The community school

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Description

A New England high school has developed a curriculum that revolves around working for and with the local community. Students at the Community School in Tamworth, New Hampshire, must carry out 150 hours of community service a year, including stacking wood or clearing leaves, and take part in projects with local conservation and historical societies such as protecting wildlife habitats and mapping early graves. Experts and professionals living in the area, from community artists to trappers and quilters, are invited to share their knowledge with students. The ethos of co-operation also means there is no competition in the classroom or on the sports field - and no testing or exams. Instead teachers carry out detailed assessments of students attitudes and aptitudes. The school claims students leave with a greater sense of responsibility towards others and their environment as well as a better preparation for the real world.