"Flipping" the Community School

Sir Ken Robinson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6XAPnuFjJc

In my dream model of public education in the future, our brick and mortar buildings don't go away.  We just change the focus of what goes on inside and out.  These buildings would become a hub of community activity.  These community schools would give all citizens access to learning tools that include (but not exclusive to) computers, scanners, art, music, sports, health/medical and common trades (welding, cat design, etc.).  These hubs for the community would have structured classes and groups for all ages based on interest.  Citizens would go there to learn computer skills, languages, mathematics or animation. Soccer, baseball and dance classes would take place and the sports fields would be utilized in some democratic fashion.  There would still be a place for teachers in the new world view of teachers who act as facilitators and administrators of tools for learning and for organizing experts on topics who lead classes or seminars on topics needed by the community.  Daycare, as we know it, wouldn't exist because there would be a robust amount of activities being provided for all age levels that families could enroll their children in. 

You can imagine that these buildings would be unique to the culture and geography of their communities having focuses that are determined by the needs going on in that community.  What would be standard in all of them would be caring professional teacher/organizers who bring together the tools and experts (from within and from outside the community) to help with what the users need and want to learn.