There is much research that seem to indicate that formal education, i.e., schooling, is in peril in North America. Although I advocate that so-called problems might likely be symptoms, nevertheless, that there is a general concern about 1) K-12 and, 2) post-secondary education warrants an examination, beginning with dialogue, that could lead to action. That action? Let's put it out there but in the context of how a systems thinking approach might help to resolve issues and point to a fresh direction that combines learning, fun, education as a formal act with links to society and culture, and design, and... Here's a dedicated thread to education that is different, that is better, that is systems thought out.
Beginning with purposes of education
Our small co-operative is looking to launch a text book on Co-operative Enterprise. We are looking at all avenues for doing so, but need to narrow it down to those activities which get the most results with the resources we have to committ to the event.
"I wonder how we can discuss homeschooling’s regard to the common good as an institution, rather than as individual families and students. Considering how diverse homeschoolers are, perhaps an effective idea to develop in our paper would be how the institution of homeschooling could possible keep in check society and lead us toward a tolerance of even those who disagree with the democratic vision. This, however, is a dangerous question. If we encourage citizens to draw the lines of the common good not even by our common citizenship but as a vague concept of humanism, critics would caution against loosing our narrative and creating a people who cannot function as citizens anymore . . .
This is precisely the question – what’s the balance between, on the one hand, a state-centric vision of the government as the only proper arbiter of truth and the meanings of citizenship, and on the other hand a tribalism with no common interests. We want to find the middle ground that might alleviate the fears of both extremes. That’s our theoretical work – articulated a framework for homeschooling and the common good. Then our empirical work comes in and verifies whether or not, in fact, homeschoolers fit the theorectical framework we've crafted."
This is a test
This is just another test thing to do.
Start a coffee shop with a small theatre for edgy documentaries.
A team of people who will serve the Schools in promotions and fund raising.