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Examines three model schools, established as alternatives to expulsion for selected disruptive students.
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(BMJ Books) Annual for prospective medical students by medical students. Answers questions such as: How important is work experience? What is a selection interview like? Can I afford to be a student for 5 or 6 years? and What happens after graduation? Provides unbiased data on the strengths and weaknesses of each school. Softcover. ... Read more

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This book is a case study illustrating how one urban school district overcame barriers to allow for effective communication across ethnic and socioeconomic lines, enabling the community to build consensus on new policies and programs for elementary and middle school students at risk for educational failure. The information presented here will be of interest to all urban educators who believe that current policies and programs for at-risk students are failing and who are seeking new answers and ways forward. ... Read more

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This work provides a guide to a variety of strategies and classroom activities: a collection of experience and ideas about different teaching methods which should benefit both trainee and practising teachers. ... Read more

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The raising of standards in schools is a global challenge to policy makers. To overcome it means to remove the ongoing influence of poverty on school success. In an age of global mobility, economic polarization and unprecedented environmental and cultural challenges, the education of all children and young people to higher levels has become a key issue of international policy.

This book presents new thinking and practice for progressing school change today, drawn from the works of authors around the world. Educational policy-making has been dominated by particular human capital oriented theories of school improvement, formulated and implemented in neo-liberal political environments. This book seeks to challenge this dominance. It draws both on contemporary innovations in practice and theory and long standing traditions of alternative thinking and practice. Linking together and articulating other ways of conceiving of and implementing school change, it bases its findings on values of equality and global citizenship. It shows how schools can work to make different knowledges, languages, narratives, truths and ways of being integral to mainstream curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and school cultures and structures.

The book is directed at all who are concerned with progressive school change and the promotion of democratic citizenship and social justice. This will include education students, those currently studying for school leadership positions, heads, teachers and policy makers.

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Using critical theory as a foundation, Alternatives inEducation posits psychology's role in educating at-risk youth as thenumber one ingredient for student success. To reach and teachdisaffected youth, the best psychological practices must be wedded tomodern, multicultural perspectives. Alternatives in Education bringsfree choice and opportunity to a milieu of students and teachersalienated by competitive and hegemonic school models. Blendingcritical theory into the actual stories of the Wonalancet AlternativeSchool, Alternatives in Education speaks to practicing educators ofat-risk youth. ... Read more

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Lives of Passion, School of Hope tells how a progressive public school in Colorado has transformed the lives of its alumni. It is about what happens to children and adults when they are encouraged to follow their bliss. It is also about personal empowerment and the development of confidence, curiosity, and compassion in our public schools.

This book offers stories and reflections from the alumni of a school where the students hired the teachers, ran their own government, evaluated their own progress, and designed their own curriculum. It's the story of an extended family of students, staff, and parents who have formed their own community of learners over the course of thirty-eight years.

We all have an important stake in our public schools. In these days of teaching for testing, standardization, school violence, and alienation, readers will want to know about a public school that has not only weathered the political and social storms of nearly four decades, but has done so with integrity and success. The alumni and the author offer their perspectives on how a school without grades, credits, or a set curriculum has affected them as adults. Some say it saved their lives!

Lives of Passion answers questions frequently asked about a school so different from the mainstream: did students succeed in college, what do they do for a living, are they living according to the ideals of the school, are they happy and productive as adults in a democratic society? The answers to these questions are in turn surprising, riveting, and insightful.

It points toward a future that may depend on the injection of heart, hope, and passion into our public schools. It is the story of the place of personal growth in public education, and how we can be inspired to create a better world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A top pick for those considering alternative educational methods
When the kids run the school, unbelievable things can occur. "Lives of Passion, School of Hope: How One Public School Ignites a Life Long Love of Learning" tells the story of a truly unique school where the students run the show. In spite of all pessimistic outlooks, the school under this method has had untold success and Rick Posner does well in telling readers how this unique method works. "Lives of Passion, School of Hope" is a top pick for those considering alternative educational methods.

