The Dream

I have a fantasy about what our schools might be like.

In my world, each town or neighborhood might have a central campus which has at its center a large, beautiful completely equipped and technologically up to date Library.  This library can serve as both the main public library and the schools’  library. It has both traditional reading and storytelling spaces and up to date technology resources, but also houses community meeting rooms, including some that can serve for town meetings and committee meetings. It is architecturally beautiful and distinctive. Outside it are gardens and seating for those who enjoy the outdoors.

Around this Library on a spacious and beautiful campus is a set of public schools, playgrounds, playing fields, and park-picnic grounds.  The schools are divided K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12; each level with their own building and age level outdoor facilities surrounding it.  There are art studios, labs, an auditorium-theatre, performance, and maker spaces for each level of student needs, including a general outdoor amphitheatre.  

The entire campus is circled by an avenue which houses shops and services, such as doctors and dentists, pre-school child care, cafes and other vendors the families of the community need in connection with the life the campus represents.

Off shooting from the Main avenue nearest the 10-12 School is a community college at which 10th-12th level students can split their time between High School and College courses in a configuration which fits their strengths best. Indeed, each campus from K through 12 is configured to enable students to reach up on a course by course basis without abandoning their common-age friends or feeling limited by the inability to move forward.  The various schools are connected, not only by bike and walking paths, but by a trolley or shuttle system which enables intergrade level activities and provides students with the chance to vary their course levels as needed.

Courses at these schools are based  either on trimester or quarterly credits so that students are never trapped spending a year on a course that they have to repeat, and they will have a mix and match combination of quarterly units that can be consolidated into a full year credit, providing maximum flexibility for course choice.

This campus represents the heart and soul of the community.  Here is where holiday festivities can be celebrated, conversations about how to conduct the business of the community can be had, and settled.

This Library and these Schools belong to everyone, and here all the community are welcome to participate in the life of the neighborhood or town.

This is but one possible dream for our communities, but one for all of them from the poorest to the richest.