Caraway Reading List
The Schools Our Children Deserve by Alfie Kohn (www.alfiekohn.org)
Kohn focuses on the discrepancy between how kids really learn and what is being taught in schools. Kohn lectures widely at universities and to school faculties, parent groups, and corporations and has written numerous articles and books.
How Children Learn by John Holt (www.holtgws.com/booksbyjohnholt.html)
A leading researcher in education looks at how children learn. John Holt studied education for many years and is considered the grandfather of home-schooling.
Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto (www.noogenesis.com/game_theory/Gatto/Gatto.html)
John Gatto critiques the goals of public education. His concerns center around how children are discouraged from forming their own ideas and opinions by the rigid structure of formalized education.
Summerhill by N.A Niell and Summerhill: A Free Range Childhood by Mathew Appleton
This program was the prototype of education that is child-led and based on democracy, and continues. It is a book that explores the need for children to be equals in their environment and in control of their learning.
Websites
Windsor House School
Windsor House in Vancouver is a publicly-funded “parent participation, democratic, academically non-coercive school”. Its philosophy and vision is very similar to that of the Caraway program.
BanburyCrossroads
This private school in Calgary mirrors the Caraway program in its focus on child-led learning in multi-age classes and emphasis on developing students’ mutual understanding and compassion. Begun more than twenty-five years ago with 2 children in a private home, it now educates children in grades Pre K-12 with annual tuition fees in excess of $7,200 per student. Like Caraway, its program is based on a genuine respect for children as individuals and human beings.
Summerhill
This is a site from the boarding school, Summerhill, the grandfather of free schools and open education at more than 100 years old. This website from its current program features newsletters and an interesting look at child-led, democratic classrooms.
Sudbury Valley School
This original school in Massachusetts has spawned a network of over twenty schools around the US, Canada and Europe. Sudbury schools embody the free school philosophy; children make all the decisions about their learning and activities throughout the day, including voting to determine all staff selection, and participate in a governing judicial body of their own creation.
Naturalchild.com
A site dedicated to natural schooling and parenting. It is full of interesting articles about both parenting and education. It centers around the idea that children are equal citizens and need respect and love to flourish.
Edutopia.org
The George Lucas Educational Foundation funds this website dedicated to innovation in teaching, educational research and ideas. This site contains multimedia representations for parents and teachers alike.
Extensive bibliographies, articles and links to educational resources by topic (eg. cooperative learning, language learning,etc.) are available on our website and upon request.
Last updated on January 23, 2010
© Community of Caraway Parents Society, 2006-2010