Blog Post 9

Based on the readings from this week, in-class school design project, and my own lived experiences I have developed a better perspective of the numerous characteristics that make up good schools. I believe schools should be places full of opportunities, not only for students but for teachers too. If you are not learning from your experiences as a student or as a teacher than you do not receive any benefits. A good school requires teachers who are willing to be creative with their teaching style and willing to invest in the future of their students.  When my partners and I were discussing the school design project we reflected upon our own personal experiences as students, and the factors that we thought contributed to developing a good school. We talked a lot about whether structure in academic curriculum served as an advantage to students and the influence that a more restricted curriculum can have on students. Ensuring a balanced curriculum among all schools is important because students deserve to have a standard, well-rounded school experience. Another thing that we discussed was the use of discipline and the impact that it can have on students learning. We also talked about our feelings towards Summerhill School and if we could imagine ourselves teaching or attending at a school like Summerhill. Lastly, although I do admire Neill for his passion for his school system, I am not sure if I would consider Summerhill a “good” school because of the type of learning environment that it provides for students.