Toronto's ALPHA Alternative School opened its doors in 1972 and became the go-to place for parents looking to place their children in an alternative to conventional education systems.
ALPHA--A Lot of Parents Hoping for an Alternative--does not assign tests, homework or grades. Instead, students are taught individually and in diverse age groups. It's the city's original democratic school and, according to the school's
website, is part of a larger international movement.
Photographer
Michael Barker took portraits of many of the graduates of the inaugural class as part of an anniversary project, documenting where they are now.
The Daily Mail picked up the collection and noted, "In addition to the heart-warming diptychs of then-and-now portraits of the former students also shows how an elementary education truly influences someone’s life-path."
Students went on to become writers, nurses, paramedics, bakers, activists and more. One graduate, Jennifer Ferrari, became an automotive technician and now encourages more women to get involved in her trade. She said the school taught her to care about people, "no matter what age, no matter what differences we have."
Read the full story (and see the pictures)
here.
Original Source: Daily Mail