Multicultural schools, digital schools, creative schools. Summer is the right time to devote to reading a few books about desks, classrooms, teachers and students, to understand what the future of schools can be in a changing world. Here are four recommendations, with four different perspectives and storytelling styles.
Via dalla pazza classe. Educare per vivere. In this book published by Mondadori, Eraldo Affinati takes the extraordinary example of Penny Wirton schools for the free teaching of the Italian language to immigrants which he founded. It’s the story of a new educational experience where, without classes and without grades, you can establish a relationship of friendship and sympathy. Betting the future on the ability of Italian teenagers to teach our language to peers from all over the world.
Creative Schools. Ken Robinson’s book, published in Italy by Erickson, explains the author's perspective on the role of schools and the need for transformation. Robinson is one of the world's most influential voices on education. His Ted Talk "Do schools kill creativity?" is among the most viewed in recent years. In this text he explains that reforms and technologies are not enough to change schools, but we need to completely rethink the educational path from kindergarten to university.
Dopo la scuola. Come costruire il tuo futuro in sei semplici mosse. This book published by Skuola.net -the most visited website for students in Italy- suggests how to choose what to do after graduating high school. The text provides ideas to children and tries to reassure them with a basic truth: there is a place for everyone. Daniele Grassucci, the journalist co-founder of Skuola.net and first experimenter of the method, and Raphael Masci, La Stampa journalist and an expert on education and training, curated the book.
L’autonomia delle scuole in Europa e altrove. Mario Giacomo Dutto's book, published by Tecnodid, analyzes the issue of school autonomy – a topic much debated in Italy but never really executed – from an international perspective, reviewing other countries’ experiences. A useful text to understand what kind of autonomy suits our school system best and what this term really means.