"Students Vote to Extend School Hours"

Students' Decision Reflects Popularity of The Beach School's Democratic Education Program

Mar 4, 2008

KRISTIN SIMPSON
Staff at The Beach School

TORONTO - Students at The Beach School, an independent school in Toronto's east end, voted on Tuesday to lengthen their school day by one hour. Students took advantage of the school's democratic community environment, in which each student and staff member has an equal say in school policies, to move to a later closing time. Students will spend this extra hour pursuing activities of their choice at a school where students follow individualized, self-directed curriculum based on their own interests.

At a time when many schools have moved towards standardized tests, increased homework, and a more rigidly demanding curriculum, The Beach School represents the opposite end of the spectrum. The school's educational philosophy is that students learn best when they can take responsibility for meaningful decisions about their own education, helping to shape their school community and deciding what, when and how to learn.

Some families seek out The Beach School because they are attracted to its emphasis on personal responsibility, while others find it a welcome relief from the external pressures of more traditional education. In either case, parents are happy about their children's positive school experience. "I'm glad they're extending the hours," says mother Tane Akamatsu. "I find it so ironic that my son doesn't want to leave school at the end of the day, and can't wait for holidays to end so he can go back to school!"

 

 

 Note: the event was covered by local newspapers: