I found this movie really interesting and inspiring, showing the success of teaching in ways that are different from the norms we have come accustom too. There was a fair amount of uncertainty and hesitation in some parents and even students worrying about how this alternative education structure would affect their futures in post secondary and beyond.
I found it particularly interesting when the teacher, who was new to the school talked about his thoughts and concerns when he first started teaching there but how he saw the students thriving and working together to complete projects that had meaning to them. They also recognized that the structure of their educational systems would not work for everyone, but that is true for any type of educational systems, traditional or alternative.
This movie really struck a chord for me as I have been examining my own beliefs and experiences of how I understand education. I went through the traditional public school system and though I had some successes and made it through with a dogwood certificate, I struggled, I never really found my fit or my passion within the traditional system. It turns out, my challenges in school have inspired me to return back to the public schools, but not for the reasons some become teachers, I want to make a difference, I want to help change education in big ways so it is more inclusive and a space that offers opportunities that ALL students can engage with and be inspired by. That can seem really daunting, but it is also really exciting to consider. I am still working on what that will look like for me, but stay tunned, we shall see what the future holds!
