Fridav. April 14, 1978
9
Open school alternative to system
By SUSAN WOODARD
Staff Writer
A man who says public education is not right for everyone soon will offer an alternative to Lawrence Unified School District #497.
The alternative, the Lawrence Open School, will open its doors in June after what has been a long search for a suitable school building.
Michael Bryant, director of the open school, said the school originally had planned to last fall after renting space from the Jewish Community Center, 917 Highland Drive. When the center voted not to expand the school the began looking for another building.
Bryant and four other persons then bought house at 14th Street and Monterey Way to build a new house.
"It's our own, and we don't have to worry about sharing it with any else," Bryan
said. "The fact that it is in the country and yet no closure to the city is really appealing to
There will be an open house at the new school building from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
THE OPEN SCHOOL will have three summer sessions beginning June 5 for students ages 5 to 8. Fall classes will begin in August. Bryant said that he already had 15 students signed up for the fall and that 15 might be signed up before class started.
"Thirty students is not that many," he said. "I feel sure we will retell them."
The school will have two full-time teachers but will invite parents and community members to teach minicourses throughout the year.
The tuition cost for each student will be $120 a month. Parents can pay as much as the cost of tuition.
be allowed to work in maintenance and secretarial and fund raising jobs.
Although the first-year classes will be for students 5 to 8 years old, Bryant said, the school will expand its program by adding a grade level each year. Eventually, students from kindergarten to high school age would be able to attend the school, he said.
IN DESCRIBING the open school system, Bryant was careful to distinguish it from a free school. He said the free school system had been criticized for supposedly not giving students enough structured education.
Bryant said the open school would not be as highly structured as a traditional public
"We're kind of like a middle ground," he said.
A free school, Bryant said, is unstructured and allows students to play and learn. A free school provides a free
Staff Photo by TIM ASHNER
Roof Reader
Steve Wilson, 1241½ Kentucky St., found the outside outside his front window overlooking 13th Street to be a good place to read a science fiction novel yesterday. When asked why he chose the window overlooking 13th Street to be a good place to read a science fiction novel yesterday, "It's nice and bright up there, with no wind."
--school acts merely as a source of help or information for the students, he said.
BIG 8 WOMEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT It's the best tennis in the Midwest and it's here in Lawrence.
1978 BIG 8 WOMEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT FRIDAY & SATURDAY APRIL 14-15
On the Varsity Tennis Courts west of Allen Field House Friday—Preliminary Rounds, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m
Saturday—Final Rounds:
Singles, 11 a.m.
Doubles, 2:30 p.m.
The Puffin fare for youths.
$275
Roundtrip 14-45 day APEX fare from N.Y.
$400
Roundtrip Youth Fare. Good thru age 23.
Icelandic to Europe
*200 free lunch. Ticket must be received by 10am on arrival.
University Daily Kansan
*$25 from Chicago Tickets must be received 45 days prior to departure and stay for 8 days. All $15 each day at weekends or holidays.
The teacher in an open school guides the students in their education, more than one in three.
"ESPECIALLY WITH THESE very young children, to 5 8 years old, we will place a fairly strong emphasis on them getting the basic skills," he said.
The open school system is just an alternative teaching method, Keywest, and it is not a new teaching method.
"Then once they get the basic skills they can really pursue their own interests. It is a wonderful place to learn."
"It doesn't mean that I think the public schools are horrible," he said. "I think the whole assumption that one teaching method is to be right for all students is falconous."
IDEALLY, BRYANT said, public schools would offer several instruction, instructional materials and unstructured, so that students could be matched with methods appropriate to their needs.
"One type of school could never serve all Americans," Bryant said.
Thieves escape with $250 drum
Thieves escaped with a drum valued at $250 from 102 Murphy Hall Wednesday. The theft occurred between 5 and 10:10 p.m., the KU police said yesterday.
WOW HER WITH A CORSAGE!
The police said they had no suspects.
"GOLDEN BELL"
These are just two of MANY designs
"VILLAGE IN ORANGE"
$5.00 includes all materials—even an easel for mounting.
CREWEL CUPBOARD
15 E. 8th
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday
802 west 23rd street 841-2277