Overview
Global
Village School is an accredited school based in
southern California. It is a distance learning program,
which means that students study at home (or, in
special cases, at learning centers). Students are
in regular contact with their teachers. They send
their work via regular mail or e-mail, and can also
contact their teachers by phone (or meet in person
if they live locally). Students take a regular course
load and high school students earn credits towards
a diploma. Transcripts are provided so that students
can apply to colleges of their choice.
Our Goals
To
prepare students to be global citizens by providing an international forum
for students of all backgrounds to learn to value and understand each other.
To increase peace and understanding in
the world through an educational program that teaches students about the culture
and contributions of all groups of people and that presents role models and
examples of peaceful coexistence among people of differing backgrounds.
To provide a safe, affirming, high
quality educational program, accessible to
students across the globe, that supports students
in being who they are and that respects and
values all people.
How Global Village School Works
Our standard school year runs from September
to June. However, students can enroll at any time of the year, and can continue
working through the summer if they wish.
Students are free to choose from online
or text-based courses. Most people prefer to take some of each. Each year-long
course is divided into thirty-six lessons. Semester-long courses are eighteen
lessons. Students access their online lessons from our password-protected
Web site. Text-based courses are accompanied by a written study guide.
Students are assigned a teacher for each
course. They can correspond with their teachers via phone, mail, e-mail, or
in person if they live locally. Teachers are available to answer questions
from students or parents.
Students are free to work at their own
pace and to collaborate with their teachers in customizing the curriculum
to match their unique interests and needs. Our program is designed
to be completed in four years. Students who wish to accelerate their progress
are free to do so.
How We Are Unique
Global Village is like a "regular" school
in many ways: we prepare students for college with
excellent teachers and curriculum, and we provide
diplomas and transcripts. We are unique in many
other ways:
* Our primary goals are to promote peace
and understanding in the world and to provide students with a safe and respectful
place to learn.
* We offer a full Peace and Diversity
Studies curriculum.
* We are a distance-learning program,
which means that students can participate no matter where they live.
* We provide both online and text-based
courses.
* Students can progress at their own
pace.
* We acknowledge the value of life learning
- we offer elective credit for many different kinds of life experiences.
* We honor different learning styles;
we teach students and parents how to recognize and work with their own individual
styles of learning and interaction.
* We are a "student-centered" school
- we customize curriculum to meet individual needs and interests.
* We actively value creativity and independent
thinking.
* We want our students to leave school
with their self-esteem intact and feeling confident in their abilities to
make an impact in the world around them.
Our Philosophy of Education
* We have a holistic approach to education,
and to students; meaning that we see the student as a whole person (including
body, mind, emotions, and spirit) and make our academic decisions from that
viewpoint. We also like to look at the world, and subject matter,
as a whole. It does not work to strictly separate ideas and concepts
into one subject or another; there is always overlap.
* Ours is a "student centered" school.
We believe that the academic material and preparation for college or other
future goals are very important; but that the students are most important
of all.
* We believe that developing a love or
appreciation for a subject is as important as the number of facts or topics
that are "covered."
* We value interaction between students
and teachers. We feel that more learning takes place through engaging
the students in thoughtful discussions and activities, rather than solely
presenting information.
* We value creativity and flexibility
in our teachers. Students do better when they have a voice in their
learning, and when subject matter can be adapted to the various needs and
interests of each individual student.
* We believe that every child has the
right to receive an education in a safe, supportive environment. We welcome
all children, regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, national
origin, age, sex, or disability. We celebrate the richness and diversity
of our world!
