ERO/Class Charter

Treaty of Waitangi - NZ

Class Charter or Treaty

• Once students understand the concepts of natural learning, democratic education and an envirethical curriculum they can be encouraged to come up with a shared belief system that could be written up as a charter or treaty

Treaty example

In this class we will help ourselves and others to become good learners, 
and recognise we are all unique.
We are given freedom to organise our daily activities, 
allowed to learn naturally and shown equality through democratic decision-making.

Structure

• Learning will be holistic - academic, social, physical, emotional....
• Interdependence and collaboration (working with others) is as important as independence (working on own)
• Teachers will have broadly conceived themes and objectives,
  • design an envirethical curriculum with the students
    • and welcome unexpected detours
• Student projects will be organised around problems and questions
  • Students will assist with the outcomes or standards that inform those lessons
• Mistakes are accepted as part of a natural learning cycle
  • Students will be assisted to put them right or learn from them
• Students will be encouraged to develop intrinsic motivation

Exploration and discovery in a supportive and enriching environment,
based on the interests of the students

Moving through the trickier aspects of "state schooling"

Testing

• Mandatory in most state schools

1. They "reassure" government/school board/parents that students are learning in the narrow confines of maths, reading, writing
2. Tell little about a student's intelligence, ability to learn, creative aptitude or imagination
3. Are not indicative of how successful a student will become as an adult
4. Shared with the students and their parents
5. Explained in plain uncomplicated language what they may indicate

Grades

1. Students will not be graded unless mandated
2. Grading tells little about a student's ability to think and learn
3. Other grading happens for wool and sheep

Homework

• Expected by parents, hated by families and of little benefit

1. Students encouraged to work at home and school on their projects
2. Reading, having family discussions, doing chores, playing with friends etc are all worthwhile homework examples

Information for parents from the NZ Ministry of Education

• Supporting Children's Learning at Home - Year 6
• Supporting Children's Learning at Home - Year 7
• Supporting Children's Learning at Home - Year 8

Special needs

• We all have special needs but some of us require extra assistance with our learning
  • We are all unique

Gifted

• See - Special Needs

Work in progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is welcome. See discussion page.