By: Hanna
“As many as a quarter of American students are not finishing high school.”
-President Barack Obama
Students in New Marlborough, MA are letting go of the classic high school experience, and taking the reigns of their education. Eight high school students, ages 15-17 have started a school within a school of sorts that they call "the Independent Project". These teens have been given complete power over their education. As a group ranging from honor roll students, to almost drop-outs they collectively brainstormed their own curiculum.
The curiculum the teens designed is not based on grades and tests, but rather advice from teachers, feedback on eachother's work, and evaluation of fellow students. During their newly devised eight week terms, students accomplished reading eight books of their choice. More than an average AP english class. Each youth also undertook the responsbility of learning an individual indeavor such as music or cooking, that they present to their classmates at the end of term.
What's happening in New Marlborough is ground-breaking and inspiring. These students are showing the success of having a desire to learn over being forced into standardized tests and a curiculum that bears no interest. To read more about what's happening in Western Massachusetts check out the New York Times article here.
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