The Real School Houston AKA Dragon Valley

Our new building is almost finished!

2011-07-05T20:50:00.002-05:00

It's been a very hectic year for the school! We have been rotating houses for the past year and we are all really looking forward to moving into our new, permanent space! Our new building is at 2805 Wichita in 3rd Ward. We are almost finished with the rehab.

We will be having an Open House/Fundraiser/Work Pary on Sunday, July 26, from 10-6! Please join us! We would love to see you there!

Spring Fling fun - March 20th

2009-03-31T18:45:00.003-05:00

We invited the unschooling/homeschooling community to hang out for some fun and conversation on March 20 in celebration of the first day of Spring. The egg hunt was wildly successful and we will have to do it again. We enjoyed having Dennis and his children, Jennifer W. and her son, Kymberlee and Abigail, Jean and her grandsons, and prospective family members, Johanna with her son and daughters. Parents got a chance to do some networking while the kids made movies, listened to music, played games and got a chance to make some new friends. There are more days like this to come as the tempature warms up and the need to reach out and grow our community is realized. Next up is Earth Day on April 22nd and a special Open Dialog on April 25th!

Enjoy the pictures from the fun.

Out of the Global City - meeting on Feb 21st in NYC

2009-02-23T12:14:00.004-06:00

Interesting the discussion on creating freedom and less fear in public schools...Looks like we needs to work harder on our community building here in Houston to counteract what families are having to go through!

In Solidarity.

It's good to have friends!!! (Feb 21st benefit)

2009-02-12T18:30:00.005-06:00

It's been a looooong time since the last entry and we've experienced Hurricane Ike, new people joining our community like Yolanda Welch (new staffer) and Mika Hyman (springtime intern) and snow ;-) . I will try to post some pictures of some of the things that have happened in an upcoming blog, but wanted to let folks know that we have an amazing group of young people working to build in this community of social justice and freedom in solidarity with us. They have attended some Open Dialogs and are helping out the school with a benefit next Saturday. They are asking for an admission fee or a donation for the school and they asked for a wish list to be posted so that those wanting to donate something useful could do so, so here goes:

video games for x-box
electric guitar
help building organic garden
dueling swords for fencing practice
canvas (various sizes)
snare drum
help and materials to build an outdoor stage
legos
wooden & plastic swords
books (for all ages)
notebooks
binders
paint
paper (construction, computer, cardstock, etc)
stickers
paintbrushes
clay & play dough
markers
posterboard
djembe drums
flute
yoga & tumbling mats
storage containers
boom box
digital cameras
software for pcs (photoshop, games, activities, etc)
washable rugs
folding chairs
t-shirts (all sizes)
lawn mower

We humbly appreciate the support and will be ready to dance with our friends on February 21st. The place is Analogue at 2010 Commerce St and we honor the birthday of Rachel H. They are asking $10 at the door or a donation for the school. Get there when the doors open at 9pm. Peace & Blessings,

kim

Working things out...and looking to the future

2008-08-22T15:33:00.005-05:00

This has been a tough week with some of the younger boys. They enjoy creating their own physical games like Pokemon Battle and practicing their sword adventures, but the result of them not setting up boundaries for these games has been some anger and hurt feelings when things go too far. They've been working on talking to each other more and at week's end it seems to be going well.

Wednesday, we took time to go to The Station Museum's current exhibit "Defending Democracy". Highly recommended for anyone interested in human rights and in the struggles of peoples in the Americas. The kids sat through the film on the 2004 people's protest in Oaxaca at least 5 times. They were asking questions about why the police had on full riot gear and the people just had flowers and signs. They also got a kick out of the Otebenga Jones section of the exhibit that was set up to look like a high school gym and they tried to sit through the part of the film but their attention was focused on wanting to play basketball. They took lots of pictures of BPP's Emory Douglas' work. I am looking forward to making some stencils to do a little graffiti style self expression with the kids at the Art Day Houston this Sunday.

