The Green School in Bali was founded in 2008. Here is the school’s vision.
Our vision is of a natural, holistic, student-centered learning environment that empowers and inspires our students to be creative, innovative, green leaders.
Here are excerpts from the school’s website. You can discover more via the following link.
What
Green School is an amazing project, pioneering sustainability within education. It is pushing boundaries in schooling at a time when the world must review whether more of the same is acceptable.
Its curriculum combines the academic rigour expected of schools and institutions of higher learning with hands-on experiential learning within a Green Studies curriculum and a Creative Arts curriculum.
This means that by holding onto the essential core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, Green School students will have doors open to them for whichever kinds of further learning and careers that they choose.
International in its teaching and learning, and in its clientele, our students come from different corners of the world to join a core Balinese community of scholars – representing up to 20% of our enrolment.
They bring with them their learning to date to share with their friends and to contribute to a global awareness and perspective of social issues from their countries of origin.
It is preparing students to be critical and creative thinkers who are confident to champion the sustainability of the world and its environment.
It is inspiring their thirst to know more, equipping them with appropriate and relevant knowledge, and nurturing their passion to influence change in the way we are managing this planet.
To find out more about our educational approach, please visit our curriculum section from the link in the menu at the top or here.
Where
We don’t look like most people’s mental image of what a school is supposed to be. As a part of our commitment to sustainability, all of our structures are built primarily from bamboo, a local, natural, renewable resource.
Being at one with nature – in these classrooms without walls – has a huge and positive impact on the learning process.
It positively affects the quality of relationships, the way that people conduct and behave with sensitivity to each other, and it helps those youngsters who are easily distracted in conventional classrooms to focus much more easily on their tasks – there are plenty of distractions at Green School but they are natural distractions which are acceptable to, and not in conflict with concentration.
Our location on a site in an undeveloped and natural area of gentle jungle, bisected by the Ayung River makes it an ideal place for students to connect with nature. The site is farmed and landscaped to make it productive while being safe and secure.
Bali is an international island within the archipelago of Indonesia. It has a good international airport making it easily accessible within the region.
Green School absorbs and respects the rich culture and customs of this island which is known for its inspirational creativity.
Please explore the rest of the site to find out more about us and how you can contribute.
Why
If we are to believe just a small proportion of the statistics we are hearing and seeing about the destruction of our planet, individuals need to take a more responsible approach – and education is the key starting point.
Our aim is to develop responsible and green habits in these young people which will be with them for life.
Given the economic mess that our world has created in recent times, an education system which produces more of the same is not going to work.
Something has to change, and Green School is at the cutting edge therefore of being able to do things differently.
An education at Green School is preparation for Green Leadership of tomorrow. Our students will be the confident generation that wants to, and can, make a difference.
Green School aims to be the #1 model of sustainability in education in the world. We aim to set the bar so high for others to aspire to.
After only three years of operation, Green School is already shaking up the thinking of more conventional organisations and institutions around the world.
Its teachers, students and their parents are proud to be part of this pioneering ‘work in progress’
What is next?
This is Green School number one. We built it as a seed, a model, for Bali, and the world.
We encourage you to copy it, to reinvent it, and to reproduce it.
Just make sure you keep these simple rules in mind: be local, let your environment inform your decisions, and think about how your grandchildren might be influenced by your decisions.
If you are interested in starting green school number two, we would love to hear from you.
History and Founders
Green School was conceived by its founders in 2006 following their excitement at reading the Three Springs concept document for an educational village community, authored by Alan Wagstaff.
The school opened its doors in September 2008 with around 100 pupils and a tailor made campus that had only recently emerged from the jungle and rice fields. Since then it has grown physically and in student numbers.
Green School combines the talent of several and very differently gifted individuals.
Its founders, John and Cynthia Hardy, have been residents in Bali for more than 30 years and recognise a unique opportunity to create something truly inspiring and outside of the structural, conceptual, and physical limitations of many traditional schools.
Alan Wagstaff, educational consultant and the author of Green School’s original curriculum, has been involved in cutting-edge education for more than a quarter of a century.
Jürgen Zimmer, professor at The Free University of Berlin, brings his hands-on educational experience to the School that has helped him develop a global network of schools.
Like everything else in John and Cynthia’s life, it became their mission to share with others the educational benefits that they were fortunate enough to provide their children, and Green School is the realization of that vision.
“We are building Green School to create a new paradigm for learning.
“We want children to cultivate physical sensibilities that will enable them to adapt and be capable in the world.
“We want children to develop spiritual awareness and emotional intuition, and to encourage them to be in awe of life’s possibilities.
This video from MakeChangeTV provides an introduction to the Green School.
I am truly impressed!
Do you refer to John Dewey?