Is School Enough?

Most public schools are brick-and-mortar facilities with fixed schedules and homework. But some educators believe that in our increasingly digital world, teachers need to make learning more relevant to the realities facing students today. Filmmaker Stephen Brown's PBS-aired documentary begins with the premise that not all knowledge can be found in books, exploring new efforts to help students answer questions, solve problems, assume leadership roles, and build communities. One example involves Maine students helping Rosie, a retired circus elephant, transition to a new sanctuary home by studying and planning for her nutritional needs while also removing toxic plants found along her grazing trail. Another finds an inner city student using rap and hip hop in videos as he works toward a career in filmmaking. And a female teen—feeling confined in the classroom—embraces yoga instruction, becoming a mentor and author. Perhaps the most unusual case here involves a girl inspired by the Harry Potter Alliance, which draws on ideals expressed in J.K. Rowling's bestselling fantasy series to promote justice in the real world. Interviewed educators note the need for students to develop their passion, participate in discussions, and discover that real world problems often have no right or wrong answer. While the young learners express plenty of fresh-faced enthusiasm and idealism, the film suffers a bit from jargon and vagaries (including the need for students to "find their happy place" or "places of permission”). Time-stressed teachers may also rightly wonder how exactly to apply these examples to their schools. Finally, some mention of the role of books, libraries, and library technology would have been welcome here. Still, this is a thought-provoking and often inspiring inquiry that should be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)