"Mom and Pop" Schools to Learning Communities

"Mom and Pop Schools," the ones we kindly or not so kindly remember, really don't exist--the culture of America has changed dramatically as has the research, understanding and tools of learning.

There is a nostalgia when it comes to schools of old.

Traditional, classic aspects of schools of old should not be readily tossed out without review as some of those practices and endeavors are timeless and connect to the very essence of what it is to be a young learner. However, we could spend endless hours rehashing the mistakes of the past or practices ill-done rather than spending the time establishing new, better and more effective practices.

In a sense, sometimes there comes a time when you draw a line in the sand and say, "That was then and this is now."  Or perhaps you hire a forensics team to study the past while you move on with the present and future.

For a while I'd like to leave the term "school" fallow and nurture the words "learning community."

Where will you draw the line in the sand between schools and practices of the past and learning communities and endeavor of the present and future.  What roles, actions, schedules and structures will mark your learning community?  Is this a change you're interested in embracing?


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