tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post1146780900263203032..comments2024-03-29T06:57:49.917-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: Death of a Democratic School in A Culture of Greed and MistrustLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-28849746665161332972013-05-08T01:43:21.281-04:002013-05-08T01:43:21.281-04:00I'm in Plano and I'd LOVE to be part of so...I'm in Plano and I'd LOVE to be part of something like this! I totally get your unique issues in the metroplex. We currently unschool and I was looking at what would be necessary to start a Sudbury school in the area. My biggest fears were the very obstacles you mentioned.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00533461600444413956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-55503581099914330072012-02-19T19:22:05.198-05:002012-02-19T19:22:05.198-05:00Hi Jo,
I'm open to the possibility of doing i...Hi Jo,<br /><br />I'm open to the possibility of doing it again if funding were available. Location is not important. My goal was to initially focus on inner city youth and those that the current mainstream system throws away. Wherever I can find need and a purpose to benefit those who struggle, I am interested. Thanks for your kind words Jo!Shella Zelenzhttp://zelenz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-159798378186472672012-02-19T11:30:22.689-05:002012-02-19T11:30:22.689-05:00I love your understanding that the school was not ...I love your understanding that the school was not a failure. Failure is a word that NEVER belongs in a discussion about education. It was the funding system for alternative education that caused a model with community interest to close. <br />How long were you able to keep your model open? If funding was available would you try again in the same location, in another location?<br />I am inspired by your model.Jo Traceyhttp://www.discoveryportalalc.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-79292473493559741842012-02-17T19:41:59.241-05:002012-02-17T19:41:59.241-05:00There was no physical moving around the globe. The...There was no physical moving around the globe. The students created the continents in their campus. I actually met Patch Adams in 2008 at the Alternative Education Resource Organization's annual conference. He definitely had much to do with the progress of this school. I saw many successes, and I think the ultimate success for me was that the experience gave me a bigger glimpse into the societal issues more acutely. I think if I had more funding, we would have done well. I used up my entire retirement trying to get this off the ground. We only closed because funding dried up. I had a huge community interest and I definitely stirred some pots that are still ruminating after I left. It wasn't a failure, it's just not open anymore. Thanks for your kind words Joe. :)Shella Zelenzhttp://zelenz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-38362049908847697462012-02-17T10:11:22.558-05:002012-02-17T10:11:22.558-05:00Hey Shella, I know your school failed but hats off...Hey Shella, I know your school failed but hats off to you for having done something. Even though it didn't spark the change you wanted, you went after something instead of talking. That in itself is far more than most do. <br /><br />Thinking big isn't a bad thing. Although moving kids around the globe is a difficult sell to most (worrying) parents. <br /><br />I think the college = success paradigm is vanishing. Colleges are just going to keep shooting themselves in the feet. Eventually, something will take their place. <br /><br />I wonder if the response would be different if you set up a school like this in a place where the public schools are particularly terrible. I bet there you'll have more parents open to different options. <br /><br />The free model also reminds me of a great talk given by Patch Adams (think that Robin Williams movie) at the Mayo Clinic. He was talking about healthcare but I think the mindset he had can readily be applied to education. If you have a few minutes, you should def watch this: <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdCrPBqQALcJoe A.https://twitter.com/#!/joeantenuccinoreply@blogger.com