Yesterday, The Real School visited the HAEA pool party and had a blast! Great people and a great pool from what was relayed to me. I look forward to more collaborations with our community and building some great programming.

Tomorrow is the last Open Dialog at the Dickson location. It has served as the school's location for the past 18 months and even though it has been a great house, it is time to start a new chapter in the school's history. For anyone looking for an alternative to public education, please stop by 5020 Dickson St, Houston Texas 77007 tomorrow at 3pm to talk. We look forward meeting new families and getting more people unplugged from the typical institutionalized systems. Call us if you have any questions as we are glad to talk about positive ways to educate children. We all could use some backup and resources for our families. Have a great weekend!

You know it's Tuesday when...

2008-08-12T22:37:00.002-05:00

okay, there's no set thing to let you know what day it is...SO let's see. Today we had Diego, Ripley, Jacob, William, Sean, Evan, Troy, EliJah and Judah at school. They played a lot of different games and spent a lot of time role playing as different characters. Quite interesting what they pick up from we supposedly learned adults. I will try to post some of the pictures and possibly the video on You Tube tomorrow. We also sat outside a bit and made a craft, the Ojo de Dios, with sticks we picked up in the yard. It was a lot of fun and hopefully we will do it again in the future using multiple colors of yarn. Adults volunteering did some cleaning and organizing for the upcoming move and there was plenty of help from youthful volunteers.

The late afternoon saw most kids winding down while playing on the computers and surfing You Tube in search of Pokemon related videos. It was a good day to be a kid at The Real School. Left alone to navigate the major portion of their day, the kids are happier and only need assistance for those disagreements that can't be immediately negotiated or when they need help making food. Kids are amazing! See you tomorrow.

In Solidarity,

TRS

"Free children are not easily influenced; the absence of fear accounts for this phenomenon. Indeed, the absence of fear is the finest thing that can happen to a child." ~ A. S. Neill (author of Summerhill)

Looking for mentoring minded teens & others interested in internships!

2008-08-08T18:37:00.003-05:00

The Real School AKA Dragon Valley
.

is a non-hierarchical learning environment, free of coercion and control and rooted in consensus decision making. It aims to build a community of trust and liberation through education. ....
.. ..

We are currently seeking interns who are passionate, playful, empathetic, patient, committed, responsible and honest. ....
.. ..
Call 832-767-0404, email therealschoolhouston@yahoo.com or go to www. therealschoolhouston. org for more information about the school or to inquire about the position. ....

(Below is a more complete description.)....

Prospective interns must both like and deeply respect children, take initiative, love to learn, be willing to admit when they make a mistake, and have diverse interests. They should have skills and knowledge (or be willing to acquire them) in conflict resolution, alternative education, clear communication, unschooling, active listening, free schools, organization, consensus, modeling healthy and safe decisions, and anger management.....
.. ..
....interns carry out many tasks including teaching classes; listening; helping kids resolve conflict; cleaning; attending meetings; communicating with parents; outreach; fundraising; sharing skills; laughing; comforting hurt kids; playing; sharing interests; interacting with prospective families...
.. ..
The kids at the school say they would like prospective teachers to "like and care about kids, be understanding, engaging, fun, level-headed, have a good sense of humor, enjoy playing video games, and like to have a good time."....

A prospective teacher should be critical and conscious. Willingness to critically analyze our actions and behaviors is crucial to understanding our intersections of oppression (race, gender, class, age, etc.). Being conscious of "why we do what we do" and "why we think what we think" is important in maintaining a healthy dialog between parents, kids, and staff. The school should be seen as a place to learn for everyone involved. ....
.. ..
....Having a understanding of anti-authoritarianism and of the consensus decision-making model are important aspects of being a teacher. The Real School makes decisions collectively rather than relying on a leader to do so. Our basic principles are: respect ourselves, respect each other, and respect the environment. There is an expectation that kids, staff, parents, and the larger community will honor these principles not just during school hours, but also in their daily lives. ....

