Human Scale Education

Human-Scale is an approach to understanding our world that uses the human as a unit of scale. How many humans make the ideal community, a functioning country or an ideal school? 

In terms of use for institutions or design, it deals with the belief that there is a proper scale that defines its limits by the well-being of both the person and the planet and the ability of the person to seek wholeness. It can be seen today in the call for architecture, economics, politics and schools that are created as if people matter. 

It is an organisational principle that understands there is a balanced relationship between the needs and wants of the personal and the communal. 

Human-scale asserts that community institutions should be created with the person at their centre in a way that enables real and authentic relationships and connections between people. 

Park School is a Human Scale School where relationships are very important. It is the quality of relationships within the school which most often strikes visitors and newcomers. The individuality of each child is valued and children learn to respect themselves and others and to become constructive members of the school community. Children are encouraged to be responsible for their own behaviour, to understand its effects, and to gain insight into themselves and others. 

Small classes mean that there is time for personal attention as well as the space and freedom for individual expression. 

What does Human Scale Look Like in practice?

How will you see the human scale manifested in the day to day life of Park School? 

Children learn to communicate well, they learn to argue and resolve their disputes with kindness. They show compassion for each other and learn to have empathy for the world around them. They talk about the way they want things to be, talk to adults as friends and talk to all ages as if they are equals. They talk a lot! 

Adults are able to teach to each child's strength and help them face their challenges without comparison to others. Classrooms are relaxed and informal and you are likely to see children playing together or exploring an idea, you will definitely see children enjoying their learning. 

Children play a lot; they run around barefooted: they get muddy, they learn to take risks, they laugh and smile often. And guess what? They learn a lot and complain that it is the end of the day!