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The second tenet of many democratic schools, which is unrelated to their democratic nature, is giving students the power to choose what to do with their time. There are no required classes, and sometimes no requirement to take classes at all. Students are free to choose an activity that they desire, or feel the need to do. They are free to continue activities for as long or short a time as they see fit. In this way they learn both self-discipline and self initiation. They also gain the advantage of the increases in both learning speed and learning retention that accompany engagement in an activity that one is passionate about. The students at these schools are responsible for and empowered to direct their own education from a very young age. HISTORY The oldest surviving democratic school, and the smaller, inner-city Albany Free School in upstate NY. In Australia, Currambena Primary School has been in operation since 1969. At least 100 schools around the world identify themselves as "democratic schools" today, in countries such as Australia , Brazil , Canada , Denmark , Finland , Israel , Japan , New Zealand , Russia , South Africa , The Netherlands , United Kingdom and United States . Since 1993 there is an International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC), held in a different country each year. TRENDS The early 1970s saw the creation of publicly-funded, publicly-operated democratic schools. The creation of NOVA Project Alternative High School in Seattle in 1973 is the best example. With the growing rigors of modern , and SoundOut each incorporate the principles of democratic schools into public education reform efforts. The development of Free Schools , popularized in the 1970s by Jonathan Kozol , usually apply the principles of democratic governance with Humanistic Education . SEE ALSO |
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