Interns should be prepared to commit to working at the school for at least a 6 month time period and to devote significant time and energy to their work. An ideal candidate would understand that interning at The Real School is not just a job and would approach their work with passion and heart felt energy. You are expected to take responsibility for yourself and should feel comfortable working without explicit directions while still remaining accountable to the community. ....
.. ..
If are interested in helping to grow something powerful and unique and believe that you can be of value to this amazing project, we encourage you to apply. Please send a resume with a written statement detailing your background, ideas on education, interests, and hopes for your involvement with The Real School AKA Dragon Valley to therealschoolhouston@yahoo.com.

Thanks!!!

TRS

The week in review...

2008-08-08T18:12:00.003-05:00

There's been a lot of water related events going on this week... tropical storms to water gun fights...what fun!!!! This morning Isaac led the battle cry for another epic sword training. Lots of outdoor fun and exercise was had today. Have a great weekend because we will! ;-)

Peace,
TRS

Rain Day - TS Eduard

2008-08-05T22:18:00.003-05:00

So we braved the dreaded tropical storm with its rain, occasional wind gusts and its rain. It's always good to have a rain day, even when you're unschooling! ;-) Raj and I relaxed with the boys throughout the day until they wandered off to play their Nintendos or worked on the computers. EliJah and Judah at some point went out to play in the rain and when they were done looked like wet kittens.

Our friend, Pravin (who helped create The Real School and is now working at the Albany Free School) stopped by for a visit. I got the chance to talk about race and class in the Unschool/Free School community with him. The conversation brought more questions than solutions, but we really need to outreach to the greater Houston community to talk about REAL educational reform and taking back the concept of school and learning from the institutions. Krenie dropped Isaac, Troy and Justin off in the midst of the rain and after a nap, Isaac got to spend some time catching up with Pravin. Carol and I got to talk a little about the move later this month when she came to pick up Justin and Troy. It's very exciting to know that we are moving into a permanent location in just a few weeks. (if anyone is interested in helping with that move, please let me know!).

We had a visitor who has an interest in staffing here. She and I had a great conversation about institutionalized learning and how we want more for our children. I hope she schedules some time to come and observe the daily happenings here later this week.

I did take some pictures of the rain which I will post tomorrow. Time to tuck the kiddos in so goodnight!

More explorations in unschooling tomorrow!!!

Peace & Blessings,
kim pickens

Ellie's last day...

2008-08-01T14:24:00.002-05:00

I write this with tears of sadness and joy. The day has finally come that our beloved friend, Ellie Shenker, leaves her teaching position to pursue her new adventures at college. She will be missed greatly as she has at times been called upon to be mature beyond her years and she has always stepped up to the challenge. There is only this left to say...Thank you, Ellie!

The Real School - Houston!!!!

Saving Tadpoles

2008-07-31T17:26:00.002-05:00

We have had our latest eco-friendly science project arrive by accident at our doorstep. A few week's ago, one of the neighbors had a water main leak which kept a constant stream of water flowing across the sidewalk out front. This in turn encouraged the frogs to lay eggs which became a LOT of tadpoles. When the water main was fixed, the tadpoles found themselves trapped in an ever evaporating pool of water. So William, Diego, EliJah, Judah, Evan and Sean found themselves helping to add water every day to keep the tadpoles alive. I posted a request on Craigslist for a free aquarium to move the project away from the street and save as many tadpoles as possible.

A wonderful group of people answered and a huge thanks to Kristee for providing an aquarium, lamp and pump (along with some good advice on temperature)!!!! The tadpoles enjoyed the aquarium, but sometime at the beginning of this week there developed a film on the water. Sadly at the moment only 7 tadpoles are going strong - but they are growing their legs and the kids are excited to watch the transformation! Here are some pictures of the past several weeks and I will take some close up shots of the survivors this weekend!

Peace & Blessings,
kim - mother/cooperative member TRS

Viva Jose!!!!

