Blog contributed by Elaine Su and Nicole Treitz of Compass Community School
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Education is an
interesting topic. Every person that you speak to holds an opinion about what
education should look like, whether it is rooted in reflection on personal experiences,
a vested interest in the education of one’s children, a belief about public
services, an opinion about tax-dollar spending, a vision for the overall
purpose of education, or any other one of the countless connections that
individuals form with education. The bottom line is that everyone has an
opinion when it comes to education and more often than not, we are all looking
for change.
There is a
fun exercise that we like to do when talking about education – we ask people to
imagine their “dream school”. What does it look like? Who is inside? Who is
outside? What is being learned? How are things learned? What is the overall
purpose of this school? So please, go ahead and take a moment to envision your
dream school.
Ours looks
something like this:
· A learning environment not bound by walls. One that counts its natural
surroundings, built surroundings, peers and neighbours as crucial components of
the learning landscape.
· A place where knowledge is sought, shared and respected. One that does not rely on one voice
to guide learning, but welcomes and encourages mentorship from community
members and experts. One that values and honours Indigenous knowledge and the
history of our land.
· A hub that welcomes, nourishes, and supports the community. One where we do not only learn from
and within the community, but actively engage with and as advocates for the
community.
· A place where individuals are celebrated. An environment that supports students
in their social, emotional, and intellectual development while fostering a
space in which they can explore their curiosities and interests.
· A student body that is mobile. A visible force
within the community that cycles, scoots, skips, and walks to their next
learning adventure. Everyone who sees them pass by waves and smiles because
they know, appreciate, and respect who they are.
· A safe space that is welcoming to all.
This is our
vision. This is Compass Community School.
Compass
Community School is a new place-based community school, based in Vancouver,
B.C, created in response to a collective desire to see change in our schools
and communities. Our team is built of parents, educators, and community members
with a diverse range of interests and experiences, who have all come together
to imagine a new way of learning.
It is a
growing concern amongst Vancouverites that there is no sense of belonging in
our communities. Everyone seems to be searching for it, and yet the feeling of
belonging remains elusive. Compass hopes to change that, by bringing community
into the classroom, and bringing the classroom into the community. We believe
that children should be active, valued, contributing members of their
communities and that they have the capacity to revitalize and reinvigorate
spaces that feel stagnant and isolated.
Now that we
have told you our vision, we would love to know: What does your dream school
look like?
To us, the
most heartening aspect of Compass Community School is that it is truly “of the
community.” Our vision grows and evolves with each new voice that enters the
conversation. We invite you to share
your voice and join us as we help build this dream into a reality.
We would like
to say a special thank you to Isa Mundo Foundation for being a supportive and
generous partner of ours. We deeply admire the work that Isa Mundo does
internationally and look forward to being a partner in opening the first
Canadian IMEC in Vancouver!
