The Power of Democratic Process in Schools: Jerry Mintz at TEDxYouth@BFS

Jerry Mintz has been a leading voice in the alternative school movement for over 30 years. In addition to his seventeen years as a public school teacher and a public and independent alternative school principal, he has also founded several alternative schools and organizations and has lectured and consulted around the world.
In 1989, he founded the Alternative Education Resource Organization and since then has served as it's Director. Jerry was the first executive director of the National Coalition of Alternative Community Schools (NCACS), and was a founding member of the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC).
In addition to several appearances on national radio and TV shows, Jerry's essays, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Paths of Learning, Green Money Journal, Communities, Saturday Review, Holistic Education Review as well as the anthology Creating Learning Communities (Foundation for Educational Renewal, 2000).
Jerry was Editor-in-Chief for the Handbook of Alternative Education (Macmillan, 1994), and the Almanac of Education Choices (Macmillan/Simon & Schuster, 1995). He is the author of No Homework and Recess All Day: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education (AERO, 2003) and is editor of Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Story (AERO, 2010).

[@amittenforkitten7016]

It's too bad that I am about 7 hours away from the nearest democratic school. I can't ever go to one unless I move really far away.

[@hunjaksara]

it's like I'm listening to a.s.neill. :)) this needs more awarness

[@bridgecn]

Great speech, Jerry! The democratic model sounds like a great idea. I question, though, whether it is possible for people in a school setting to uphold true democracy - especially when adults are paying money to send their children to the school. Do parents usually also play a role in the decision-making process? What if parents demand things that the voting members of the school (children) do not want?

[@dylbinawesomeperson]

noelle bridge there is a thing that some Sudbury schools have called assembly where parents get a vote. Often tho assembly often results in the school getting turned into a run of the mill private school which is quite sad. But at my free school there is a time where parents meet with staff and students and talk about ideas they have but have no vote in anything.

[@reachforacreech]

my god.what he sais is precisely what ive been writing about

[@deborapletzke9249]

Unless someone has been recently in a school-they should not comment on the state of schools today. He is too old. It is fine if he tells his personal story. His age - 15 = ?? Sure it used to be boring. Don't you think that if kids are supposed to master every discipline that some of it will be boring to them? CC says they must all leave the same.

[@michelleberkon]

Have you noticed the problems in today's schools? Jerry Mintz may be older than you think someone should be to share their opinion but he knows what he is talking about. You clearly don't share that important criterion.

[@samos343guiltyspark]

Michelle Berkon i agree with you entirely but you should elaborate more for short sighted thinkers to understand more immediately. like say that although he may be old, he listens to the children whom ARE in the schools of today. and it's clear to see that he holds on to that inner child who wants to learn. aside from the great probability he has the facts to back him up.... I think Jerry's spot on with his mission.

[@michelleberkon]

Sam, You are right. Sometimes I just get narky with all the."isms" (in this case ageism). Thank you, Michelle

[@dylbinawesomeperson]

With that logic historians have no right to exsist or have opions. Your logic makes no sense.