ALPHA Alternative School
ALPHA Alternative School is an alternative school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's oldest public alternative school.[1] It was created by parents, and based on the Ontario government's Hall-Dennis Report.[2] ALPHA stands for "A lot of people hoping for an alternative."[1] It is located downtown on Brant Street, near Adelaide St.
The school was started with no tests or grades. Behaviour rules were created and enforced by students and staff democratically.[3]
Background
ALPHA is based on a philosophy of "non-coercive, holistic, learner-centered education".[4]
Reception
ALPHA was the focus of the Masters thesis Defining and Defending a Democratic Education Site, by Deb O'Rourke. The Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning published an article, Letting the Child Work, based on this thesis.[5]
The London Daily Mail described the school in 2013 as "one of the trailblazers of alternative education methods".[6]
Alpha II
Alpha II Alternative School is a student-directed senior and secondary school for grades 7 to 12 located in Toronto. Part of the Toronto District School Board, Alpha II was founded in 2007 by a group of ALPHA parents.[7] Students decide for themselves what to learn and how to learn it.[8] School-wide decisions are made by a student-led weekly meeting where each person's voice counts in developing consensus.[8]
References
- 1 2 Toronto Star article: School marks 40 years
- ↑ ALPHA website
- ↑ Huffington Post: Alpha Alternative celebrates radical past
- ↑ ALPHA's philosophy on their website
- ↑ Letting the Child Work (PDF),
- ↑ Daily Mail article: Toronto ALPHA Alternative School
- ↑ "Alpha II Alternative School History". Alpha II Alternative School.
- 1 2 "About Alpha II Alternative School". Alpha II Alternative School.