Student's Notes
"Is there more freedom in high school than in elementary school?"
This question came up a few times in my grade nine year. While most of my fellow students nodded happily in agreement, I couldn't help but think that the question was a little ridiculous. Saying that there is more freedom in high school than in elementary is like saying that one major network's news coverage is more objective than another's: it only appears that way. It's just a matter of perception.
Let me explain further using another analogy. The large brick arch that I'm standing under in the picture is actually the gateway into a cemetery. All too often, traditional schooling could be considered the cemetery of the mind. It's a place where you pay your respects to creative and imaginative minds, but to belong, you must bury your own.
Freedom and education should go hand in hand. I have read many different critical thinkers who state that without education, freedom is not possible. I believe that the reverse is also true. How can we teach people to appreciate and understand democracy if their schooling experience is nothing short of totalitarian?
The system that controls students also controls teachers. I have had many excellent teachers in my years of traditional schooling, but I can't help but feel that these teachers were not allowed to fully reach their potential. These experiences gave me a taste of what a large dose of freedom in education could be like. Other experiences were not as pleasant. To me, these situations were the classroom equivalent of 1984 and Brave New World.
When I finally broke out of the classroom, and started to work under the Aphelion format, I was refreshed. Not only do the individual activities reward critical thought, the whole process does. Assignments are always negotiable, as are due dates. A respect between the student and teacher/facilitator makes sure that the final details of the assignment are acceptable for both sides concerned. In this process, not only is the required assignment a learning experience, but also the negotiation, which is an important life skill.
The same can be said about the technological end of this concept. The problem with teaching computer skills is that they become outdated skills very quickly, and this courses can often become obsolete even before graduation. With Aphelion, the technological skills are not the core curriculum, or the end result. They are merely the means to the end result. This way, the students can learn to adapt to technological changes while also learning much more constant skills that will help them function in the real world.
As important as the real world skills are the real world experiences that come with being removed from the caged setting of a classroom. It is my personal belief that the more time you spend outside of the school in your educational years, the more comfortable you'll be with the world. I think it's safe to say that I won't turn into one of those people that go foolishly wild the first time they get out of Mommy and Daddy's sight.
The maturity must be there to begin with, though. Being outside of the rigid structure of the traditional classroom means that you have to create your own structure. This takes a lot of self discipline, and organization. It can be hard to adjust at first, I sure had my moments, but the rewards for being able to organize your own learning schedule are plentiful.
With this structure, you no longer have to worry about sick days. Work is easily scheduled around these times, or can even be done through them. You can also work around vacations, holidays, or time you feel you need off. As long as the work is done in an acceptable time period, you can work whenever you want. You can also work faster, and finish early.
The days you work is not the only factor in your control. You can also choose the time of day that is best for you. I'm pretty much a nocturnal creature, and often felt that I had to go to sleep in order to wake up early and attend school just as my mind was really starting to function at its best. Now, I can work later. As a result, I've found that the quality of my work is slightly better, my mind being in a better state than it is as mere few hours after sunrise.
I don't mean to be a preacher (and give a sermon at the church of Sneaky Dee's), but my experience has been nothing but good. When I started I was of the mind set that major glitches were to be expected, and for once, I was pleasantly surprised by something. School has always been a thorn in my side, but the freedom involved in this concept has made me much happier.
"So," asks the potential student. "What does the ideal Aphelion student need to be successful?"
Being the first official student, the guinea pig you might say, I believe that I am the only person qualified to answer this. First of all, some kind of day planner or organizer is essential to keep track of all the enriched work that will be coming your way. Material needs aside, you need a strong free will, and a lot of self control. You can't shy away from opinions, either. A positive attitude toward learning is a must, a positive attitude toward "school" is optional.
I strongly suggest that you have some relaxing (your own definition of the word) hobbies that you can turn to when you get frustrated. I can almost guarantee that this will happen. Personally, I retreat to my guitar, my pen and paper to write screenplays and various other works, or I go see The Sweet Hereafter (Atom deserved those Oscars, and more. No best picture nomination? A crime!), and other wonderful films.
It's no coincidence that all these things that are also needed for the real world. The whole Aphelion experience is about learning real world skills along with the actual lessons at an advanced level. It's about learning in the outside world, and not in an enclosed, unrealistic environment.
For many people, for most people, actually, traditional schooling is a perfect fit. I'm happy for them. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable with their education, it is, after all, very important. Aphelion is for one section of the students that aren't happy, and are looking for a better fit. That's what I found, and what I hope many other like-minded students can find.