What if there was a school… Where children spend the majority of their time out of the classroom… Where character, personality, and community are as important as learning… Where learning is initiated and directed by the children; teachers nurture and build upon the interests of the children… Where teachers are not only experts in their fields, but balanced and relaxed human beings who fully believe in the mission of the school… Where children pursue long-term projects and in-depth work that naturally embed literacy, music, art, movement, foreign languages, mathematics, natural science, cooking, gardening, and more... Where the school is governed through a democratic process; each student and teacher having an equal share in the decision making… Where classes are optional; there is a time table for teachers but not children… Where success is not measured by academic achievement or arbitrary standards but determined by the child's own definition of success... And, where children have the time and space to sit, to think, to play, and to dream... ...would you want to be part of this school?
Pono Learning A school that fits the children and supports their journey to becoming balanced human beings. Pono Learning is an alternative, independent, not-for-profit school set up with the purpose of immersing children in rich, stimulating learning environments and harmonious learning communities where each child’s interests and natural innate desire to learn are cherished, nurtured, and guided to flourish into becoming life-long learners, critical thinkers, and balanced human beings.
Pono Learning is rooted in the belief that:
• Children are learning creatures who are naturally curious and inquisitive, and who strive for understanding and competence. We support their basic human drive to learn and grow by providing the opportunity to direct and regulate their learning in the manner that they choose, at their own place and pace, and for as long as they want and need. The structure at Pono Learning—whether it is voluntary classes; mixed age groupings; the absence of a pre-set curriculum, homework, tests, and grades—contributes to a fulfilling and enjoyable learning experience;
• Learning happens everywhere, and it happens best when children are immersed in authentic environments and situations, rather than through rote or forced instruction in rigid artificial settings. We take full advantage of the riches and resources available in New York City: We hold most sessions in parks and gardens, museums, theaters, art studios and so on. We create partnerships with different educational and cultural organizations to provide and facilitate access to different events. While the learning environment we create is natural, unwired, inclusive, open-ended, dynamic, and flexible, it always adapts and adjusts to the interests of the students;
• The role of teachers is to nurture, guide, and support the interests and natural progress of the children. More importantly, they teach by example how to be socially conscious; how to pursue learning journeys; and how to live harmoniously in a community where one’s freedom ends when it interferes with the freedom of others;
• Children, no matter how young, learn responsibility by being given responsibility. Children at Pono Learning have the responsibility and freedom to govern their own school community along with adults. Each child and teacher has an equal voice in decisions that affect the daily operation of the school. Pono Learning is the only democratic and fully learner-directed school in Manhattan that serves children from the age of two and a half to four years old. We will expand the age range as the school progresses.
Pono Learning does not discriminate on the basis on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, admissions and other schooladministered programs.
For more information, or to reserve a spot in our information sessions, please contact Dr. Maysaa Bazna at Maysaa@PonoLearning.org or at 212.842.2094.
Pono Learning Headquarters, 561 10th Ave, #44J, New York, NY 10036, Tel. 212.842.2094, Fax. 212.696.5878