2008-07-01T17:03:00.002-05:00

Last night we said "Thank you" to one of the co-conspirators of The Real School and teacher/friend for the past 2 years. Jose is an amazing person who has created a lasting impression on the children and we adults. His tireless commitment to allowing the children to build their community has inspired us all. We wish him well with his future endeavors in community building and activism and know our paths will cross again! The kids wrote and acted out a play for Jose that Ellie narrarated. Enjoy the pictures!!!

Lynn McCabe & the Blaffer Gallery Show

2008-07-01T14:09:00.003-05:00

We were very excited to be a part of the 2008 Houston Area Exhibition at the Blaffer Gallery located at University of Houston. Artist Lynn McCabe was working on an exhibit and wanted to have the help of teenagers. Representing Dragon Valley were Justin, Isaac, Seth and Troy. Several of us went to the opening night festivities and in true DV style, we spent most of the time talking and playing outside the gallery! The show runs until August 2nd.

Family Night Out

2008-07-01T14:03:00.003-05:00

We had a great time hanging out at Pachamama's Organic Coffeehouse on May 31st! Raj sang while the we all played, read and talked. Looking forward to doing this type of event on a regular basis!

Green Art - Earth Day 4/22

2008-05-08T14:01:00.003-05:00

A great turn out in celebration of our Mother Earth!!! We had members of the community from the very young to our respected elders stop by and participate in the fun. Using recycled materials from everyday products we created a mural. Outside we planted some bush bean seeds and put each person's name on the pot so they can watch the progress. It was a positive day and we raised awareness in the 3 Rs and hopefully can make programs like this a regular gathering. Thanks to Wabash Antiques & Feeds (a Heights neighbor) for donating the seeds, pots and soil.

Outreach at the Westheimer Block Party - 4/12

2008-05-08T13:41:00.005-05:00

We went as a school community to hang out and talk to folks about unschooling and what we are doing here in Houston. There were a lot of people out and we met some cool folks and saw some friends we haven't seen in a while. The kids had fun and we got to hear some music...good and bad! But that's another blog...Thanks to the Free Press for letting us set up a booth.

Events This Weekend

2007-12-11T15:19:00.000-06:00

This weekend there will be an Open Dialog on Education from 2 to 4 PM on Saturday at The Real School AKA Dragon Valley and a Festival of Live Music at Mojo Risin' Coffee House from noon to 8 PM benefiting the school. For more information on both events, keep reading below!

Whether you are already outside of the educational box, thinking about climbing out or just wanting to examine radically different ways of understanding education, please join The Real School community for our next monthly Open Dialog on Education on Saturday, December 15th from 2 to 4 PM. Our Open Dialogs on Education are opportunities for the community at large to come together to discuss issues relating to education and children as well as the specifics of the school and its philosophy. The dialog will be at our school building (5020 Dickson, Houston, TX 77007) We welcome people of all ages to attend and hope to see you soon! It is always OK to come late!

On Sunday, December 16th from noon to 8 PM there will be a live music festival (http://www.myspace.com/mojorisinfestivalofmusic) at Mojo Risin' Coffee House! A $5 cover will benefit The Real School (www.therealschoohouston.org) . Mojo Risin' Coffee House is located at 1600 Shepherd Dr. at Eigel St. (3 blocks south of I-10/Katy Freeway). There will be live performances from Anna Noel and the Admiral, Cameron Scott, Carolyn Shulman, Constant Billy, Gia, John Egan, Kenneth Scott, Kristen Jensen, Larry Cooper, Mark Zeus, Moodswings, Mr. Nsatiable, PJ Flowers, Raj Pickens, Scef, Tony Henry, and Quiet Talker. Delicious coffee and food will be available for sale as well!

