A place for future learning that develops children's "strengths" and builds their bodies Restarting the Alternative School Project

2024.06.26 09:30

ARS株式会社

ARS Corporation (Office location: 3-10-6 Machida City, Tokyo; President: Ayako Oura), which has been developing its research support business as its mainstay business, launched the alternative school "Japan Summerhill Academy" in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in April 2024, aiming to establish a learning place with a fusion style of "optimal individual learning and body building environment" outside school, after the truancy of her then 2nd grade elementary school son. In April 2024, I launched an alternative school, "Summerhill Academy Japan," in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, with the aim of establishing a place outside of school where students could learn in a fusion style of "optimal individualized learning and physical training. After starting the business, we faced difficulties in operating the school and decided to restart the school from June 1, 2024 with a new base.

The school has introduced high quality learning and body building to develop students' strengths, and is crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE until July 31, 2024 (Wed.) to cover the initial and operating funds for the new structure.

URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/767936

We are challenging crowdfunding!

Background of the project

Our representative, Mr. Oura's son has been truant from school since the beginning of the second grade at the beginning of the school year. He had many friends at school and liked his teachers and the school building, but the system of learning in a group at the same speed and in the same way did not suit him and he became ill. I was not anxious about my studies, and my IQ was measured to be higher than average, or what is called a "dropout. He left his school life, and although his health returned, he refused to go back to school. We searched for a suitable school, including private schools, international schools, and free schools, but were unable to find one. We also consulted with the developmental counseling office, but were told that it is difficult to give advice and guidance to those who are not troubled by developmental delays or delays in studies.

I want to create an environment at all costs where this child can receive good learning without having to attend school, and where he can find his own likes and develop his strengths. I want to help other children who are suffering from the same problems. With this in mind, we decided to launch an alternative school that adopts the free education method of Summerhill School, and that does not leave out "strengths," and that supports learning in addition to school, as well as body building during growth.

In launching the school, we wanted to focus on "support for body-building at free schools," something that had never been done before in Japan, and so we began operating the school in collaboration with Yota Arai, who established a new gymnastics school (ACE GYMNASTICS STUDIO) this spring.

Soon after the school started, an elementary school student who started attending the school after participating in our e-sports class became passionate about e-sports and went on to represent Japan in one of the game titles. Another child in the LEGO class showed his artistic talent and became a confident student of the school. While facing the difficulties of running a school, we believe that we cannot afford to lose the opportunity for these children to grow.

Festivals held at our permanent gymnastics school (ACE GYMNASTICS STUDIO)

The Attraction of Summerhill Academy in Japan

Summerhill Academy Japan is a new type of alternative school that supports not only learning but also body building through a business model that combines an alternative school and a culture school, which is unprecedented in Japan.

(1) We offer various genres of classes as a system to find and develop talents.

Gymnastics classes, e-sports classes, Lego classes, programming classes, social science classes, global classes, kickboxing classes, music classes, etc. We have established business partnerships with all of these classes, creating a learning environment that can provide guidance up to the training of professionals.

(2) Focusing on physical fitness

Children who do not attend school are deprived of opportunities to exercise. When Representative Oura attempted to measure the physical fitness of the children at one of our free schools, it was clear that their heart rate, grip strength, and other physical fitness parameters had declined. Some of the children loved and excelled at exercise and sports, but had lost these opportunities due to their non-attendance at school. In Japan, there are not many alternative schools that also focus on physical development. We hope to solve this problem by establishing permanent gymnastics classes.

(3) Accumulate evidence of educational effects

Oura, our representative, has been managing the corporation mainly as a research support project. We are considering to include research and analysis of the educational and health effects of the classrooms conducted at our school so that they can be presented in the academic domain as well.

In the e-sports classrooms where the effectiveness was measured earlier, data has been accumulated on the improvement of children's concentration and communication skills.

(4) Support for school studies / Attendance certification and grading evaluation in collaboration with schools are also fully supported.

For cooperation with schools, we have a cooperative system with Benesse Corporation. All children in the compulsory education course are always enrolled in an approved school. For school studies, we recommend Shinkenzemi materials. We not only support school studies in the classroom, but also communicate with the enrolled schools to share information about the children, which enables us to certify attendance and grade evaluations.

(5) Children who have been truant + attending school can also use the service

Usually, free schools are only available for children who are not attending school. However, our school has an after-school membership system for alternative schools, and the culture school is of course available to children who are attending school. We have a system in place that allows students to use the school as a place for learning in addition to school.

(6) Proactive efforts for community collaboration and multi-generational exchange

In order to make the school a place of learning that is rooted in the community, we are proactive in participating in community activities so that the entire community can support the growth of children. We have joined "Mana Pita Net," a network of non-attendance support groups in the central Kanagawa Prefecture area, and "Social Welfare Council Volunteer Groups," as well as promoting membership and cooperation with neighborhood associations, residents' associations, shopping associations, and other community activity groups.

Having a space where people can move their bodies

E-sports class

Learning

Nurture from "fun

Thoughts on the ★ Project

Summerhill Academy Japan is a place where children who go to school, children who choose not to go to school, and children who are truants can learn together by combining an alternative school and a culture school. It is not a place "for truants," but a new style of learning and a place for all children. We have a team of professional teachers who can offer the most suitable learning based on their understanding of "my personality" and "my way of being".

We do not have a fixed schedule. Children who are not comfortable in groups, children who prefer a quiet place, children who prefer their own pace and space, children who like to get together with others, children who are not good with letters, and children who are not good with letters, we respect and nurture each child's individuality. We provide appropriate support and guidance in terms of learning and health, as well as basic learning support so that children can pursue their desired career paths when their dreams come true or when they are ready to make the switch. We also have a system in place for attendance recognition and grading.

We hope that this project will catch the attention of people in the wider community.

Project Summary

Project Name: Future Learning Place Alternative School

　　　　　　　　 Alternative School and Culture School Integration Project

Period ： Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Wednesday, July 31, 2024 23:59

URL ： https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/767936

Outline of the facility

Facility Name ： Alternative School Japan Summerhill Academy

Location ： 1F, 3-62-14 Sagamigaoka, Zama-shi, Zama 252-0001

Establishment ： April 2024

Operating entity ： ARS Inc.

Website ： https://jpn-summerhill.academic-support.jp/