It is the vision of the Island School to celebrate and encourage schools around the globe to go to work with authentic, hands-on education that pushes beyond the traditional classroom and curriculum.
Imagine if a large focus of “school” time allowed students and teachers the opportunity to step out into the world and go to work helping the larger community live better. It is a proven fact that students and their teachers work harder and learn more when they are given the opportunity to make a real difference beyond the limitations of the classroom and grade book.
There are many schools doing GOOD work. Now it is time to share and build momentum so that others can see that putting schools to work could be the solution for protecting the future. At the periphery, where change often begins, we are inviting you to gather to witness one such model of leadership in education and celebrate schools making a difference everywhere.
It is the Island School’s goal to encourage delegations from schools and organizations with diverse backgrounds to come and share their stories of how they have made a difference in their communities. At the conference, student delegations will have the opportunity to present their work in an expo. Below are some examples of stories of where young people are acting as agents of change.
New York Harbor School – Oyster Aquaculture to Clean up the Harbor
A public school in New York City is putting faculty and students to work with an aquaculture hatchery on Governor’s Island. In their new classroom, students get SCUBA certified and haul bags of oysters out into the harbor. Learning is relevant and multidisciplinary as students work to make a difference for the environment that surrounds their school and their city.
Nantucket High School – Students for Sustainability
After his semester at The Island School, Alex Perkins started a school club devoted to addressing sustainability issues on his home island of Nantucket. With money raised through local and federal grants, and with support from private funders, students in the club erected a 121-foot, 100kW wind turbine at Nantucket High School.
Middlebury College – Center for Creativity and Innovation
Middlebury is investing in curriculum that celebrates opportunities for students to turn ideas into action. Jon Isham, Luce Professor of Economics, is leading this charge that simply involves setting a goal and getting out of the way. In the last few years, students who have led research projects in his classes have gone on to help launch Brighter Planet, Step It Up, 350.org, and Power Past Coal.
Schedule of Events
Friday, March 25th
10am Opening remarks
Minister of Education The Hon. T Desmond Bannister, Government of The Bahamas, U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Nicole Avant and Dr. Jon Isham Middlebury College
10:30am Sharing the Island School’s Model
The Island School and The Bahamas
12:30pm Lunch
2-5pm Celebrating Solutions
An expo where participants will present the GOOD work they are doing at their institutions 6pm Dinner and dockside event
Saturday, March 26th
9am Enabling Networks and Enacting Change
12pm Closing Remarks
12:30 Lunch
1:45pm Cape Eleuthera Exploration
6pm Social Gathering
www.capeeleutherafoundation.org
