WEEKLYPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM •JUNE 12, 2013 5 Philly Free School’s second year of Democratic Education continued from page 1


model worldwide. Just to clarify, the free, democratic model doesn’t translate to free from cost. “It means free from stan- dardized testing,” Loucas said, explaining that the Philly Free School operates as a paid, private institu- tion. That said, Loucas con- siders its yearly tuition low at $12,000 a year. The Philly Free School, which currently educates 25 students ages 4-19-years- old, does not have separate grades distinguishing age groups from each other. Moreover, it does not have classrooms with individual- ized time slots. Its four staff members do not offer tradi- tional lessons. To the skep- tic, the above description might make the Philly Free School seem like a school without structure. But that’s not an accurate way to describe the school’s edu- cational model. The school doesn’t lack structure. It just


has a subtler way of imple- menting the structure than standardized educational models.


Part of that subtler struc-


ture serves to encourage kids to become more effec- tive in their environment. Like learning how to walk, the younger students will learn how to read and write because the Philly Free School’s structure encour- ages it. “Kids learn what life makes them learn,” Loucas said, adding that the school’s teachers are always on hand to assist with this process.


Students are required to sign up for any num- ber of activities, from the moment they enter the school to signing up for a game, book, movie or use of the computer. Accord- ing to Loucas, the younger students will “get tired of asking someone for help. So they’ll learn how to do it themselves.” Many of the games offered to the kids,


involve learning and devel- oping math skills, Loucas added.


Older students who al-


ready know reading, writ- ing and math set higher standards for themselves. “They won’t stop learning until they’ve mastered a particular subject,” Lou- cas explained. According to Loucas, whether the subject’s calculus or mu- sic, mastering it teaches students dedication and commitment. “They’re skills students can then apply to any other subject they learn or master at any point in their lives,” Loucas emphasized. Throughout this process, students dis- cover the ways they learn best. Students also learn in areas where they struggle and ways to best overcome those struggles.


Students who want to earn a high school diploma from the Philly Free School also have to go through a process predetermined by


the student and a commit- tee, Loucas added. Setting and enforcing the school’s rules teaches students responsibility. No- tably, this system also re- enforces other skills such as writing. For instance when students, who serve on a rotating basis as Judicial Clerks (JC) are expected to record notes of those meet- ings. Many of the things heard during JC remain minor day-to-day prob- lems. For instance, when a student fails to clean up a mess or put books or toys away, the student incident is reviewed by the JC. As punishment, that same student is asked to report when another fails to put his or her items away. “The person will then be contrib- uting to decreasing messes, rather than creating them,” Loucas said.


As an alternative school, the Philly Free School may not suit the needs of every student. Many of those


Granny Peace Brigade sings for Peace at Mural Dedication


sent there are extremely bright but unchallenged in their former schools. “Most schools today teach to the lower middle,” Loucas said, adding, “The parents who send their kids here, are parents who trust their chil- dren.” Enrollment for the Philly


Free School operates on a year-round basis.


In addition, part of the Philly Free School’s mis- sion rests in providing an affordable education to those who may not be able to afford it otherwise. For that reason, the school is


hosting a lottery for a free education at the Philly Free School. The lottery begins at its June 11th


and closes July 30th


open house . Win-


ners will be notified at the beginning of August. Inter- ested families must attend an Open House on one of these dates to be eligible for the lottery: July 1st or July 26th


.


For more background information on the Philly Free School’s mission as well as its staff’s educa- tional biographies, call 215-218-9586 or visit www. phillyfreeschool.org.


St. Francis de Sales


Flea Market rain or shine


Saturday, June 15 9 am – 4 pm


School Auditorium 47th & Windsor Ave. (above 47th and Springfield Ave.)


Come for the bargains. Stay for Lunch! Homemade goodies.


In front of the mural, Granny Peace Brigade members, left to right, Henny Anderson, Joan Kosloff, of South Philadelphia, Paula Paul, Germantown, and Gayl Gentile, Center City, hold signs with the words of their peace song as the audience joins them in singing. They are joined by Sonia Sanchez, also a member of the Granny Peace Brigade, 4th from right, and other Grannys, Jean Haskell, Pauline Labovitz, Lois Durso, Gloria Hoffman, Ruth Balter, and singing leader, Elle


T


hree words for Peace, in three different languages, were the theme as members of the Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia sang a peace song to help dedicate the newly painted peace


mural at Broad and Christian Streets. The dedication, sponsored by the Mural Arts Program, was held on June 9th. The mural, “Peace is a Haiku Song”, honors poet, activist, scholar, Sonia Sanchez, a celebrated practitioner and teacher of the Haiku. The mural is inspired by Sanchez’s belief that the haiku form is inherently non- violent in its intent and structure and engenders beauty, serenity, and brief reflection. It includes Haiku by Sanchez, Alice Walker, Martin Luther King, and others.


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