Then, along comes school. It is the first real exposure to the public arena. Children are required to share materials and teachers in a space that belongs to everyone. Within this public space a new concept of open access can develop if we choose to make this a goal. Here will be found not only the strong ties of intimate friendship but, in addition, the habit of full and equal participation, upon request.
Equal participation is, of course, the cornerstone of most classrooms.
Yet, in truth, free acceptance in play, partnerships and teams is what matters most to any child. We vote about everything in our democratic classrooms, but we permit the children to empower bosses and reject classmates. She then wondered aloud if anyone is ever too old to practice being kind. But for many parents of children in independent and public schools, there is another view of education. Maybe our students know only too well the downside to constantly living in the future, as they have had to in order to get into the Dartmouths of the world.