Dear Readers,
How many of you guessed that the Google takeover of AERO was an April Fools Day joke? We received a lot of nice feedback on it and we received a record number of newsletter opens!
This week we have an update on the AERO conference and a plethora of noteworthy news and resource items form around the world of educational alternatives. We hope you enjoy the content.
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AERO Conference Only 45 Days Away!
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The 10th annual AERO conference is now only 45 days away. We need people who made deposits to start paying off their balance in the next couple of weeks. We also need those who are waiting to get housing and the food package to reserve them. We must report the numbers to the University well before the conference so they can order food and know how many rooms they must prepare.
We decided to freeze the conference rate at $225 for two weeks until that deadline at which point it becomes more difficult to get a room and food at the University. This rate will eventually increase to $325 as it did last year. In fact, to expedite late registrations and make it a little easier for our bookkeeping, this week we are offing a package deal of discounted registration, the ten conference meals, and a choice of a bed in a double room or a single for four nights. The total is $529 for the package with a bed in a double room and $589 for a single room. This is several hundred less than it cost people last year in Portland and includes an additional savings of the discounted registration price!
Every day new aspects of the conference are added. For example:
- Free WiFi.
- Free parking on campus
- Folk dancing in Saturday night after the keynote.
- A special Sunday Morning presentation on democratic public education by Derry Hannam, coming from England
- New pictures on the website of the keynote site, the workshop spaces, the child care space, the tabling spaces, the cafeteria, the grounds and the lounge spaces.
If you have any questions or need to make any special arrangements write to jerryaero@aol.com.
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Jerry Mintz to Keynote April Conference
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When several Long Island University/Post professors discovered that we would be holding the AERO conference on their campus they were very excited about the possibilities. They have arranged for several of them to attend and are looking for funds so that their education students can attend as well. One of them, Professor Dengting Boyanton, invited me to be a keynote speaker at her conference on April 26th, the 10th Conference of Elementary-Secondary Teaching & Learning (CESTL). This is an exciting and free conference on the LIU campus that features the research of college education students. It is truly learner-centered. Click here to visit the conference website.
My talk will be called "How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education."
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Featured Book: How to Grow a School
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How to Grow a School: Starting and Sustaining Schools That Work
by Chris Mercogliano
Chris will be presenting at this year's AERO conference.25% off - Only $11.95
AERO is the exclusive distributor of How to Grow a School.
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UPDATE: Schools for Families Opting Out of High-Stakes Testing
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The Alternative Education Resource Organization is pleased to announce a cooperative program with FairTest to provide alternative schools and programs available to parents who are opting out of high stakes tests for their children. We are opposed to the high-stakes testing that has come down from the No Child Left Behind legislation. We here feel it is antithetical to the learner-centered approach that we advocate. Parents do have the right to have their children opt out from this heavy-duty testing. One stumbling block to some parents is finding another place their children could go to during the testing. The help out with this situation we have compiled a list of educational alternatives in our network who have specifically expressed their willingness to let children who are opting out visit them during this period. They are located all over the country. Click here to see a list of these schools. Also, if you are looking for an alternative in your area you can also write directly to AERO director Jerry Mintz at JerryAERO@aol.com for suggestions.
One parent wrote to us after discovering the willingness of one of our schools to help her:
"...This offer for 'Asylum' from [the member school] presented itself while we were visiting [them] during their open house for summer camp. It was as if the angels heard me and your letter came through the line! She agreed to host my son for the 8 days..."
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New Issue & Call for Submissions: Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning (JUAL)
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Volume 7, Issue 14 is now available to read online at features an article by AERO presenter Dr. Peter Gray.
JUAL is edited by Dr. Carlo Ricci who is co-editor of AERO's book
Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Stories.
JUAL is accepting submissions for future issues.
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Thank you for your ongoing support. With your help, we will make learner-centered alternatives available to everyone!
Sincerely,
Jerry Mintz
Executive Director
Alternative Education Resource Organization
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