A School of Our Own: The Story of the First Student-Run High School and a New Vision for American Education

Developmental psychologist Engel (The End of the Rainbow) and her son Levin explore radical ideas about secondary education in this intriguing analysis, which focuses on an innovative program Levin initiated at his own high school in Massachusetts called the Independent Project. Launched in 2011, when Levin was a junior, the Independent Project developed from a single question: “Is there an inherent reason why teenagers in our culture must spend the bulk of their time in settings that are confining, rigid, ugly and disconnect from their communities?” The answer, according to Levin and Engel, is no, and the proof is given in the successful implementation of the Independent Project. A defining feature of the school is its simple structure: half the day is designated for “ an individual endeavor” and the other half for self-directed academics, divided again between the sciences and math and language arts. The book, aimed at school administrators as well as parents and students, recounts the students’ many small victories as well as the many obstacles they faced while outlining the steps in the implementation process. (Sept.)