Please pass this information on to anyone you feel would be interested. To find out more information about the school you can:
Visit our website at www.therealschoolhouston.org
Visit our blog at http://therealschoolhouston.blogspot.com
Call us at 832-767-0404

Arboretum and Fire Museum

2007-11-27T09:40:00.000-06:00

Last month we spent a wonderful day at the Arboretum. The weather was perfect for walking on the trails. The kids spent a long time at the pond, watching turtles and making pretend fishing poles. They have a Discovery Room that is filled with all kinds of interesting stuff. When we first arrived a woman gave us worksheets with pictures of native wildlife to circle as you spot them in the exhibit. Of course, no one pressured them into filling them out. Some of them had a lot of fun searching while others ignored the papers and just concentrated on the exhibit itself. I didn't notice the other half of the Discovery Room until the group I was with came back from the trails. There was a great selection of local skins, bones, feathers, and plant cuttings to feel and smell. The most interesting part were the microscopes available for use. You could look at slides or use the bigger microscopes to look at water samples, and larger items. It was really nice to have the time to explore all the stuff crammed into the room, and since we went in the middle of a weekday, we had the place to ourselves.

Sean looking at snakeskin under a microscope.

Justin searching for an animal in his packet at the Discovery Room at the Arboretum.

Christopher, Kristin, Troy, Jennifer, Sean, and Max exploring the Discovery Room at the Arboretum.

Max, Isaac, Seth, Justin, Evan, and Ripley peering into the pond at the Arboretum.

Justin and Ripley pretending to fish at the Arboretum.

The day before Thanksgiving most kids stayed at home, so a few of us went on an impromptu trip to the Fire Museum. When we walked into the museum the younger kids were in complete awe. Upon seeing a hose attached to a fire hydrant, Diego gave the most excited gasp I have ever heard.

William and Diego run their firetruck into Abba at the Fire Museum.

Wiliam and Diego getting ready to slide down the pole in their firefighter outfits at the Fire Museum.

- Ellie, Staff Member

5 Days, 5 Ways to Give

2007-11-27T09:01:00.001-06:00

Apologies for the lack of updates lately, I will do my best to be a more regular poster!

Starting tonight we are having a week of fundraisers because the school is in a financial crunch. Any contributions are appreciated. We will be posting a Paypal link on our website soon for those who are unable to attend events.

5 Days, 5 Ways to Give
All events take place at The Real School (5020 Dickson, near Shepherd and Memorial).
For more information call Kim at 713-385-2428.

Tonight, Tuesday, November 27th at 7 PM: Film Screening and Discussion.
We will be watching Free to Learn, a film about the Albany Free School, and then discussing education. We are asking for a donation of at least 5 dollars.

Wednesday, November 28th at 6 PM: Enfants Creatifs Art Show & Sale.
Artwork created by the kids for sale.

Thursday, November 29th from 9 AM to 8 PM: Recycling Day
Stop by and drop off your aluminum cans for recycling.

Friday, November 30th at 8 PM: Dance Party
We are asking for a donation of at least 5 dollars.

Saturday, December 1st at 9 AM: Yard Sale
We have a lot of stuff so please come by and support the school!

Saturday, December 1st at 2 PM: Music and Poetry Show
Come listen to bands and hear great poetry!

- Ellie, Staff Member

All Hallows Eve

2007-10-31T14:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

Jose, Ellie, Judah, Stuart, and Abba pose in their Halloween costumes on the porch.

Isaac, Justin, Abba, and Ellie pjck up the parachute while Ripley crouches underneath.

Abba, EliJah, Ellie, Diego, Isaac, Seth, Justin, William, and Ripley play with the parachute.

Boys and Girls' Baseball Bat Park

2007-10-27T15:51:00.000-05:00

The weather in Houston has been beautiful lately. On Wednesday we made our first trip to the park nearest to us (now nicknamed "Boys and Girls' Baseball Bat Park" by some) in a few months. It is only a 20 minute walk, 10 if you have no need to dawdle and explore every interesting distraction, but with high humidity and heat it can be pretty intolerable. Now I fully expect we will make more frequent trips for swinging, tag, and soccer.

