A Short Description of
The New School
Academics and Curriculum
The educational program of each student
is exactly what they* make of it, neither more nor less. It is essential that
students have the time and opportunity to discover their interests, talents, and
personal approach to learning. At The New School, students are completely
responsible for determining the course of each day and what, if any, studies
they will pursue. They have complete freedom in determining whether they study
independently, with a mentor, or with a small group. Apprenticeships are
arranged by those interested in working with "masters" in particular
fields in the larger community. All classes are student initiated, and anyone
with expertise in a field, student or staff, may act as the class's moderator or
instructor. When a class is planned, the participants agree on frequency of
meeting, length of course, instructional format, and type of assignment. The
relationship between a "teacher" and students is contractual; if
either party does not meet its obligations, the class can be terminated. There
is no grading or other formal evaluation; the development of critical
self-evaluation is more important. Organized class size rarely exceeds 7 or 8.
Examples of studies pursued by students in the past include:
Classes in Asian cultures, Spanish, mythology, comparative religions, poetic
composition, reading and composition, Algebra and Algebra II, criminology,
conversational German, art, mock trial, and a wilderness survival practicum.
Organized drama productions, choral ensemble, and intramural sports occur on a
regular basis.
Independent study in general biology, heredity, early American history, ancient
Egypt, architectural design, sewing, animal husbandry, WW II, mid-wifery,
computer programming, Russian, zoology, native American studies, gender
differences, weather and climatology, Algebra II, sculpture, linguistics, and
comparative cultures.
Apprenticeships in Law, Addiction Counseling, Construction, Library Science, and
Horsemanship.
Government
The New School is a democratic entity. Every member of the community, staff
and student alike, has one vote in the School Meeting, the weekly meeting at
which all financial and legislative decisions are made. Proposals for
expenditures, field trips, new laws, the hiring of additional staff, etc. are
placed on the agenda for discussion and voting if they have been duly submitted
in writing to the Recording Secretary. Many administrative positions at the
school, either elected or voluntary, are held by students. School Meeting Chair,
Recording Secretary, Judicial Clerk, Field Trip Coordinator, Attendance Clerk,
Library Clerk, and Maintenance Clerk are administrative posts commonly filled by
students.
The Judicial Process
The New School is governed by a body of laws proposed by School Meeting
members, enacted by the School Meeting, and promulgated in the School Meeting
LawBook. Transgressions of these laws are dealt with by the Judicial Committee
or "JC", a four member committee composed of three students and one
staff member who are elected monthly. From this group, a Judicial Clerk is
named. The Judicial Clerk is responsible for presiding at hearings, maintaining
the judicial record, posting hearing results, reporting to the weekly School
Meeting, and supervising the serving of sentences, probations, or suspensions.
Every member of The New School is required to serve on the Judicial Committee at
least once during a school year.
Should a member of the school community feel they have been wronged by another
under the laws of The New School, they may file a written complaint with the
Judicial Committee. The JC hears cases, renders judgment, and issues fines and
penalties. The JC's decisions may be appealed in writing to the School Meeting
which acts as Supreme Court and whose decisions are final.
Faculty
Melanie Jago Hiner, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Delaware and
former high school mathematics, English, and philosophy teacher is the founder
of The New School. Joseph P. Roach, a former high school mathematics and physics
teacher, is an excellent musician and a computer enthusiast.
John R. Hiner Jr., Juris Doctor, is a writer, who engages in dialectic
and critical analysis. Melanie,
Joe, and John are classically trained liberal artists having studied the
original, seminal works of Western philosophy, science, history, mathematics,
and literature in "The Great Books" program of St. John's College.
Diane Cannon, a former Engineering Designer with the Dupont Company, is a
certified Shiatsu Practitioner, a recording artist with "Big Jeep
World", and a 7th Generation Lineage Disciple in the Martial Art of T’ai
Chi Ch’uan. Desiree Mitchell,
artist extraordinaire, holds a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and is working towards
her MA in Education. (Desiree is on
sabbatical during the 2004-2005 school year.)
John Detwiler is a 2004 graduate of Miami University in Ohio with a major
in Music Education and a minor Music Composition.
Don Franklin is an excellent acoustic guitarist and singer, a gemologist,
and poet. Don is a part-time staff
member. Consultants and guest
instructors offer presentations and instruction throughout the year, as arranged
by students in connection with their curriculum design.
Resources
The New School is not limited to the books within its walls or the expertise
of its staff. Students have unlimited access to the Internet and the databases
of the University of Delaware library. The School engages experts as needed,
including those who instruct via email or act as masters in the Apprenticeship
program.
Graduation Requirements
Every student is preparing for adulthood. To receive a diploma from The New
School, the student must prepare, under the guidance of a mentor of the
student's choice, a written thesis exploring and defending the student's belief
that he is ready to take his place in the community at large as a responsible
and productive adult. Only after the school community of fellow students,
teachers, and parents is satisfied through the public and oral defense of this
thesis is a diploma granted.
*The third-person plural form is here used as a
the third-person singular generic pronoun, since the word "student" in
the School's usage denotes a group of persons as well as the condition of an
individual; see, The American Heritage Book of English Usage (1996) Sec.
18 "they with singular antecedent.".
© 1996 - November, 2007
The New School.
Last revised 16 November 2007
