Mindful Microschools | Since 2008
Meridian Learning is excited to announce our adolescent program, Meridian Micro Farm, launching in 2024. This student-run micro business, learning lab and urban Erdkinder completes our family of lab schools and extends our commitment to meaningful, whole-student learning in the 21st century. Follow along here and on social media as we prepare to open enrollment in Spring 2024.
Meridian Learning is seeking presenters for this summer’s online grassroots microschools conference. Presenters with direct experience leading or teaching in a grassroots microschool are preferred. We are especially seeking leaders and teachers from microschools that serve underserved communities, international microschools, secondary microschools and specialized microschools ie arts, technology etc. Presenters will be paid for their time.
Our previous conference in 2016 (the first ever microschools conference!) was focused on the administrative, marketing, legal and financial aspects of building a microschool (check our community resources page for this recording). While these continue to be areas of interest, this conference will be focused on sustaining a microschool. What do you wish you knew two, five, 10 years ago that would have made today easier or better?
Inquiries should be sent to info@meridian-learning.org before February 15th.
It has become apparent that the definition and purpose of microschools has become muddled in this transitional time. Recent news reports cite microschools as “tiny enemies” of teachers unions and public schools.
As microschoolers and microschool advocates since 2008, we have direct insight into the priorities and positioning of microschools, and we would like to make clear the following.
Authentic microschools care very little about what the National Education Association or the public schools are doing. They do not wish to extract profit from the public system. What microschools aim to accomplish—a meaningful learning space truly of the people, by the people and for the people—cannot be achieved within the current system. The grassroots microschool community knew this long ago. Microschooling evolved from homeschooling, not from the desire to disrupt anything already in existence. If disruption is ever a priority, we may set our eyes upon the entrenched yet increasingly fragile private sector, which in exchange for 20, 30, 50 thousand dollars per year in tuition, promises always flashy new facilities and dangles the carrot of a high-price-tag college that will inevitably set students right on track in their “race to nowhere.”
In many ways, authentic microschools exist in a learned-centered vacuum. To accomplish meaningful, child-centered learning while worrying about what the masses are doing is pretty much impossible. Any effort to paint microschools as the enemy is deeply misguided. If there is an enemy clamoring outside the public school gates, it is perhaps the ubiquitous corporations, ed tech start-ups and random education “reformers” who have never served in any capacity in a microschool once again attempting to hijack public schools by hijacking the microschool model.
While Meridian Learning empathizes with families seeking temporary alternatives to traditional public school, it’s important to note that pandemic pods and microschools are not the same. Our organization is concerned that the alignment of temporary pandemic pods with professional, long-standing microschools will hurt the authentic grassroots microschool movement, which has its roots in homeschooling and prides itself on its unique ability to establish meaningful, sustainable learning communities focused on whole student well-being. Our mission is to preserve and honor that history, not further the inequity. Grassroots microschools serve a variety of students and families, including those in underserved areas and those whose needs are not being met by the current system. Please see our online resources and join our network to learn directly from the invested microschool community leaders working to establish an education system of the people, by the people and for the people.
Our founder and director discusses the grassroots microschool movement, as well as the differences between pandemic pods and microschools, on this episode of Reinventing.School with Howard Blumenthal.
Please direct media requests to info@Meridian-Learning.org.
While pandemic wasn’t necessarily a part of our emergency preparedness plan, Meridian Learning has a high level of expertise in navigating unique circumstances. Part of planning for unseen events is the ability to anticipate changes, as well as the ability to execute new plans quickly. Our organization utilizes a network of national and international experts to guide decision-making. Additionally, our micro model, which Meridian has pioneered in the education industry, enables us to remain highly flexible when most other schools cannot. Our organization is guided by the Montessori philosophy, rooted in science and research-based practice. Our efforts to advance this practice continue. Here are some specific ways we have accommodated concerns regarding COVID-19.
1. Meridian has implemented an effective remote learning plan, which includes both at-home materials and interactive virtual lessons. We will be able to recall this plan efficiently should future social distancing periods become necessary.
2. Meridian has an established hand-washing protocol, which remains an important piece of our focus on grace and courtesy. This protocol is presented and practiced during our preschool prep and elementary orientation programs, as well as on a daily basis. Additionally, we require at all times the removal of shoes when entering our learning studios. Please contact us regarding current protocol surrounding the use of masks in our learning environments.
3. Meridian has an established and rigorous cleaning schedule, which we have enhanced to accommodate the specific tools and ingredients to aid the prevention of COVID-19.
4. Our in-person classes, even prior to COVID-19, never exceed 15 children and frequently do not exceed six. We can easily adjust class sizes to adhere to gathering size limitations.
Our response will evolve as the pandemic and corresponding data evolves.