Can a fully democratic school concept be implemented in Malaysia?

Following my post on nurturing happier learners, I've always envisioned starting a fully democratic school concept in Malaysia, while wondering if that ever will be realised knowing the landscape and culture of the country.

What is a fully democratic school?

Based on my brief reading on the school concept, my takeaways of some criteria that makes it a democratic school are:

• run by democracy - learners and staffs - everyone has a voice
• no curriculum - learners have no fixed learning goals, and definitely no class by subjects
• no assessment - learners graduate by presenting to their peers and council on how they are ready for society
• self-driven learning by students - they plan their day and their activities
• mixed-age group learnings - no age-based grades, so they learn with and from each other through activities like sports, games, experiments, hike in the woods, etc...
• tenured staffs are reviewed and hired by the student council
• parents and community buy-in needs to be strong
• low-cost (usually)

Much more to read on this, for sure!

Why?

Lazlo Polgar proved that geniuses aren't born. They're made. Having high expectations on kids' potential and crafting the environment and support systems to help them explore and nurture their interest or inclination accelerates their learning.

The belief that curiosity and learning is an innate ability in humans, especially in young kids (before it is educated out of them). Sir Ken Robinson talked about intelligence being diverse, dynamic, and distinct. This creativity should be embraced and celebrated. I wish that for all of us.

Peter Gray advocating for free play as learning. And Maria Montessori actioning on the same philosophy for children's learning.

John Dewey believed that people learn and grow as a result of their experiences and interactions with the world. And this compels people to continually develop new concepts, ideas, practices, and understandings.

The list goes on...

All this is seems perhaps like returning us to tribal times, where every child picks their interest, works with their strengths, learn by imitating and innovating, to ultimately take over roles their elders held.

But in a modern world, can humanity thrive in such education system?

I believe we can and will, perhaps even better than now, as learning will be providing a more holistic and systemic view of the world. Kids can see how we all connect and rely on one another, and also are empowered enough to voice out for the betterment of all. Our kids may learn better in empathising nature and internalise how we are part of it, not owner of it. I'm envisioning a space that nurtures every one person to be good on their own, but better together. Unity in diversity.

Or am I too idealistic and simple minded?

So how?

I guess first thing is to get you reading this and considering it.

Would definitely love to visit schools which are already running this and listen to the wins and struggles across their years. Learn from them.

Locally, I'd start small perhaps. Start by crafting my vision, then understanding the constraints I have to work with. Slowly pilot this learning approach with a small group within our local context and culture.

If observed and validated by their peers and trusted adults that the kids are turning out decent, by ways of democracy, then confidence will grow that we are good to go.

Then we rally more people and see how we can iterate from there, empowering our kids to be the voice of their peers. Our younger generations should and could be the one who envisions the future they want to be in, when all of us elders are gone.