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"School is not preparation for life, but is life."
-John Dewey
Inspirations
Our experiences with the Reggio Emilia and Free Schooling approaches have significantly impacted the philosophy that we are putting forth as a starting point for The Patchwork School. Just as we do, both of these approaches hold strong images of children as competent human beings that deserve respect. In addition, they both promote non-coercive, child-directed learning through active engagement with the environment in a supportive community. As for differences, the Reggio approach provides more of a focus on long-term, in-depth, project work. The Free School, on the other hand, is particularly interested in the right to democratic participation, both of which are concepts that we value and certainly don’t find incompatible.
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The Reggio Emilia Approach
Both Elizabeth and Michele have spent the 2006-2007 school year working and studying at the Boulder Journey School in Boulder, Colorado. To quote from their website, BJS is “a full-day, year-round school that welcomes over 200 young children ages 6 weeks to 6 years and their families.... Beginning in 1995, the BJS educators have been engaged in a study of the world-renowned schools for young children in Reggio Emilia, Italy.... This study has resulted in ongoing collaboration with educators in Reggio Emilia and with educators throughout the world who are inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education."
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Free Schooling
Elizabeth also spent a year working at the Albany Free School in Albany, New York. This is a school founded on the idea that it would be “based on freedom and democratic principles that was equally, if not more accessible to children of the poor…. We are a community far more than a school - a safe, nurturing, open space where daily fifty-five kids ages three through fourteen, eight full-time teachers, a cook, a steady stream of interns, volunteers and visitors, as well as myriad goats, chickens, rabbits, pet rats, lizards and goldfish work, play, learn and eat together” (quoted from website). In addition to the Albany Free School, she also worked at a similar school called Tamariki in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Academic Inspirations
In addition to the approaches mentioned above, we have also constructed aspects of our philosophy from various other philosophers and educators. Some of the most influential for us include Loris Malaguzzi, A.S. Neill, Lev Vygotsky, John Dewey, Jean Piaget, Paulo Freire, David Hawkins, Howard Gardner, Carlina Rinaldi.
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