learning environments | lfa

An insightful discussion between architects, teachers, students and artists -- the topics covered included anarchist pedagogies, Colin Ward, the Medds, the failure of public schooling and -- most relevant to my research -- the feasibility of creating 'Schools Without Wall'. Nils Norman (artist and speaker at the event) drew particular importance on the idea of the city becoming part of a child's education, referring to schools in NYC that still use elements of this model. The overall attitude shared by a majority of the room was to give children a sense of ownership and autonomy in the cities in which they grow up, in some projects literal and physical tools to change their environment.

Some of the frustrations presented by the teachers however (in criticism of designers) was that some projects are just too small-scale, or just 'nice' instead of being significant enough to make a substantial change in the improvement of schools.