TMBR

Mike Klonsky became attracted to the modern day small schools movement when he was exposed to the ideas and actions of the leaders of the movement in the 1960’s.  As a teacher, he helped create some of the first charter schools in Chicago.  Today he is one of the champions of the small school vision that is embodied by the Chicago small schools movement, pioneered by Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington, in the 1980s.  We discuss the history of the movement, which was motivated by attempting to create the type of school that works best for children, how we should gauge student results, what we’ve accomplished with testing policies, team teaching, how to change teaching, and charter schools.  Mike runs a yahoo listserv that is a think tank for small schools professionals called Smallschools@yahoo.com.  Mike is firmly committed to equity and social change for the benefit of all children