We all know Arizona's public education system isn't getting rave reviews these days, but is that enough to want to unschool your kids?
Unschooling is one word for it. Another term is democratic education.
It's basically letting your kid decide what they want to learn rather than putting them in English, or math class.
The question is does it really work?
We're used to seeing kids in a classroom learning to read and write all at once and under their teacher's direction.
But there's a new option in town. One that bucks tradition for a more relaxed learning environment.
"I've realized everybody's teaching towards a standardized test. My child is not standard," said Phoenix Rising Free School Founder Diane Targovnik.
Targovnik got together with some other concerned parents to form Phoenix Rising Free School.
She said it's a democratic education system where the kids decide what they want to learn.
We found a list of potential curriculum on the school's website.
There are your typical options like attending a math class or researching the Civil War, but one is building a fort. One is climbing a tree.
How are those helping children with their education?" asked reporter Elizabeth Erwin.
"Because if you've ever tried to build a fort you'll realize geometry comes in, carpentry comes in there, life sciences and thinking comes in there," Targovnik said.
She argued kids use real world experience to learn those oh-so important fundamentals.
That's what piqued Marty Lamb's interest.
"They learned to walk and they learned to talk when they were ready, and I thought why should that stop at five or six," Lamb asked.
He's enrolling 6-year-old Zachary and 7-year-old Caleb in the Free School.
"It's kind of like a personalized, almost like a tutor you know," Lamb said.
"How can a 6-year-old know what they want to learn? How can a 6-year-old come in and say this is what I choose today? I mean, they could watch TV all day if they want," Erwin said.
"That's true," Lamb said.
But if you take a look around the classroom, you'll see TV isn't an option.
Backers said by giving the kids interesting options to stimulate learning, they'll end up right on track to go to college with their public school peers.
"Will they know the capitals of all 50 states? No, maybe not, unless it interests them. But they'll know how to get the information and in today's world that's what really counts," Targovnik said.
That brings up some key questions.
Targovnik said the private school can issue regular diplomas, and as long as students choose to take the SAT's college is definitely an option.
The school is open to kids ages 5 through 19 and mixes all ages together.
Targovnik said there will be one teacher for every five kids.
They plan to open the school right after Labor Day.
For more information on the Phoenix Rising Free School click http://www.phoenixfreeschool.org/.
Copyright 2011 KPHO. All rights reserved.
All
content ©Copyright 2000 - 2012, KPHO, Phoenix, AZ.
(A Meredith Corporation Station) and WorldNow. All rights
reserved.
