Jane+Andrias

__**We Know Why We're Here**__ Presented by: [|Jane Andrias] A presentation based on the video 'We Know Why We're Here' about the students in Leslie Stein's Grade 2/3 classroom in 1978. - filmed in Central Park East School in NY, which is turning 35 years old. - the school was founded by [|Debra Meier] - based on the idea of progressive education - the goal of the school was to educate any and every child - many of the graduates from this school have entered the fields of social work, teaching and the arts

What makes Central Park East a progressive school? - choices for students - flexible groupings of students - inquiry-based learning - very student-centered classrooms - the classrooms emulated the 'real-world' - the classrooms are set-up like homes for the students, not like typical classrooms - when students have the opportunity to engage in activities that interest them, they see themselves as authentic learners - EVERY child belongs - don't try to change the child to be 'normal', but recognize and nurture what each child brings into the classroom -

David Benzman '[|Learning By Heart]' documents the experiences of the first graduates from Central Park East School

Jane Andrias is a former art teacher and director of Central Park East School.