It is amazing how much the energy and mood of the kids has changed since they have started playing outside more! There seems to be less bickering and a much greater sense of community. The kids will often play games outdoors that require cooperation, concentration, and greater verbal and non-verbal communication. They also have a far greater outlet for physical energy and sheer volume, especially when we go to a larger space than our yard.

Expect more photos from our trips to the Renaissance Festival and Arboretum when they are uploaded soon!

William emerging from a successful trip down the slide.

Evan pausing as she pushes Judah around in the stroller. Now that we have a stroller to play with many of the kids were very excited to push Judah around.

William, EliJah, Diego, Justin, Ripley, and Evan working hard to get Seth and Troy fully buried.

Justin's head was all that was left.

Sean readying his X for a game of Tic Tac Toe.

Diego joyfully swinging.

Troy giving a smile while Justin, Ripley, and EliJah continue playing in the background.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Learning Beyond the Walls

2007-10-19T10:49:00.000-05:00

In our vision statement we say, "We want to participate in the world at large as well as be accessible to it." Part of this sentiment is the idea that learning does not just happen within the walls of this building, or only in the hours we are open. While we believe strongly that the school is a wonderful place for kids to be, we feel just as strongly that it is not enough. Children have to be given the opportunity to explore the world, not be separated from it. Learning and living are one. Schools tend to toss around terms such as "life-long learners" while they maintain that learning can only happen at school. Thus we see millions of people who graduate every year believing that they have finished learning.

In fact, one of the founders of our school, who worked briefly as a substitute in public schools, shared a story about how he was reading a book while eating lunch at work one day. A teacher approached him and asked if he was in school. When he said no, she then asked him why he would be reading. This was the same person that was supposed to be "cultivating" that life-long love of learning in her students!

At The Real School, we do not work to "cultivate" or "develop" a life-long love of learning. We believe that all people are born naturally curious and have an innate desire to learn. If we do not interfere or destroy this characteristic, there is no reason it would expire at adulthood.

We are trying our best to go with the kids outside of the building as much as possible. Whether simply walking to the store or park, or organizing a field trip that requires driving, we hope they all have the opportunity to be a part of life.

Most recently we took a field trip to the Houston Heritage Society on Wednesday, where the kids very dutifully dealt with being followed around by docents who seemed slightly uncomfortable with children being around. We got to visit a house built in 1821 (which for Houston is as old as it gets) and the kids were able to tighten the ropes on a bed, pretend to churn butter, and touch lots of other artifacts. I think most of all we realized how much we appreciate air-conditioning! The trip led us to decide we are going to try our hand at making corn husk dolls and soap later on at the school. We then walked across the street to the city's first park, Sam Houston Park, and had lots of fun "fishing" with sticks in the pond, climbing, and spotting ducks and turtles. I of course, as always on field trips, forgot to bring the camera, so there are no pictures.

In previous meetings the kids have been discussing getting a class pet, so in the past couple of weeks we have taken a few spontaneous trips to pet stores to check out our possibilities, ask questions about care, note costs, and of course, pet the animals.

Next week we are all looking forward to going to the Renaissance Festival! I will make sure to bring the camera and take a lot of pictures this time.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Cooler Weather

2007-10-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

One of the things Houston is probably best known for is its humidity and heat. There are few respites from the oppressive weather, and our idea of winter would probably be recognizable to most Northerners as autumn. So yesterday afternoon, when the sky started to darken and a rare wind blew the leaves outside our windows, the kids immediately bolted outside. The first cool weather of the season! It was a really joyful afternoon with the kids playing tag, swinging, and climbing in the tree. When the rain began to fall the kids were unfazed, and when it turned into a downpour the drama of "survival" took centerstage.

Evan, Isaac, Abba, Ripley, and Troy playing in the front yard.

