Posted By: ex-hippie (been there, done that)
Since I will be forced to pay for it, I have been reading up on Montessori. This is a direct quote off a site referring to the Montessori method during the middle school/early high school years -
http://www.michaelolaf.net/montessori12-18.html
Age 12 - 15The Montessori program for the young adult from age twelve to fifteen is very different from that of traditional school. Dr. Montessori felt that because of the rapid growth, the increased need for sleep, and hormonal changes, it is useless to try to force the adolescent to concentrate on intellectual work. She recommended an Erdkinder, or Earth school, where children would live close to nature, eat fresh farm products, and carry on practical work related to the economics of supplying food, shelter, transportation, and so forth. Intellectual work is still done, following the child's interests, but without pressure.
I wonder how will this be incorporated into the middle school here in Okemos? I especially find the reference to it being useless to try to "force the adolescent to concentrate on intellectual work" to be very curious and actually kind of funny. That should really go over well here in THIS district..LOL!!! OMG!!
This actually sounds like a commune of sorts. What now, are we back in the 60's?
sigh.