University of Banja Luka

Faculty of Philology
Department of English Language and Literature

Ivona Pavlovi

Alternative education systems and practices

in Canada and the US

Supervisor: Svetlana Miti

Banja Luka
2014

Table of Contents
1. The introduction........................................................................................1
2. A Brief History and context on Alternative Education in the United
States and Canada...........................................................................................2
2.1

What is alternative education?............................................................2

2.2

Roots of Alternative Education System..............................................2

2.3

The battle for education......................................................................2

3. The difference between alternative and public education.........................3

3.1

Characteristics of public education.....................................................3

3.2

Characteristics of alternative education..............................................4

4. Types of Alternative schools.....................................................................4

4.1

Homeschooling...................................................................................5

4.2

Virtual schools....................................................................................6

Conclusion.......................................................................................................7
References.......................................................................................................8

1. The iIntroduction
The main goal of this paper is to present an overview of alternative American and
Canadian education, how it was concieved, what were the reasons, how it developed
through history and what are the differences compared to public or, so called, traditional
education. The emphasis will be put on some of the contemporary alternative teaching
systems and on what kind of students decide to take part in education alternatives.
The second part of the seminar paper focuses on the history of alternative education,
the processes it went through to become what it is in the present. It is explained what
were the roots, and how it was devided back in the 1960s. What is very important is the
battle for this kind of education, because the public schools and the knowledge they were
giving was not enough for most of the students and parents were not satisfied with it.
This further continues in the third paragraph where the focus is on the differences
between public schools and education alternatives. Some of the main differences were
pointed out, e.g. what is the difference in teacher-student relationship, how big the
classrooms are, and what kind of equpment do they have.
The fourth part provides us with the most important information on types of
alternative schools and especially homeschooling and virtual schools. It is thoroughly
explained what kind of children do the homeschooling and why people decide to take
classes on the internet in virtual classrooms.

2. A Brief History and context on Alternative Education

in the United States and Canada
2.1 What is alternative education?
Alternative education is also known as non-traditional way of teaching, and it povides
us with different variations on how a student can be taughts. It stands for the opinion that
it is not necessary to go to a public school and have a traditional education to be an
intelectual. In this field of education the stress is put on the tracher-student relationship,
therefore the teacher has to care about each and every one of his students.

2.2 Roots of Alternative Education Systems

Alternative education has roots in two related, yet conflicting educational traditions
which are the Progressive and Libertian Tradition. While both traditions share certain
attitudes, e.g. accommodation to individual needs and interests and a critical opinion
toward modern corporate society, the progressive tradition leans toward intervention and
the careful planning of the child's educational experiences and activities. The libertarian
tradition, stresses noninterference with "natural" growth and learning processes and the
importance of personal choice and freedom in educational matters.

2.3 The battle for education

According to Timothy Young educational opportunities differed based on race, gender
and social class, and these also set the stage for the constantly evolving nature of the
educational system in America.
The mainstream public educational system of the late 1950s and early 1960s was highly
criticized for being racist and exclusively designed for the success of the few. A few
years later, in 1964, America was declaring a war on poverty, and in the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, President Johnson named the public school system as
2

the front line of attack. The emphasis on excellence was at this point replaced by the
humanistic goal of equity. With government backing and funding, a new wave of
alternatives was developed which was meant to offer equal and meaningful education to
disadvantaged and minority students. By the late 1960s, the alternative movement had
arguably split into two broad categories: alternatives outside of public education and
those within the public school system. Both of these alternatives developed later on and
presented the notion that one educational system, therefore not flexible, will not be
tolerated further on.
The system arrived to Canada in 1970s, with the establishment of several small
elementary and secondary schools under the jurisdiction of public boards of education.
For Canadians the term "alternative" was used to differentiate these schools from the
independent, schools that preceded them. The alternative-school label was adopted by
many newer, independent private schools wishing to identify themselves as alternatives
to "mainstream" public education.

3. The difference between alternative and public

education
3.1 Characteristics of public education
Because ofIn the traditional system of education, public schools oblige students to
attend classes up to sixteen or eighteen. Students can be required to take different kinds
of classes - iIt can be English, mathematics, science, foreign language or physical
education, or they can even have a choice of electing music, art, or theatre courses.
Salaries in public schools are higher than in alternative and private schools, the
population of students is diverse and the teachers focus more on the core of the subject.
On the other hand, to get a job in a public school a certificate is required, therefore the
teacher has to be well educated. Classes are bigger and that brings a bad discipline, since
the teacher is not able to control the students for most of the time. Books and equipment
are outdated, and there are not enough facilities for teachers.

3.2 Characteristics of alternative education

There is a wonderful definition of Alternative education given by the site iusd.org that
says: The 3 A's ... Attendance, Attitude & Achievement; Think about The Three As. In
fact, think straight As ---Attendance, Attitude &Achievement.
Ever since the alternative education appeared in 1960s the core of the system remained
pretty much the same, without a lot of changes. In these schools students and teachers
participate voluntarily, without any pressure, and that is why these schools provide
students, as well as teachers, with motivation to achieve goals. Schools are small and
have places to receive approximately 250 students each year, which results in a lack of
violence and better discipline compared to public schools.
The only disadvantages may be that the salaries are smaller, there is less emphasis on the
core of the subject and the population is not as diverse as in public schools.