Seth, Troy, Abba, Evan, and Ripley pose together on the porch steps.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Stories and Shelters

2007-10-09T16:32:00.000-05:00

This morning Evan and Sean told each other "bedtime" stories, ranging from Star Wars narratives to classic “Once upon a time...”s. I joined in and made up a story about how Princess Evan outsmarted an ogre to save her friend Prince Sean. I had to reassure them that this was not a story where the princess and prince got married before they let me continue. We set up a game to reenact the story, using mats as a bridge between their two castles, when Evan stopped midstep and gave me a plaintive look.
"This bridge is too easy to get across!"
I was pretty amazed because these kids are all very creative and do not normally have any issues getting involved in a game. I asked if she could imagine it was hard to get across.
"Ohhh," she sighed as a smile spread across her face. But the smile quickly turned to fear as she toppled off the mat and yelped, "Oh no, the wind is blowing too strong!"

Today several of the kids spent a large part of the day building a shelter and collecting provisions for their survival. They even cut sections of bamboo to make cups for water (unfortunately I forgot to take a picture) and used sharpies and fabric scraps to make flags. Here are a few photos from the adventure.

Troy sawing off banana leaves for the shelter.

Ripley uses a stick to try to open an orange.

The kids collected unripened fruit for provisions.

Justin hangs his flags from the tree.

Corbin made this Dragon Yard flag.

The finished shelter.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Quote of the Week and Photos

2007-09-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

"We are faced with the paradoxical fact that education has become one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought."
- Bertrand Russell

Brother Kenya came to share music as part of the Jena 6 day of resistance.

Kim explaining what has happened to the Jena 6.

Harley flashing the peace sign.

Sean molding his cornstarch dough.

Evan and Ellie making miniature cornstarch dough creations.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Quote of the Week and Photos

2007-09-19T23:10:00.000-05:00

"My grandmother wanted me to have an education so she kept me out of school."

- Margaret Mead

Diego, Evan, William, and Steven make a big mess with cornstarch dough and a cornstarch and water suspension.

Caleb paddles through the school.

Stephanie and Charlie show Seth their constructions.

Troy playing the drums.

Caleb gets to know Fred.

Abba, Troy, Melissa, and Evan explore the Children's Museum.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Bubble, Bubble Toil and Trouble

2007-09-19T19:24:00.000-05:00

Sometimes if the kids bring money we walk to the store down the street to buy something. Today I took a few of the little ones and they pooled together their dollars to buy a package of those plastic bubble/balloons. Once we raced back to the school (taking the "shortcut" as is always requested) everyone got a chance to blow some long-lasting bubbles, teach each other how to use it, stick them together to form shapes, and experiment with combining colors.

Amanda

Seth

Troy

Caleb

Evan

Abba and Troy

To see more pictures from the school click on this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

If games had come before books...

2007-09-19T12:33:00.000-05:00

If games had come before books...

“Reading books chronically understimulates the senses. Unlike the long-standing tradition of game playing—which engages the child in a vivid, three-dimensional world filled with moving images and musical soundscapes, navigated and controlled with complex muscular movements—books are simply a barren string of words on the page.

“Books are also tragically isolating. While games have for many years engaged the young in complex social relationships with their peers, building and exploring worlds together, books force the child to sequester him- or herself in a quiet space, shut off from interaction with other children. These new ‘libraries’ that have arisen in recent years to facilitate reading activities are a frightening sight: dozens of young children, normally so vivacious and socially interactive, sitting alone in cubicles, reading silently, oblivious to their peers.

“But perhaps the most dangerous property of these books is the fact that they follow a fixed linear path. You can’t control their narratives in any fashion—you simply sit back and have the story dictated to you. This risks instilling a general passivity in our children, making them feel as though they’re powerless to change their circumstances. Reading is not an active, participatory process; it’s a submissive one. The book readers of the younger generation are learning to ‘follow the plot’ instead of learning to lead.”

