The parking lot at MLC amazes me; my sons attend this school. In many ways the parking lot inspires me to believe again in the desire of people to do good for the greater good. The parking lot at MLC is not much larger than a typical gym (two basket ball courts), but somehow, every day, the cars come in, park, and go out without any hassle. What gets me is that there are no painted parking spots.

Easily more cars go through the parking lot than will fit and this has gone on for years. I watch the parking lot with immense fascination each day. Cars come in and park, in no particular order or system. There is not even a pattern (maybe in chaos theory there is). However, even though there are no spoken plans and no rules, it just works. I believe it works because people are flexible.

There is a need for a parking lot and a need for a playground, but not enough space to have both at the same time. Solution–flexible. The principal or vice principal is out there every day, at the driveway, directing cars in and out. On a side note, that is great visibility for the principal. Good PR.

Tuesday is also an elective day. Here again, everyone is flexible. This is a small school (425 students) with a small number of staff members so what everyone does is work with what they have. And what they have is a community (see MONDAY) of people willing to help out. Each staff member has an elective in something about which they are knowledgeable or skilled. Parents lend their expertise as well. Some electives have 20 students, some have 6. It does not matter because if there is an interest, an elective will be created. (In this sense the electives are reminiscent of the original goal of electives–to widen the experience of the student, exposure to new things. 

I plan on holding an elective in the Spring for model rocketry. I am sure it will be a blast.

How can we make our schools more flexible, more able to live out the "one size does not fit all" belief?