Parallel Schools, Other Educations

genny — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:47:54 +0000

(Image:MANYSTUFF, MOSCOW – PARALLEL SCHOOL)

I’ve written at various points over the past year about the tremendously exciting parallel school, (a student-led augmented educational experience), as it has shadowed my own emerging interest in the field of alternative education. There are a couple of issues that i think are important about this;

The initiative starts small, and uses social network tools to connect with likeminded communities, but is built on the dedication and energy of a small group.

In line with the ‘open community’ myth of the net, it still appears to be dealing with a core demographic of similar people, though they may come from different countries and cultures, and be geographically dispersed.

It is aligned to a traditional educational institution but is not bound by it.

In itself and its existence, it is a political act, and directly questions the creeping commercialism of education.

Most of its work appears to currently be self-referential, (about the act of ‘design’ and the process of education), and it will be interesting to see if it moves into other areas.

It is fantastic that at a time when most art colleges are going through the business-as-usual degree shows, groups of students are self-organising in this way.

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Parallel Schools, Other Educations