Folks, I hope you get a kick out of this, which I also sent to our
state Senators and Representatives...
Below is my letter published today in the Denver Post. Jared wanted to co-sign
it, but that would have impinged on his 1/month op-ed.
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_5368477 (4th letter down)
re: "Reinventing education; Legislators from both parties eye radical reforms,"
Feb. 27 news story.
Given the National Assessment of Educational Progress report of educational
failure, I'm glad state Sen. Peter Groff is calling for "complete and total
reformation of the educational system" and is looking to "take the discussion
out to the whole state."
I suggest we try letting kids run their own education. Since 1968, the Sudbury
model schools (www.sudval.org) have given kids from age 4 through high school
complete freedom and democracy, with the kids ending up testing on par with
their controlled peers, but with far more initiative and creativity, at lower
costs than public schools.
When I toured Wheat Ridge's Alpine Valley School with former Colorado Board of
Education member Jared Polis, I met poised, humble and accomplished kids doing
exactly as they pleased within laws made at weekly school meetings, in which
everyone from the youngest to the principal have one vote on everything,
including the budget, hiring and firing. The principal/founder admitted he'd
been disciplined more than once for not washing his dishes.
Evan Ravitz, Boulder
http://Vote.org
Taking the "mock" out of democracy!
Evan Ravitz, founder (303)440-6838 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Fool's gold exists because there is real gold." -Rumi
also: http://Vote.org/photos http://Vote.org/paradise
