As an alternative to the traditional public school, some educators recommend an environment rich in academic, artistic, and athletic stimuli, from which the child can take what he wants when he wants it. This survey represents the observations of visitors to classrooms in the San Francisco Bay Area which are run on the free learner principle.…

As an alternative to the traditional public school, some educators recommend an environment rich in academic, artistic, and athletic stimuli, from which the child can take what he wants when he wants it. This survey represents the observations of visitors to classrooms in the San Francisco Bay Area which are run on the free learner principle.…

Talk delivered at National Association of Independent Schools, March 1, 1969.

The headmaster of a british school advises U.S. teachers to exercise a certain amount of skepticism and ask questions before accepting some of the exciting practices of the new British primary schools. (WY)

Claims that over-reaction to the open school concept should result in converting schools to a boring and aimless wasteland'' unless precision, purposefulness, and efficiency'' are maintained. (DS)

John Dewey's doctrine that education is a process of continuing growth is analyzed and critiqued. Dewey's principles of interaction and continuity and his commitment to scientific problem-solving and democratic values are discussed. Inconsistencies in Dewey's thought are pointed out. (PP)

If schools are to reorganize to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged children, should they become freer or more directed? This paper analyzes twelve schools, all of which in varying degrees have proved successful, and chosen because they indicate the broad range of free and directed school programs now being developed for disadvantaged…

Without well-defined criteria for success, all radical innovations are doomed to failure. To facilitate successful experimentation the following are necessary: an outside agency to conduct evaluation; criteria of success acceptable to innovators and critics; and, in control and comparison groups, assessment and accounting of the initial versus…