A great testament of what high school should be for young people
Rick Posner has written an extensive account of the history, structure and success of Jefferson County Open School, which has been in existence for 40 years.In this book, he documents why the environment of a school is more important than the rigid and unrelenting structure of class periods, grades, credits and assignments that have no real connection to a student's own life.Near the beginning of the book, the author refers to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, where it is apparent that someone who is in an unsafe environment is unlikely to be successful because their basic needs have not been met, as is the case for many students in high school.He writes about the structure of the school (Contrary to misconceived beliefs, the school does have a structure - it isn't a free floating unstructured school.#, which includes a proactive advisory system where each instructor serves as an advisor to a group of students and meets with them regularly to do group activities - this allows instructors to really get to know the students and work with them closely through good and bad times, a series of six passages #or projects) where students get to learn about themselves and their interests through learning about the world around them, and a weekly school meeting called governance where ALL students get the opportunity at chairing meetings, taking minutes, and making announcements and presentations. There's more I'd like to mention, such as school trips, which were my key to success, but my review would be too long.The way the school is set up allows all students to have a stake in the learning process.A stake in the learning process something that is mysteriously absent from most public schools, yet is sorely needed for students who could do so much more with their lives than just getting by.Also, the author writes extensively about the success of so many students over the years for which JCOS meant so much to them well into their adult lives.This book should serve as a testament to what school should be for everyone in the 21st century.

When I graduated over 20 years ago from what I called "Mountain Open" (The high school was in Evergreen, Colorado at the time.), there was a real stigma attached to having attended a public school without credits or grades.I thought that when I went on to college, I would do just as poorly if not worse than I did the last time I attended a school with grades.This turned out to be entirely untrue, as my grade point averages for my associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees I received after high school were all higher than the average GPA of JCOS students who went on to college (in a survey that the author of this book did, the average GPA for

"Student Friendly"&"Reader Friendly"
I've never read about a more "Child&Adult Friendly" school in my life! This book needs to be read by all those educators who know in their hearts that there must be a better way as well as by every parent considering educational alternatives for their youngsters. Even though Rick's writing is so very "Reader Friendly" as he documents "How One Public School Ignites a Lifelong Love of Learning," I find that I must reread it to fully appreciate its beauty!

A true gift!
Dr. Posner speaks through the alumni of the Open School in this engaging and thought-provoking book. While describing the school philosophy and structure, he weaves candid and often inspirational interviews with alumni throughout his narrative. As a former student of this remarkable school I was reminded once again of its continued influence on my life. A true and timely gift to alums, educators, and future students of all schools!

I always knew I was getting something special
As an alumna of the Jefferson County Open School, and someone who has watched this book move from an idea to a reality over 8 years of hard work, I am very gratified by the result.It is far too easy to become a bit jaded out in the 'real world,' but this book was a great touchstone for me, bringing me back to my roots in the philosophy of the school and some of the 'why's' behind my decisions as an adult.For those of us who were lucky enough to get a democratic, open education, at the Open School or elsewhere, this is a great read and a profound way to retouch on core values.

Also, this kind of thinking about education is a *real* paradigm shift for most.I'm so glad there is a book that I can pass on to others to share these ideas and values in education.It's a great read, too, so I can recommend it knowing I am not asking friends and acquaintances to plow through a dry text.Enjoy! ... Read more

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Peachtree Alternative School has some of the toughest kids that society has to offer: kids who have dealt drugs, attempted rape, brought weapons to school, and made terrorist threats. Overcrowding creates a volatile situation. Teachers survive threats, assaults, brawls, and rampages with their therapeutic philosophies barely intact.The Forgotten Room is a teacher survival story. It examines the darker side of American education through chronicling the course of Peachtree Alternative School's tenth and final year. It offers a glimmer of hope in the safe zones created by hardworking teachers, but it is also a cautionary tale about the consequences of bureaucrats neglecting troubled teens.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Interesting and Informative
I am a social worker, and work with foster families.

Many of the children in foster care utilize "alternative schooling" and before I read this book, I had little information about them- other than what had been told to me by the families and sometimes the actual students.This book was enlightening in that respect. From a reader's perspective, I would also like to say that the book is extremely readable. It is more like a glimpse into a personal diary than a textbook. One person's personal experience speaks volumes and provides an education.

Well done. I recommend this to other readers.

