Brooklyn Apple Academy Brings Attractive Kindergarten Option To South Slope

Even with summer fast approaching, some local parents are still trying to decide which school to send their kids to this fall. The Brooklyn Apple Academy, a one-year-old home school cooperative, is moving from Prospect/Lefferts Gardens to the Park Slope Jewish Center (1320 8th Avenue at 14th Street) in September, and still has spots available for their 2013/2014 kindergarten class.

We met up with the school’s founder, Noah Apple Mayers, to learn a bit more about the academy, how it differs from a traditional public school education, and how parents can apply.

SSN: What can you tell us about Brooklyn Apple Academy?
NAM: We’re a tiny cooperative school.  We’ll have seven or eight students this fall.  The small class size allows us to really take advantage of the amazing educational resources of NYC — we visit with local experts, artists’ studios, factories, and many of the city’s lesser-known museums. The small scale of our school, and 4:1 student to teacher ratio encourages the development of a democratic culture, and allows us to tailor our curriculum to the individual interests of the kids.

What benefits are there to a cooperative home school education vs. a public school education?
I think smaller is better when it comes to education.  We’re able to offer our students an experience of freedom and flexibility that would be tremendously difficult to pull off with a group of 30.

I believe in public education.  I don’t think parents should have to pay for school.  I just think that big institutions, whether they’re private or public, sacrifice their ability to respond to the needs and truth of the individual in the hopes of serving a more collective need.  But, I don’t believe that education is a “one size fits all” product.  Some kids learn really well in traditional educational environments.  Some don’t.  Some kids just need to be outside, or to learn from a series of mentors, rather than passively receive instruction. Those are the kids who I’d like to reach.

I’ve worked in many public schools as a teaching artist, and I saw a lot of great things happening.  I also met many dedicated and loving teachers who really give their heart to the profession.  I had a public school education in rural Maine.  Compared to many of the schools I worked in in NYC it would have been considered a great school, yet most of us still didn’t want to be there. If we are going to be in school for 13 years there is no reason we can’t enjoy our time AND learn.

In junior high my parents decided that I was picking up some bad academic habits, (apathy, shame for being brainy) so we decided that I would home school with my best friend.  That year we went on adventurous field trips, blazed new trails through woods, made animations and movies, and did plenty of academic work as well.  I learned more in one year of homeschooling than in multiple years of conventional schooling.

What is a typical day in the life of an Apple Academy student like?
This year our days at school looked like this:

8:45-9:15  Arrival,

9:15-9:30  Morning Meeting. (Tea and Snack served by the students)
We talk over the potential projects and activities offered that day

9:30-11:15  Work Time (Students have choice of a wide menu of activities, inspired by the interests of students and collaborators)  Click HERE is to see a few examples.

11:15-11:30  Clean

11:30-12:15 Lunch

12:15-2:00  Outside excursion to park or playground or Work Time (group is free to split into two depending on student preference)

2:00 Dismissal   (School day expanding to 2:30 for 2013-2014)

What do you have in store for the 2013-2014 school year?
Our daily schedule will look different this fall. We will have two classrooms, one for offering structured activities and lessons, and one for students to work and play independently.

Also, this year we are incorporating several parents (with prior teaching experience) into the teacher rotation for a total of 5 teachers.  So in addition to what the co-teacher (Lizzie Mazal) and I bring to the table, we’ll have parent/teachers leading classes in Chinese, Puppetry, Drama production, and cooking.  I’m really looking forward to it!

How many spots do you have available and how can parents apply?
We have 3 spots available.  Parents can fill our application by clicking on this link, or call 917-533-5977, or e-mail Brooklynappleacademy@gmail.com with further questions.

Photo via Brooklyn Apple Academy