The Hows and Whys of Alternative Education offers the essential information on the history of alternative education, school choice, alternative schools, charter schools, magnet schools, homeschooling, private schools, vouchers, distance learning, teacher/student/parent attraction, and the future of educational choice.

Printed boldly on the back of the United States currency is the motto "In God We Trust." We have seen it so often that it may have lost its meaning to us. But found in these words is the secret to national and personal greatness.Webster's Dictionary defines the word trust as "a firm belief or confidence in the honesty, integrity, reliability and justice of another person or thing."When our founding fathers put their names to the Declaration of Independence, they believed that God was the only sure foundation upon which to build a nation that would endure. These men knew that this unique experiment in freedom would only stand the test of time by God's grace. George Washington stated it simply, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."Reliance upon God was deeply rooted in our country's important documents and institutions from the beginning. But today confidence in God and His Word is no longer the foundation of society.In our schools the God of Creation has been replaced by the "god" of evolutionary chance. Truth has been replaced by relativism. Morality has been replaced by expediency.In our homes we nightly view things that were unimaginable on television and in movies only a decade ago. Violence, sexual perversion and obscene language spill off the screen.In the political arena God's principles of truth and justice have often given way to expedience, personal profit, and compromise.As we have departed from God, life has been devalued. The lives of unborn children are snuffed out in abortion clinics and the number of robberies, rapes and murders increase daily.It is time that we return to the values of God's Word in our public and private lives so that He will heal our land. We must begin person by person on our knees, confessing our failure to trust God fully in our lives.Today you can affirm your trust in God if you will: Acknowledge that you need salvation: The Bible says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Recognize God's love for you: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Receive Jesus and His forgiveness, the only basis for encountering God. "As many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).God is calling you to put your trust in Him today! Don't ignore His call!

This book is designed to give parents and teachers information on the alternative education options available in the UK. It covers three main areas: Outside the state system: small schools; Steiner Waldorf schools; Montessori schools; democratic schools and other schools with alternative philosophies Doing it yourself: setting up a small school or learning centre; educating at home; flexible schooling Alternatives within the state system: how some state schools are finding different ways of working The values, philosophies and methods of each alternative are described, including the first-hand experiences and accounts of children, teachers and parents. There are answers to common questions and useful sources of further information. This accessible and informative book is the ideal introduction for parents deciding how best to educate their children. It will be of interest to teachers looking to build their knowledge of different education philosophies.

The book is directed at all who are concerned with progressive school change and the promotion of democratic citizenship and social justice.

This book brings into focus the innovative methods of learning in many Indian schools. It sheds light on schools that make the learning process fun for the teacher as well as the taught, in contrast to the whirl of examination-oriented learning in mainstream schools. The researched data on alternative schools in the country offer the reader an array of institutions all over the country, where efforts are being made to move away from traditional and mainstream learning. It includes exclusive articles by leading practitioners in the field, who offer an insight into the ground reality when a certain philosophy is applied to a school, and also experiential accounts of how such alternative practices mould the learner, teacher and impact the parent as well. The book also consists of a directory of alternative schools in India, including many schools that are tucked away in remote corners of the country. Interestingly, the common thread binding these ‘alternative schools’ is concern for the welfare of the child by teachers who see their work as much more than a job.

Discusses how school choice, misapplied standards of accountability, the No Child Left Behind mandate, and the use of a corporate model have all led to a decline in public education and presents arguments for a return to strong neighborhood schools and quality teaching.

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.