> abandon the public school system, which most of our country (and the
> world) embraces, and devote ourselves solely to the Sudbury model (or any
> one model?)
I agree, that isn't going to happen any time soon. However,
granting young people the personal Rights and Freedom to make
their own qualified decisions as full citizens does seem like
a reasonable idea.
> It is the principle of respect for young people's autonomy
> and intelligence that I support, and I for one will continue to work for
> change (no matter how slow) in all schools.
I applaud you for being here, open, and looking at other ideas.
After reading John Holt's work I became discouraged at ever changing
the current system. I figured if he couldn't change it, I would not.
Then I read John Taylor Gatto and figured if he couldn't change it then
surely, I couldn't. But, that doesn't mean that it won't change as many
more educators open to new ideas in educating people. Or, are we not
actually updating old ideas.
Then, I learned about Sudbury!! I personally feel that SVS is the best
idea I've ever heard and nothing compares. Even then, I still have to
swallow hard occasionally, but that is probably true of parenting, in
general.
Deborah