What if B.M. was in charge of Public Education?

[buttmuffin]

I’ve always wondered, what if Burners were left to build and construct public education? What would schools/classrooms look like? What would the curriculum consist of? If you could design a public school/classroom what would it look like? I’m hoping your responses will help me think out of the box with my own classroom.

So in an act of redundancy, If Burning Man had a school what would it look/be like?

Thanks!

[philosopher]

This question about a burner-run school system is interesting to ponder. It's close to one that has occupied me for a while, that is, the question of what Burning Man might have to say to a higher education establishment that faces some big issues of quality and integrity. I can't miss the energy and commitment of such a large number of people, including the varieties of play and the pervasiveness of the self-reliance/leave-no-trace ethic. It's such a contrast to the assembly-line metaphor that dominates education today.

It wouldn't be necessary to do a whole school system to explore this question in real life, of course. At least in the Bay Area, there must be enough burners to get a charter school going. That would be a fine project, at least in my fevered imagination.

But it's hard to imagine the usual over-regulated and infantilized public school classroom lending itself very well to inspirations from the playa, but it's been a long time since I taught high school and maybe things have changed.

Getting back to our topic, here's a quick sketch: A burner-designed classroom would look like a workshop/playspace adjoining a library with a garden that would bring kids and adults together to create and reflect on art of various kinds, from technological constructions to poetry and everything in between. History would once again be story-telling and self-reliance would be explored from multiple perspectives on personal and social levels.

[joel the ornery]

this sums up my opinion on the subject.

Won't get fooled again.

We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the foe, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they'd all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-by
And the parting on the left
Is now a parting on the right
And their beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

[dragonfly Jafe]

I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be a "classroom" in the traditional sense, rather it would be one big field trip, day & night. Oh, and there would not be any written tests (they create MOOP!). And the "curriculum" would change daily and be very personalized to each individual. Everybody would be teachers and students at the same time, and there would never be a graduation ceremony.

And it would be windy.

[buttmuffin]

"At least in the Bay Area, there must be enough burners to get a charter school going. "

"A burner-designed classroom would look like a workshop/playspace adjoining a library with a garden that would bring kids and adults together to create and reflect on art of various kinds, from technological constructions to poetry and everything in between. History would once again be story-telling and self-reliance would be explored from multiple perspectives on personal and social levels."

Your description reminds me very much of the Waldorf method of education. Training for this method takes place at Steiner College in Fair Oaks (California). And there is a group of people who got together (in Southern California) to form such a charter school...www.oceancharterschool.org

Thank you so much for your reply, it's such a cool idea

[MoisturePup]

A Burner school would be a school that teaches how to "do" not just how to comply. It would teach the children to value the contributions of all people to society, while respecting their own ability to contribute great things.

[theCryptofishist]

this article talks about a burner run school. Poi E.

[Apollonaris Zeus]

Body Painting 101

Sharing the Sandbox and the Act of Gifting Classes

Piss Clear body Purifying

Not all Clowns are safe to play with Aware Classes!

AIIZ

PS- you weren't really serious really

[LeChatNoir]

Wow... such a multifaceted idea. I’m gonna think on this one for a bit. But the first thing that came to mind was the philosophy behind the Montessori School idea and the article that the wondrous fishie mentioned.

Oh, and Joel, wether you care or not... I think you’re alright.