Alternative Education; is someone crazy about your young people?

Abstract

Alternative education provides learners, teachers, schools, and communities with disengaged young people with a rare opportunity to rethink, reimagine and reform the way that learners can own and manage the ecosystem that leads to their success (context, process, time, and people - including themselves at the center). When educators make curriculum decisions it is beneficial to have a guiding set of pillars, as Tipu Whare does, to ensure the time and funding available is directed towards learning experiences that support the pillars of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When schools and communities appoint teachers to work with disengaged young people, the educators must be passionate individuals who have a history of being crazy about their students, willing to be engaging and committed to a student-first perspective. This is not an easy path, but as demonstrated by Nga Tamaiti Rangatira (Children of Chiefs) it is a worthwhile endeavor.