For the students of Gaia School, it was an amazing experience: Learning from nature.

In a normal mathematics lesson, they would usually sit in a classroom listening to the instruction of teachers. But the students of Gaia School were not in the conventional classroom, they were at the country park taking lessons straight from nature.

With digital camera, the students identified the objects related to the math concept. For example, the rectangular road sign and the tree leaves. The experience was absolutely thrilling.

Gaia means mother earth in Greek. The school aims at enhancing students' appreciation of nature and learning in pleasure.

While the school staff are still liaising with the government and community groups for a permanent campus, short-term programmes are currently organized for students and parents to experience the educational concepts.

The school principal, Lau Wing-kai said the campus site should ideally be located in remote area, probably at the village schools which were closed in recent years because of declining students' number.

Lau expressed hope that the school would have permanent campus next year, and the school would be fully operational by September.

"We enjoy the mountain and the river. We want to take the students out to nature. Students should learn in pleasure. We believe that students will learn unobtrusively and imperceptibly in a pressure-free and enjoyable atmosphere," he said.

The school founder, the Gaia Association, has been organizing nature education activities since 1993.

"Parents said their children were learning well from these activities, " Lau said.

If the school was established, the students would still learn Chinese, English and mathematics, he said.

However, apart from these three compulsory subjects, students need to choose elective subjects in four areas, including nature and technology; society and humanity; arts; and health.

Students and teachers will take physical work each week, such as planting flowers. Students will also be given responsibility to manage the school, such as operating a science corner.

Despite less academic subjects, Lau believed that the students would not find it difficult to adapt to secondary school education, which was blamed for being exam-oriented and concentrating on academic studies.

"The principal aim for primary education is to let students enjoy learning and to make them learn on their own. If these two aims were achieved, then students would eventually figure out how to learn the academic subjects," he said.

The secondary education is also under reform, with the introduction of liberal studies as compulsory subject, meaning it requires students to have a broader vision, Lau added.

The compulsory and elective subjects are not the only parts of the curriculum. The school would also introduce lifestyle programme, including a lifestyle meeting and court, which they had already organized in their short-term courses, he added.

Students and teachers will discuss problems facing the schools and draft regulations, Lau said.

For example, they will discuss the handling of students who always create trouble and chaos.

"This will enhance students' participation and a sense of belonging to the school. We hope to collect as much opinion as possible through rational discussion with students. Students will also be more familiar with problem-solving technique," Lau said.

The role of judge will be played by teachers or senior students, and the jury will be other students.

For example, when students lodge a complaint that a teacher has violated his promise, the court would be opened to allow both the "prosecution" and the "accused" to present their case. The judge will decide what action to take after hearing the jury decision.

Lau believed such civic education was important about the concept of democracy and the importance of a fair judicial system.

"Students will learn arguing on the basis of reasons and fight for reasonable cause. They will also know how to convince others," he said.

To keep a close teachers-students relationship, Lau said the school would not take more than 100 students.

"Education is not a business. It is not necessary to admit a high number of students for profit and tell others that we are popular," he said. "We will let students enjoy going to the school. Students should also feel close to their schoolmates and staff."

Hostel might be provided in the school, but that would depend on the campus location, Lau added.

(HK Edition 10/11/2006 page2)