Back to Free: The Public School

It's back to school time, already, so quickly. And this means it's also time for "Back to Free", an ongoing series of regular posts that offer introductory profiles of free schools, courses and other education opportunities. Since the first chilly days of September always remind me of heading back to public school fresh and ready for the potential that the year ahead holds, I've decided to officially begin the Back to Free series with The Public School, as a nod to the exciting possibilities for learning that these posts will share.

The Public School is comprised of several internationally based schools with educational programming driven by dynamic participation and public interest rather than a set curriculum. The project was initiated in 2007 by Sean Dockray, director of the Telic Arts Exchange in Los Angeles. School locations are not necessarily fixed, sometimes shifting between semi-permanent spaces and itinerant locations - such as the school in New York, which this month moves into an exciting new multidisciplinary contemporary arts space at 155 Freeman Street in Brooklyn, shared along with Triple Canopy and Light Industry. 

So what do they teach? Well, what would you like to learn? The way the school programming works is that someone proposes a class they would like to attend or even teach, and, if it successfully makes it through moderation, gets posted on the host Public School's fantastic website, where the process of confirming enrolment, scheduling the class and commenting on classes pretty visibly plays out. Upon posting a proposed class, members of the public then indicate that they, too, are interested in participating in the class. If a class gets enough interest, the school finds a teacher, a location, confirms the class's scheduled date and boom! You're going to school and learning what you want.

Classes are often free (though not always) and range from one-time discussion-based seminars on Art Criticism to hands-on super technical workshops held over several weeks. From what I've seen, the range of classes, while intellectually and creatively stimulating, can skew to the academic end of the public interest spectrum, but there are more practical, casual and downright playful classes available too. (See the vaguely amusing proposal for a lesson in civil disobedience here.) One workshop coming up that looks pretty great gives an introduction to urban field recording. Happening in New York a few weeks from now, the course includes well-qualified instructors, equipment, plus the sounds recorded will be showcased as part of the Ear to Earth Festival. And it's free!

Happy back to school, everyone! And here's to a happy Back to Free, too. 
xoe

If there is a free school you would like to see profiled, please email us: threetongues [at] gmail [dot] com.