If Students Designed Their Own School Response

When I watched this video, like Paige, I had mixed feelings about it. I can see how there would be pros and cons to the whole thing. We all have great ideas, but can they be used in subjects such as Social Studies? Science? Math? Maybe, but many great ideas don't connect or relate with anything that's covered in your everyday classes.  So, why not make your own class? Where you can do what you want with your time. I liked the idea of it, but I figured the class wouldn't be for everyone. For example, it wouldn't be a very good class for anyone who tends to slack off in school. What is the likeliness that they'll spend the hour on their phone? However, I believe it would be an excellent course for people who do well in school, or just genuinely care about their education. Some people may not like this course since it's not academic, but if you think about it, this could really be good. Students may want to learn how to play an instrument, or learn about how something works, or jut about anything they want to know and  focus on. I believe this course can improve students' performance in school, as they would be studying a subject that they enjoy, and could potentially improve their concentration, focus, interpretation, problem solving skills...and so on. I believe the course will be a great opportunity for the student to stimulate their brain. When I watched the video, one thing came to mind...The Summerhill School. At Summerhill, which is a Boarding school, the choices are all up to the student...which classes they like, which classes they take, or if they even GO TO CLASS. Yes, you heard me right. Classes here are 100% optional. If the students choose to play all day, they may. No one forces them to do anything, their education is completely in their own hands. I personally wouldn't send my children to this school, since boarding school is expensive, and I wouldn't want to pay for my children to play all day, but I find it a very interesting idea. The video also reminded me of our very own Genius Hour projects. With the Genius Hour projects, we have so much more freedom with what the project can be about. This isn't your typical boring school project where you are assigned a topic to write or research about. You get to do what you want, what interests you, and I think it' s a great idea to have this course available, to allow students to work and learn in their own unique way , not how the curriculum says they must learn. Their innovative ideas can be presented by the student's standard, and I'm glad to see courses like this coming to our school! I signed up for Project Design & Development for precisely this reason. I look forward to it, and to be able to present my ideas  in my own way!