Polaris K-12

Today I did something very different. I decided to go check out one of the local "choice" schools in the Anchorage SD. Both of my cousins attended Polaris k-12 and one of them currently is an 11th grader there. This particular school operates on an "open option" system where the majority of student learning comes from self-direction. It looks different than a "normal" school. The young students don't tend to walk in lines. The high school students appreciate discussion and work on self-directed projects. All parent-teacher confrences are student led and so forth. It was amazing to see students going about their business in the hall. At this school, there is no fear of loosing control of the kids-they are there because it is valuable and they want to be. The school does not admit on merit alone, only the learning styles and drive that make self-directed and group study work an adventageous way for students to learn.
The students call their teachers by their first names at Polaris K-12. I went to Mark's biology class. It also just so happens that my cousin was in that class. He was introducing a unit on sex ed...that was interesting. He decided to let the kids come up with the topics that they would really like to cover, and then they took an opinion poll about issues involving the topics they may study in sex ed. It was great to see how Mark used the survey and the anonymous class results to open the discussion about differences of opinion and morality. This will set the stage for an open and (for the most part) mature conversation about these private issues. The students handled it with care and ernest, but also had their moments to giggle. My cousin threw a book across the room at his friend in jest...and I had to admonish him to everyone's delight from my perch at the back of the class!
This particular teacher keeps 5 birds in his room, two of which are a baby cockatoo and a green amazon who sings opera. Also, he keeps mealworms, crickets, a bearded lizard, several gerbils, some sort of frogs and another lizard in his room. What a menagarie! It inspires me to propose bringing Phin to school (my bird) to be with my class this spring. I am sure that he would love it, and due to the fact that I have two cages it would be quite easy!
Tomorrow is my last day here. I am headed to Muldoon to say goodbye to the kids in the morning, and then off on a plane with me. I will try to post up the inevitable photos in case anyone is still reading this silly little blog!