Shows
Summerhill DemocraticsCurriculum ContentIn this podcast we discuss Curriculum Content. We cover the English National Curriculum, Core and Foundation Subjects as well as Freedom, Group Ages, the Timetable, the need for experienced teachers and more.2019-12-0421 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign A School : Hidden CurriculumWe discuss the Hidden Curriculum. What is it? In a State School, in a Democratic Free School. Is the Hidden Curriculum positive, negative or both?2019-11-1417 min
Summerhill Democratics23:2 Design A SchoolIn this podcast we discuss the importance of balance between the 3 Curriculum Circles of a Democratic Free School? What are the consequences of imbalance ? How can they be avoided? And what does Multiple Entry Points mean?2019-11-1118 min
Summerhill DemocraticsThe Three Curriculum CirclesWe discuss the Three Curriculum Circles of a Democratic Free School. What age groups access each the most? We concentrate on the Clubhouse Age, our Prado school start group.2019-10-1723 min
Summerhill Democratics21-2 Design A School Reduced Formal Curriculum Wk.1 IntroIn this podcast we ask What is Curriculum? What is a formal curriculum? A Core Curriculum? What is a Reduced formal Curriculum? And a whole lot more.2019-10-0329 min
Summerhill Democratics20-2 Design A School Wk. 6 Hiring Teachers: The InterviewIn this podcast we review Selection, discuss the Interview Process, Interview Questions and more.2019-10-0327 min
Summerhill DemocraticsThe Detailed Job DescriptionWe discuss our Detailed Job Description, wobbles and the central role of the Clubhouse Age in the development of the school.2019-07-3129 min
Summerhill DemocraticsTeacher Application FormsWe discuss our Draft Application Form for new teachers and what changes and additions we might need to make before it's finished.2019-07-0923 min
Summerhill DemocraticsHiring Staff Week 3In this podcast we begin the process of funnelling potential new staff. We discuss the Personal Letter, our Teacher's Wanted page and more.2019-06-2226 min
Summerhill DemocraticsHiring Teachers: The ProcessWe discuss the Process that we will use to hire teachers for our Democratic free School. Funnels, Trawling, Sieves.2019-06-0518 min
Summerhill DemocraticsHiring StaffWhat's our Person Specification List? We discuss a range of issues concerning the hiring of teachers for our Democratic Free School.2019-05-1525 min
Summerhill DemocraticsThe Structure of Freedom and Democracy in SchoolsFrom Greek city states to modern democracies individual freedom takes place within community/ society. It requires structures/institutions/laws to create balance and function successfully. It is not random or whimsical. 2019-05-0330 min
Summerhill DemocraticsLooking Back, Moving ForwardWe discuss our Vision list from Week 3 and review what we've covered in the first 12 weeks. What should the next Themes be?2019-04-1725 min
Summerhill DemocraticsYour Clubhouse DemocracyWhat are some ideas, attitudes and techniques that can be used to change a classroom or school area into your version of Clubhouse Democracy? 2019-04-0831 min
Summerhill DemocraticsClubhouse Democracy BehaviourWe discuss how the Clubhouse model changes behaviour and creates Freedom not Licence. Also, children with issues and keeping a healthy community balance.2019-03-0134 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign A School Clubhouse DemocracyWe discuss the concept of Movies in a Clubhouse Democracy environment and how it allows the Clubhouse to function successfully.2019-02-1921 min
Summerhill DemocraticsIntroducing Clubhouse DemocracyThe second of five weeks exploring Clubhouse Democracy. How Leonard Introduced Clubhouse Democracy to Students, Authority Sharing, the importance of Habitat.2019-02-1323 min
Summerhill DemocraticsClubhouse Democracy Week 1We begin a 5 week exploration of Clubhouse Democracy. We talk Transitional Models, Not being Summerhill, and explain the ideas behind Clubhouse Democracy.2019-02-0819 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign A School: Democratic Meetings Part 2Leonard and Jason continue to discuss Democratic School Meetings and freedom, age ranges and the reality that democratic meetings are not always perfect.2019-01-3120 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDemocratic School Meetings Part 1We discuss the details of democratic school meetings and how they must crucially be connected to freedom.2019-01-2419 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDiscussing Optional LessonsWe discuss Optional Lessons. What Contexts and Scaffolding create successful Optional Lessons in a Democratic Free School ?2019-01-1622 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign A School : Age RangeWe discuss what the Age Ranges will be in our school. Is there an essential Age Range? A Lynch pin?2018-11-2816 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign a SchoolOn our pathway to designing a model democratic free school we discuss founding principles. 2018-11-2113 min
Summerhill DemocraticsDesign A School: Vision /Mission, Mission statementsWe discuss Vision/Mission statements. Why they are important. What makes good ones ? How can they go wrong ? Consequences.2018-11-1410 min
Summerhill DemocraticsWhy Design a Democratic Free SchoolWelcome to the Design a School Project. Each topic of the week will have a Monday blog, a Wednesday Podcast and a Friday blog. This week's topic is: Why We Are Designing a democratic Free School Cheers Leonard and Jason2018-11-0712 min
Summerhill DemocraticsQualities of Teachers- PlanningListen to this!2018-01-2519 min
Summerhill DemocraticsQualities of TeachersQualities of teachers are important: understanding is one of these qualities. This is as true in the local comprehensive as it is at Summerhill. However, when a school has a unique philosophy the teacher must make an extra effort to understand. This is the first of a series on qualities of teachers in democratic education. In it I want to talk about some of the qualities of understanding that good democratic school teachers should have.2017-12-3102 min
Summerhill DemocraticsReduced Formal Curriculum Podcast 2 Summerhill DemocraticsIn this Podcast Leonard and Jason talk about the bloated curriculum. Jason starts off talking about his experience at school, which contrasts with the freedom that Summerhill students enjoy. In spite of this bad experience he has some doubts about giving little children the absolute freedom to play- what Leonard calls Deep Play. These issues are dealt with more fully in the accompanying PDF and blog posts. Feel free to comment.2017-10-2515 min
Summerhill DemocraticsReduced Formal Curriculum Podcast 3 Summerhill Democratics2017-10-1823 min
Summerhill DemocraticsReduced Formal Curriculum Podcast 1 Summerhill DemocraticsDefinitions of the reduced curriculum.2017-10-0823 min
Summerhill DemocraticsIntro Reduced Curriculum PackageA brief description of what's to come.2017-10-0106 min
DEEKAST#4. Leonard Turton (Summerhill Democratics)DEEKAST #4
Leonard Turton has been working in democratic education for over 40 years. He founded his own democratic day school, Odyssey House Community School, in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 1971. He has worked in state schools where he developed Club House Democracy, which used democratic methods in traditional classroom settings. Leonard came to A.S. Neill’s Summerhill School in 2002 and has been the Class 2 teacher as well as a Curriculum Advisor and the school’s Education Manager. He was a founding member of the European Democratic Education Community and served two terms on its Executive Council. Leonard now works in Spai...2016-09-0455 min