Three Simple Rules

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday February 9, 2006

Melinda Ham

Respect is at the core of Kinma School's approach, writes Melinda Ham.

Kinma School, a parent-managed school in Terrey Hills established in 1972, has only three rules; respect yourself, respect each other and respect school property. Neither a uniform nor shoes is compulsory.

The 30 students learn in two mixed-aged classrooms, with children from kindergarden to year 2 in one room and year 3 to 6 in another. Each class deals with one topic at a time but children learn at varying levels of abilities simultaneously.

"We don't follow one education philosophy," says Julie Carr, the school manager - there is no principal or headmaster. "All schools have their own amazing greatness and we have combined what we believe are their best practices."

The Kinma School has amalgamated aspects of Steiner, Montessori and the spiritual ethics of different religions to mould their own way of teaching.

Most of the activities the children are involved in are very hands-on and practical with a strong environmental dimension; the students tend their own no-dig permaculture gardens.

They hold a weekly organic vegetable markets. They make their own lunches and snacks. They build their own tree houses out of wood. They make recycled paper. They go on bushwalks led by an Aboriginal guide.

"Children won't become empowered if you give them the answers," Carr says. "We get them to research their own answers, at their own pace, so they feel the ownership of their learning."

Nicola Cox has three children at the Kinma School, Alice, 11, Archie, 7, and her middle son, Joshua, 9, who has special educational needs.

"Joshua refused to go to any other school before here," she says. "He was so deeply suspicious of teachers. Now at Kinma he feels so confident and has progressed in leaps and bounds."

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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