The school that puts the kids in charge ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

The 6 Minute English episode explores the unique Bamboo School in Thailand, where students take charge of the school's operations, from buying food to hiring staff. This innovative educational model fosters responsibility and leadership among the pupils, who also gain hands-on experience in real-world tasks. The school is free for poorer children but requires them to contribute by planting trees annually. The episode also introduces useful vocabulary related to decision-making, practical experience, and community service.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The Bamboo School in Thailand is a unique educational institution where children, not teachers, are responsible for making rules and running the school.
• 👦👧 Students at the Bamboo School are involved in every aspect of school operations, including buying food, disciplining fellow students, and hiring new staff.
• 🌱 The school is constructed from bamboo and is named after the material, emphasizing its natural and sustainable approach to education.
• 🆓 The Bamboo School is a private school that provides free education to children from poorer backgrounds who cannot afford school fees.
• 🌳 In exchange for free education, students at the Bamboo School are required to plant 400 trees each year, contributing to environmental conservation.
• 🛒 Twice a week, children accompany a school officer to the vegetable market to purchase food for all 150 students, learning practical life skills in the process.
• 💼 Students like Nooneem manage accounts and gain hands-on experience in real-world tasks, such as accounting for the school's food expenses.
• 🌐 The phrase 'real world' is used in the script to highlight the practical and tangible experiences students receive at the Bamboo School, as opposed to theoretical knowledge.
• 📚 While adults are still in charge in the classroom, the school's management outside the classroom is innovatively delegated to the students, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership.
• 👩‍🏫 The school's approach is a blend of conventional education and radical ideas, where children are trusted with significant responsibilities and respond positively to this trust.
• 👷‍♀️ Children at the Bamboo School perform two hours of community service weekly, which is unpaid work aimed at helping the local community, further instilling a sense of social responsibility.

Q & A

What is the main concept of the Bamboo School in Thailand?

The main concept of the Bamboo School in Thailand is that the children, not the teachers, make the rules and are responsible for every part of running the school, including buying food, disciplining fellow students, and hiring new staff.

How does the Bamboo School differ from traditional schools in terms of student involvement?

The Bamboo School differs from traditional schools by giving students hands-on experience in running the school, which includes managing accounts, shopping for food, and even hiring staff, thus providing real-world experience and leadership skills.

What is the role of children at the Bamboo School in the school's daily operations?

At the Bamboo School, children are responsible for daily operations such as buying food for the kitchen, disciplining fellow students, and even hiring new staff, making them an integral part of the school's management.

What is the unique aspect of the Bamboo School's approach to education?

The unique aspect of the Bamboo School's approach to education is that it empowers students to take on roles typically reserved for adults, fostering a sense of responsibility and providing practical, real-world experience.

How does the Bamboo School ensure that students are actively involved in the school's management?

The Bamboo School ensures active involvement by assigning students roles in school management, such as going to the market to buy food, managing food accounts, and participating in community service.

What is the significance of the phrase 'hands-on experience' in the context of the Bamboo School?

The phrase 'hands-on experience' signifies the practical involvement of students in the school's operations, as opposed to theoretical learning, allowing them to gain real-world skills and insights.

What does the term 'real world' describe in the context of the Bamboo School?

In the context of the Bamboo School, the term 'real world' describes the practical application of skills and knowledge in actual situations, as opposed to theoretical or hypothetical scenarios.

What is the Bamboo School's policy regarding the employment of cooks, gardeners, or cleaners?

The Bamboo School does not employ cooks, gardeners, or cleaners; instead, these roles are fulfilled by the students themselves, as part of their educational experience.

What is the community service requirement for students at the Bamboo School?

Students at the Bamboo School are required to perform two hours of community service every week, which involves unpaid work to help people in the community.

What is the answer to Phil's quiz question about what the students at the Bamboo School have to do in return for free education?

The answer to Phil's quiz question is that students at the Bamboo School have to plant trees, specifically 400 trees every year, as part of their commitment for receiving free education.

What vocabulary did the 6 Minute English programme aim to teach listeners about the Bamboo School?

The vocabulary taught in the programme includes terms like 'call the shots', 'hands-on experience', 'real world', 'grown-up', 'kid', and 'community service', all related to the concept and operations of the Bamboo School.