A must read for those trying to understand why a good future starts in the classroom
Assigned to teach the worst of the worst is something that few teachers ever want. "The Forgotten Room: Inside a Public Alternative School for At-Risk Youth" is the story of a the final year of Peachtree Alternative School, and how the teachers faced day to day challenges dealing with students who seemed to be on the quick path to a self-destructive life. Through the hell of these students, some teachers still tried to change their lives and break that course, with varying success. "The Forgotten Room" is a must read for those trying to understand why a good future starts in the classroom. ... Read more

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Contains a complete set of required classes, along with grading rubrics and typical standards covered in a private school, charter school, alternative school, or at home. ... Read more

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This groundbreaking study of an innovative charter school is the first to look closely at adolescent identity by analyzing the language of narratives told in school. The author helps us to understand why adolescents sometimes make choices that seem incomprehensible to the adults who work with them. This unique book links issues of school reform with close analysis of language and interaction within a school to help us understand the needs and desires of some of today’s diverse adolescent students. Both compelling and illuminating, this important book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the human effects (and not just the resultant test scores) of school reform. ... Read more

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This is a handbook for teachers and counsellors, special educators and mental health practitioners in school settings. Its goal is to help these experts best deal with children who exhibit overt signs of depression. Rather than avoiding these youngsters, or downloading them to psychiatrists, the approach here is to attack the problem directly, and early, not by treating the children as though they were ill, but instead, via a "social learning framework", explicitly acknowledging the most important educational as well as emotional factors involved. All elements of the book are based on many years of hands-on experience in dealing with this problem directly at the local school level. ... Read more

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Professional Negligence Litigation in Practice has been specifically written to provide students with a detailed introduction to the complex legal issues surrounding professional negligence disputes. Concentrating on two specific areas of professional negligence; clinical negligence and solicitors' negligence, this manual examines and provides practical guidance on how such a case might be most effectively prepared and presented.

Split into five distinct parts; the first part of the manual covers selected areas of the substantive law as it relates to professional negligence cases, building on students' existing knowledge of the Civil Procedural Rules and examining the pre-action protocols and the role of the case management conference. Part III reflects the pragmatic approach adopted by the manual, and has been specifically designed to develop students' drafting skills to the advanced level required in professional negligence cases. The final part of the manual focuses on providing students with an introduction to the key people and bodies whom they will commonly encounter in this area of practice. It also provides consideration of the availability and impact of funding arrangements on professional negligence cases and alternative dispute resolution.

This manual will be an invaluable guide for students wishing to practice in civil common law chambers, particularly in the areas of professional negligence or personal injury. ... Read more

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Does institutionalizing our children for six hours a day, five days a week, really bring out the best in them? In his provocative new book, Matt Hern argues that there are alternatives to school as we know it. Hern believes that local communities are in the best position to decide what kind of schooling their children need. In suggesting ways that we can leave the traditional school model behind, he sketches a future in which personal autonomy and social change go hand in hand. In the process, he shows how children can thrive outside of school. ... Read more

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Powerful. Creative. Brave.
This is a book that was crying out to be written.It is an articulate, passionate, and informative argument for endingstate monopoly education.Hern believes the question is not whether this will happen, but when.He may be right: the constituency for ending monopoly education is broad, encompassing everyone from human rights advocates to religious home-schoolers, from anarchists to libertarian Republicans.Hern believes there are as many ways to learn as their are children; his approach is decidedly child and community centred.Yet, Hern ultimately subordinates his preferred pedagogy to the greater vision, anticipating a pluralistic universe of learning alternatives in a post-monopoly world. ... Read more

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"It was hard in the beginning; I didn't think I was going to like it."–student

"This ain't even a real school, man. This is for discipline."–student

"I want to go to college and become a paramedic."–student

"Know what you learn in this program? You learn to suck up."–student

"The school district would not like what I'm doing here, but I think these kids need it."–history teacher

"This is my real ministry."–community liaison

These are only some of the voices in Law and Order and School, Shira Birnbaum's riveting study of an education and rehabilitation program for troubled teenagers in a Southern city. Locally acclaimed as one of the better programs of its kind in the region, "Academy" exemplifies a new kind of institution, providing transitional school services under contract with both educational and juvenile justice agencies.

Birnbaum's narrative focuses on curriculum, teaching, behavior management, and the social organization and culture of the program, offering a close-up view of the everyday classroom interactions that frame student achievement and, ultimately, program outcomes. What do students learn? What do teachers teach? What educational and rehabilitative goals are embedded in official and unofficial policy? What processes inside and outside the building help or hinder the attainment of those goals?

As educational and justice agencies look increasingly to private subcontractors to deliver an array of services and growing numbers of young people are channeled into non-traditional educational settings and correctional institutions, it is imperative that educators and the general public understand how these institutions work and what problems their students and staffs encounter. This on-the-ground examination of education within the juvenile justice system will open your eyes to how we educate some of our neediest children. ... Read more