The Guelph Free School

*With fall well under way, it's time for another semester of the Guelph Free School!

Wait, what Is The Guelph Free School? Good question. If you haven't heard of the Guelph Free School, we're a collective of volunteers who coordinate classes whose curriculum focuses on anti-oppressive, accessible, inclusive free learning around Guelph.

The Guelph Free School originated several years ago when a group of Guelph activists gathered together with the idea of making a new, accessible educational alternative. Many of us were disenchanted with the high costs of education and the colonialism and sexism apparent in "higher learning". We wanted to make education about learning, sharing, building, and resisting; we wanted to create a new model of education wherein everyone could have a chance to teach and learn. Our inspiration comes from anti-capitalism and popular education; we believe in accessible, community based participation through skill shares and hands on learning.

The Guelph Free School is free to attend, as well as free and open in the way it's structured. Students are not forced to learn anything or given tests, and teachers/facilitators are seen as resources of knowledge rather than as authoritarian figures. The classes are discussion based, so that everyone can contribute knowledge, experience and expertise.

Confirmed classes include a class on the sexual and radical politics of hip hop, a drama class, writing workshops, introductory French, yoga, porn drawing, and a musical jam class, with more announcments coming soon!

The collective consists of facilitators and people who were very involved in organizing from the previous semester. The collective puts out a call-out each semester requesting new submissions, which are reviewed for completeness & anti-oppression stance, and then together, the collective promotes the coming semester.

There is still time to submit a proposal for a subject you are passionate about! Email guelphfreeschool@resist.ca Include class name, description, and location before January 20th, 2009.

Thanks so much! Share what you know!