DESIGNATED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

WHAT IS A DESIGNATED COMMUNITY SCHOOL?


By design, a Designated Community School ideally exhibits these kinds of characteristics:

1. Community Related Curriculum.

Basic education is enhanced by relating the curriculum to real life situations in the community. Students go into the community to use available facilities and resources, and to provide service while they learn. In turn, community resources are brought into the school. Intense study of the local community becomes the basis for study of life in other communities and the world.

2. Involvement of Parents.

There is effective involvement of parents and other community members in helping to develop the curriculum of the school and in helping teachers through appropriate voluntary service.

3. Collegiality.

A democratic, collegial philosophy is encouraged by the School Board and principal teacher in the administration of the school. Parents and other interested community people are regarded as allies. Everyday democracy is practised.

4. Everyone a Teacher.

The faculty includes teachers, working in cooperation with each other, and community adults and students.

5. Everyone a Learner.

Because the education of the young is the priority, all members of the community are valued as potential learners, including pre-schoolers and adults of all ages. Educational activities involving people of all ages are encouraged. Knowing that learning is a vital part of life is fostered.


6. Interagency Cooperation.

The school regards itself as an integral part of a total community education system. The school cooperates with other community organizations and agencies to provide comprehensive educational, recreational, cultural, fitness, health, and social services to people in the school attendance area.

7. Facility Adaptation.

School facilities may be designed or modified with effective teacher and community involvement so that, ideally, the entire structure facilitates community use and community education activities.

8. Community Use.

The school facility is available for community educational, recreational, cultural, fitness, health, and social use on an extended time basis daily and yearly. Community activities might be scheduled at any time during each operational day.

9. Community Issues.

The school, by policy, encourages a study of problems and issues of significance to the community, often in cooperation with other agencies and organizations in the community.

10. Sense of Community.

The school has a vital stated goal, which is to foster a sense of community. It assumes it is important that the people who live in its attendance area know and care about each other. A geographic sense of community is promoted but not to the exclusion of other peoples and life forms on the planet.