Community schools emerged in the 1960s as an alternative to the traditional public school system. Parents and others started schools in residential homes and other buildings to protest the authoritarian, rigid curriculum of public schools. These "free schools" emphasized learning activities that also benefited the local community. Community schools were much smaller than public schools, with about 250 students, and relied on volunteers and donations rather than high salaries. They focused on developing job skills, offering short courses, and having parents, teachers, and students jointly determine course content. The schools aimed to both serve community needs and reflect local values and practices.

1. CORE III
EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS
AND CURRICULAM
DEVELOPMENT

3. Background of the emergence of
Community Schools
• Public School System has been criticized in America for Long time,
therefore many recommended Open classrooms which did not work
well.
• Dennis and his friends with few other parents started Community
schools in 1960s in residential houses, store fronts, old barns and
totally absent from public schools.
• These Schools arose as a protest against the authoritarian
Educational practices, rigid curriculum and Monotonous instructional
methods.
• This was referred as “Free School Movement”.
• There was a great increase in number of schools in 5 years.

4. Concept of Community Schools
• Students’ learning and community activities
took place simultaneously in community
schools.
• It fulfill the needs of the local community and
through its curriculum it also developed the
community.
• Schools are not isolated islands of the society
and hence should reflect the society in all
aspects of their functioning.

5. Community School
• These are quite small ranging from 6 to 10 in a class
and about 250 students in a School.
• Many Teachers work here as volunteers or with low
salaries.
• These Schools were Private and they run by gifts and
donations received from parents and the public.

6. Salient features of Community School
• Education for Community development
• Education that promises immediate job
placements for students
• Short time courses/ Part time courses
• Parents, teachers and students jointly plan the
course contents

7. Types of Community Schools
Community schools could be organized on the
following 4 types:
Schools that offer instruction in the main
occupation of the local community; different
aspects of the vocation form the course content.
Develop the social skills and competency in
students so as to equip them to solve social
problems of the community with the cooperation
of the elders.

8. Types of Schools
Cont…
Organise schools so as to reflect all the
prevalent practices and values of the society
in a small scale.
Organise schools so as to undertake various
kinds of educational extension work in the
society in the field of Adult education, non
formal education, agriculture, health and
nutrition, environmental awareness etc.,

9. Conclusion
Community schools promote the community
awareness and social concern among the
pupils; expand the scope for self employment.