These are notes, not minutes, from the Thursday, May 5th Free Sk(ch)ool Community Meeting at the La Pena Cultural Center.

Attendance: John, Nils, Patty, Nancy, Mariana, Richard, Roxanne, Richard, Ellen, Anders, Erin, Zoe, Caitland

Initial Interests

I'm interested in the Modern School. They focus on people's practical experiences by developing a theory ... to become radically transformed. They have their own liberation theology. I learned about them from Maria Chichilco (one of the heroes of Salvadorian revolution) ...

I'm into simplicity circles. This is where people to change their lives from being so consumptive. How do we move towards a post-carbon life? What does the end of oil mean?

I have been teaching since 1971. I'm here to recruit people to establishing a new school. I want to create a co-housing community, to live outside of the metropolitan area. I want to focus on kids where there are 25-35 families in a co-housing community. I feel it's really important to get a lot of our kids out of the toxic, poisonous situations that they're in.

I have been involved adult literacy through the Alameda (city) adult literacy program.

I feel that public schools should be individualized, and definitely not compulsory.

General Comments/Suggestions

There is something seriously wrong with the public school system. At my school, we have 6-7 or super dedicated (almost missionary-like) teachers. This is not practical or sustainable.

I have been involved in a co-operative preschool where each of us worked once a week. It's been going for 50 years. We did a fair amount of fund-raising. You have to pay for rent, pay for materials, and even though everybody was donating, it was still hard to make ends meet. I feel that if you want to have something that is long-lasting, you have to start thinking seriously about money. Teachers need to eat too!

"high street.. get off 580... get off towards the water..." ???

Home schoolers are perfect this style of education. Nobody wants to home-school in isolation. There must be some home-school organizations for you guys to tap into.

I want to learn how to repair my bike!

There are a lot of free classes in the area. Be a central resource for *all* existing free classes.

The Berkeley adult school on University Av, they can do free classes if the instructor signs a waiver. They also have a nice computer lab.

Try to think of something you can do reach out to the Latino and black kids. They have a desperate summer. I took some kids to the Elkhorn Slough in Monterey. They have tide pools and lots of cool stuff, and it didn't cost anything.

Check out the city of Berkeley free programs.

Check out "3rd World Organizing" in East Oakland. Center Third World Organizing

There's a community center just off of West Oakland Bart. Big L shaped building. Check them out.

There is a youth center on 23rd and International. Youth Employment Project, Eastside Arts Alliance?

Check out the Terwilliger Nature Center Terwilliger Web Site. A woman trains people to be outdoor educators when they commit to a year of leading school groups.

There is free sailing classes at the Marina... with Cal sailing club?

Possible Classes

Nancy wants to do a Spanish class. "I'm doing trades with another family...I could combine a few more kids into a Spanish immersion class, but i need somebody to help teach the class. 10-12 kids, 2 teachers, and we collaborate once a week. Any age kids. We can do cooking, hiking, play football, singing... we can even have a party!"

Richard: "I'm interested in raising states of consciousness and help create a way for social revolution. I want to work on our psyche, ego, illusions -- the things that hold ourselves down. I want to liberate ourselves. I think we can do that collectively, in a discussion group format, and then come up with direct pathways to accomplish our goals."