June 26, 2002
Wednesday - 12:15 am

In 1992 a small group of parents concerned about the education of their children joined to form a cooperative with the goals of participating in their children's education and ensuring an excellent education. But most importantly, they wanted to provide an engaging atmosphere that empowered their children to be excited about learning that would last throughout their lives. They held these goals in common, they came from a wide variety of the community and together they took a risk. The core group consisted of two fishing families, one mother who was a single student on welfare, two families who had their on businesses, one family consisting of a child being raised by his grandmother, two families were professionals. Four of the fathers had occupations requiring them to leave their family for several months at a time. For three years, through 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade their children attended the "LARC" school, the Learning Alternative Resource Cooperative.

When interviewed today, all the participants, students, parents, and teachers speak of the experience as a very successful venture, having met, even exceeded, all their goals. Their long term vision of successful human beings is being realized. They speak of it as being a time of deep fulfillment, a special time, and "fun. The term "fun is not often used in describing education, but was often mentioned during the reminiscing of the LARC experience. How often do you hear the a description of education as "fun? Despite this "fun" every student is a success story 7 years later. They re-entered the public system as successful students. They are all in the senior year of High School. Kaija, Nate, Morgan, Andrew, and Elliot attend college classes along with their high school programs. Two will graduate with their Associate degrees. Andrew attends a tech-school and high school program and will graduate with a tech degree. Andrea is working this summer in a service organization on the northern border of India. Nate works as an architect apprentice, while Nathan is a student leader in his High School. Victoria is interning in a culinary arts program in California. Jacinda has graduated with a scholarship and is an active volunteer in the community for homeless teens. We are awaiting a progress report on Mary.

The quality of this experience created a mind-set of self-confidence that has carried these students well beyond the end of fifth grade.The developmental stage of children this age is ripe for an experience such as LARC. Though these students may seem extraordinary, we believe that this experience contributed to their varied accomplishments.

This could happen here. On Thursday evening, 7:00 pm at the Ted Ferry Civic Center, Ketchikan has the opportunity to meet with Sioux Adamson-Towner who was the teacher of LARC. The goal of the evening is to explore the experience of LARC and the possibilities it offers to the families of Ketchikan.

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