4. Types of Alternative schools

As I have mentioned before, alternative education can be divided according to whether
it is within or outside the public school system. While these alternatives outside of the
public education system were seen as among the first alternative options to the traditional
system, their emergence inspired a movement of reform within the public schools
beginning in the latter half of the 1960s. Out of these two systems, different alternative
types of schools were born, e.g. local alternatives to public schools, for example, charter
schools, magnet schools, at-risk programs; then there are special-needs day schools,
independent private schools, therapeutic wilderness programs, emotional growth
boarding schools etc. Besides these, there are other types of alternatives and I will pay a
special attention to some of those which stand out the most.

4.1 Homeschooling
Homeschooling was the largest step in 1990s when it comes to alternative education,
and has changed and developed ever since. It expands well beyond traditional modes of
teaching and learning and even though this type of schooling is widely accepted in the
United States and Canada, there are still some myths concerning whether it is better than
public schooling. According to homeschoolfacts.com: A research done by Dr. Ray, one
of the leading homeschool researchers, shows some very interesting facts about the
difference between homeschooling and traditionally educated adults:
1. 95% of homeschoolers had an adequate comprehension of politics and
government, compared to 65% of U.S. adults.
2. 71% of homeschool graduates participate in ongoing community service
3.

activities, including politics, compared to 37% of adults in similar ages.

88% of HS graduates are members of organizations (community groups,

church, or professional organizations) compared to 50% of U.S. adults.

4. Significantly, 76% of homeschool graduates voted in a national or state election
within the past 5 years, compared to 29% of similar U.S. adults.
These information show that homeschooling gives a better education than most of the
public schools. The opinion of the society is that education at home can have an impact
on whether a student will be sociable and whether it will have friends and engage in
activities like the students from public schools. Even though this might occur as a real
problem at times, the knowledge homeschooling gives is much better and employees are
more willing to give a job to such an intellectual than to somebody with traditionally
taught.
There are a few methods of homeschooling., Iin one the family follows a curriculum
based on grades using textbooks and worksheets, and in the another there is what is
sometimes called unschooling or child-led learning, which is more informal and
integrated into daily life. There are also other approaches, which combine structure and
natural learning in different measures, and for each of all these approaches there are
variations according to the familys values and beliefs and particular philosophies of life.

This is not education against tradition, it is education for better future and better
knowledge. It is up to parents to decide what type of school they find best for their child,
and it is for the ones that find that their children dont need to be engaged in traditional
system of teaching.

4.2 Virtual schools

Virtual schools had their beginnings in the 1990s, the time when technology and the
internet started taking over the world. and aAlready in the mid-dle 1990s the internet
became a safe place for modern and virtual schools. It appeared as a perfect method of
education for those who cannot be present at classes all the time, but also a perfect way to
improve education on anthe individual basis.
According to Virtual Learning Academy internet site: there are two types of
technologies: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous mode of delivery is where all
participants are remotely present at the same time, resembling a traditional classroom
using a live streaming venue. The Asynchronous learning is where participants access
course materials on their own schedule and so is more flexible. Students are not required
to be together at the same time. (History of virtual schools)
These schools are, unlike traditional schools, available all the time, and they enable an
approach in which the student is the center and requires a one-on-one relationship with
the teacher. This way the teacher knows the student and knows how he has to be taught,
compared to traditional schools, where there is not time to work with just one student.
But none of this has to mean that the virtual schooling is the only schooling necessary. It
can be used besides traditional, public schools, for learning about the matters that an
individual is interested in, aware that he might not get an education on such matter at his
public school.

Conclusion
This paper clearly presents that alternative education has a big history behind it.,
Ppeople fought for education for years in order for their children to get the knowledge
they deserve. This kind of schooling is not just for those parents who are financially in a
better state that the others, it is also for the children with special need but who have the
ability and will to study. Research shows that in the US and Canada people with this kind
of education have a greater chance to be hired because their knowledge is safe and
because they are good at what they were taught.
After all, as it is mentioned in the paper, adults can also use these alternatives if they want
to learn more languages or be specialized at some subjects. In my opinion alternative
schools are a good way to be educated as an individual. If your country supports this kind
of system, if it is not too expensive and gives a chance to expand knowledge about some
of the personal interests, then why not learn more? If some parents have a chance to give
their children a special education, regardless of whether they really need it or not, why
not give them a better knowledge and a safer future?

References
1. Levin, M. (2006, July). Historica Canada: Alternative Education.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alternative-education/
2. Cheryl M. Lange & Sandra J. Sletten (2002, February). Alternative Education: A
brief history and research syntheis.
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/alternative_schools/docs/alt/alternative_ed_history
%202002.pdf
3. What is alternative education? http://www.iusd.org/CHS/Handbook
%20Files/02HB%20Alternative%20Ed%20Beliefs4.5.pdf
4. Wikipedia: Alternative Education
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_education
5. The Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents: Home schooling FAQ
http://ontariohomeschool.org/homeschooling-faq/
6. Virtual learning Academy: History of virtual schools
http://vlacs.org/about-us/history-of-virtual-schools/
7. Homeschool facts.com(copyright 2007-2014): Homeschooling
http://www.homeschoolfacts.com/index.php
8. State university.com: Alternative Schooling - Types of Alternative Schools,
Alternative School Models, International Alternative Schools, Conclusion
http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1746/Alternative-Schooling.html
9. Martin, R. A. (2000, November). Education revolution: An introduction to
educational alternatives
http://www.educationrevolution.org/store/resources/alternatives/introtoalternative
s/