Taken from Ode Magazine, which in turn excerpted it from Steven Johnson’s Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Popular Culture Is Making Us Smarter (Allen Lane, 2005)

- Ellie, Staff Member

Young Children as Research Scientists

2007-09-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of William and Diego painting with watercolors. Later Amanda glanced over at William's painting and exclaimed, "Oh! You made a wheel but it is flat because there is a hole letting the air out!" William beamed at this correct interpretation and I stood there gaping. Sure, I had presumed he was painting a wheel - my adult eyes saw the circle with lines crossing to represent spokes. But my narrowed understanding attributed the trail of paint coming from one point of the circle as totally meaningless, if not just an accident. I was astounded at how these kids have this amazing ability which I unfortunately have lost. They are constantly searching for meaning in their environment and analyzing the world around them. It reminds me of how John Holt describes young children as research scientists in his book, "Learning All the Time":

Children are born passionately eager to make as much sense as they can of things around them. The process by which children turn experience into knowledge is exactly the same, point for point, as the process by which those whom we call scientists make scientific knowledge. Children observe, they wonder, they speculate, and they ask themselves questions. They think up possible answers, they make theories, they hypothesize, and then they test theories by asking questions or by further observations or experiments or reading. Then they modify the theories as needed, or reject them, and the process continues. This is what in “grown-up” life is called the–capital S, capital M–Scientific Method. It is precisely what these little guys start doing as soon as they are born.
If we attempt to control, manipulate, or divert this process, we disturb it. If we continue this long enough, the process stops. The independent scientist in the child disappears.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Quote of the Week and Photos

2007-09-13T13:51:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Week: "I remember spending the greater part of my childhood wondering about adults. Were they ever children? From their behavior towards children it seemed to me quite clearly that they could never have possibly been children." - Ashley Montagu

Diego running with a sword, Isaac showing off the moves he learned in his martial arts class, and Evan preparing the stuffed animals to watch the movie.

Evan and Amanda requested I take a picture of them with the puppies.

The kids always arrange the most comfortable, lazy position to use the computer. Here Justin is sitting in the armchair that managed to find a semi-permanent home in front of the computer desk, but currently as I type the kids have shoved the entire couch by the desk.

Caleb told me that he would play with the "fancy ones" and "the...cars" were for me to play with.

For more pictures please follow this link.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Alternative Education Reading Group

2007-09-13T11:54:00.000-05:00

Please send this invitation to anyone you think might be interested:

The Real School AKA Dragon Valley invites you to join us for the first meeting of our alternative education reading group. Each month we will have a different short reading, available online or by email, to review beforehand and then a meeting to discuss our thoughts and opinions on alternative educational theory and how it relates to our lives.

The first meeting will be on Sunday, October 14th at 3 PM at The Real School AKA Dragon Valley, located at 5020 Dickson, Houston, Texas 77007 (near Shepherd and Memorial). We will be discussing John Taylor Gatto's speech, "Nine Assumptions of Modern Schooling - and Twenty-One Facts the Institution Would Rather Not Discuss".

You can read this speech at:
http://www.spinninglobe.net/9assumptions.htm

You can find out more about the school at:
http://www.therealschoolhouston.org

You can read the school's blog at:
http://www.therealschoolhouston.blogspot.com/

You can read more about John Taylor Gatto at:
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/

To contact the school please call (832) 767-0404 or email us at therealschoolhouston@yahoo.com.

- Ellie, Staff Member

Welcome

2007-09-10T09:25:00.000-05:00

We at The Real School AKA Dragon Valley decided it would be a nice idea to have a blog because we wanted to share what we are doing with the rest of the world. What is it that we are doing? Nothing that should be considered too extraordinary, but in the society we live in, something pretty much unheard of. We are trusting children to live and learn in the best ways they can. We are offering help and support, but not coercion and control. We are working to create a community where every individual feels empowered to follow the path they choose for themselves while respecting the needs of the community. We are looking to redefine education, take it back from the oppressive, hierarchical structures that seek to impose it on others and honor the truth that learning must come from within.

To learn more about the school, please visit our website. If you are ever in the Houston area, we welcome you to visit us. In the meantime, check back often for stories of our experiences, photos, thoughts on the philosophy of such things as unschooling, free schools, and child-led learning, announcements of events, and links to articles and information we think you might find useful.

-Ellie, Staff Member