New American Schoolhouse

Narrated by students, the film chronicles life and learning at the Fairhaven School in Upper Marlboro, MD which practices an undiluted form of freedom and democracy that turns mainstream education theory on its head. Filmmaker Danny Mydlack.



Fairhaven School and Sudbury Valley School.

This is not a new idea to Jewish learning, see Modern Yeshiva � a Torah prohibition? post.
The interesting for me angle is how this school method relates to the Economist article I linked to few weeks ago. The article heralds the done of the personal and participatory media. Certainly it refers not only to media but to education as well. Perhaps the beginning of a seminal, dramatic cultural shift. I am undecided on this subject. I remember when I went to an American college I was surprised that the professors allowed too many questions from the students. And since most of the questions I deemed idiotic this was a source of great annoyance to me. I would rather the teacher speak and students shut up. At the same time I certainly feel that the entire top to bottom totalitarian model as exemplified by the Rebbe was terribly flawed.