The role of the free public school in autistic liberation?
autside.substack.com
A recent article in the Jacobin gives a brief history of public education in the US from the standpoint of “social democracy” vs. “human capital.” The piece offers the reader a concise history of the beginnings of the free public school and the attacks against it.
Teaching at a public school, a arts / sciences magnet, I read the piece through the lens of what it takes to keep student learning joyful. Public school Magnets offer learners a chance to specialize. Mine is one of only two schools in the nation’s second largest school district to feature a working farm and a full agriculture … in the heart of urban Los Angeles. It has a working theatre, a commercial arts studio, and much more.
I think the magnet concept is in line with the autistic way of being. Families can choose a school that aligns with their autistic loved one’s interests. There, they can specialize and create community with others who share these interests.
But best of all, it’s a public school. Families don’t have to pay exorbitant fees to attend. We have a full slate of SPED Assistants and RSPs (like me) who are all inclusion specialists. Each year, about this time, our Principal sends out a student survey. The survey asks students and parents what they would like to see at our school in terms of electives. The results are presented to the faculty, where we get to choose to support classes around our own interests. We’ve had the chemistry teacher also teaching a robotics class. We’ve had our biology teacher teaching AP Environmental Science. We have a full Ag program that offers college credits in conjunction with a local community college. We’ve had a photovoltaics / electronics class. This year, we’ve expanded the music and art offerings. As for me, I’ve re-started the track & field program after a five-year hiatus.
It seems to me, as I look around the expansive campus, that we’re about as close to “autistic designed” as one can get in the public school system. It’s liberating. It’s why I don’t really mind my very long commute.
The role of the free public school in autistic liberation?
The role of the free public school in autistic liberation?
The role of the free public school in autistic liberation?
A recent article in the Jacobin gives a brief history of public education in the US from the standpoint of “social democracy” vs. “human capital.” The piece offers the reader a concise history of the beginnings of the free public school and the attacks against it.
Teaching at a public school, a arts / sciences magnet, I read the piece through the lens of what it takes to keep student learning joyful. Public school Magnets offer learners a chance to specialize. Mine is one of only two schools in the nation’s second largest school district to feature a working farm and a full agriculture … in the heart of urban Los Angeles. It has a working theatre, a commercial arts studio, and much more.
I think the magnet concept is in line with the autistic way of being. Families can choose a school that aligns with their autistic loved one’s interests. There, they can specialize and create community with others who share these interests.
But best of all, it’s a public school. Families don’t have to pay exorbitant fees to attend. We have a full slate of SPED Assistants and RSPs (like me) who are all inclusion specialists. Each year, about this time, our Principal sends out a student survey. The survey asks students and parents what they would like to see at our school in terms of electives. The results are presented to the faculty, where we get to choose to support classes around our own interests. We’ve had the chemistry teacher also teaching a robotics class. We’ve had our biology teacher teaching AP Environmental Science. We have a full Ag program that offers college credits in conjunction with a local community college. We’ve had a photovoltaics / electronics class. This year, we’ve expanded the music and art offerings. As for me, I’ve re-started the track & field program after a five-year hiatus.
It seems to me, as I look around the expansive campus, that we’re about as close to “autistic designed” as one can get in the public school system. It’s liberating. It’s why I don’t really mind my very long commute.