd servoces so that
every child will have the chance and the motivation to be a lifelong
self-learner.
When TRANET was initiated at the U.N.Conference on Human Settlement in
Vancouver it was called a �non organization� because the founding members
from villages around the world did not want a centralized bureaucracy
telling them what to do in their local communities. TRANET�s
non-organizational form was highlighted by John Maisbitt in �Megtrends� to
exemplifty �Neworking.� The form of decentralized organizing has recently
been given the name of �chaordic� in Dee Hock, founder of VISA in his book
�Birth of the Chaordic Age.� The central theme is organizing from the
bottom up, rather than the top down hierarchal organization of command and
control of most organizing. The idea we have for this Franklin county and
other related self-learner networks is to be a facilitator or local actions
and not a controller.
As a homeschooler in Franklin County you are already a rung up on this
ladder. Our local goal is to be determined by you. TRANET (A TRANsnational
NETwork for Alternavies and Transformation) has been a 501(c)3 tax exempt
organization since 1977. �A Coalition for Self-Learning� is one project of
TRANET. Others include the Rangeley Youth Theatre, the local ISP
<@rangeley.org>, and other grassroots projects. The project suggested here
will be another separate project of this tax exmept organization.
I urge you as a homeschooler and/or as member of a homeschool support group
to think of what services and facilities might make homescholing more
efficient and fruitful for youself and for Franklin County. I could think
of some things that might be developed. e.g. Joint field trips to farms and
businesses in the county, the state, or even beyond; a monthly or weekly
meeting of all Franklin County homeschoolers; coperative programs with
libraries, museums, 4-H clubs, colleges and other community resources; a
jointly supported library of books equipment and facilities; a cyberspace
network for you homeschooled families in Franklin County; a community mentor
who could help establish learning opportunities in the county and counsel
members on how to learn what they want, when the want and how they want.
My thought at present is to gather comments, ideas and instructions from all
the Franklin County homeschoolers who may wish to apply. These will be
collated and sent with little editing to the Gates and other foundations
that may wish to support this early step toward a universal learning system
that serves all citizens of America.
We look forward to your comment and suggestions.
Bill Ellis
**Folkschool-list archives are at:
<http://www.mint.net/folkschool/helpnet/archives.htm>
Sponsored by Pine Tree Folk School
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