People’s School of Topeka to open its doors this fall
Jul 23rd, 2007 by Afiya
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, July 19, 2007
The school is based on two tenets. The first is “anyone can teach and anyone can learn.” The second is “learning is a lifelong journey.”
The People’s School will allow community members to teach or learn about a subject in a low-cost, low-pressure setting. Classes may include such topics as quilting, scrapbooking, tai chi, how to change a flat tire, nutrition for children and rosary cord making.
Topekan Jennifer Gray had experience with a similar type of school in Emporia called The Learning Connection. She introduced the idea for a Topeka school in 2004 to LaVetta Westphal-Rolfs, director of The Learning for Life Center, 1708 S.W. Randolph. Westphal-Rolfs thought the idea for the school fit well with the center’s vision for health, wellness, and connecting the body and mind.
After fliers created by Stephanie Thomas, of Baldwin City, were distributed for the original school and the idea didn’t take off, Stacey Davis entered the picture with the same vision. He took on the leadership and helped the school become a reality.
Davis took classes from UFM (formerly known as United For Mankind) while attending Kansas State University.
“I loved the classes,” Davis said. “The people teaching the classes were for the most part not professional teachers. They wanted to share their passions.”
Davis is the president of an 11-member board that serves both The Learning for Life Center and The People’s School. Davis is searching for people who want to teach, whether they be an enthusiast, hobbyist or professional.
“It’s a fabulous way to strengthen the community,” said Charlie Adams, of Topeka. “There’s just no way to put a value on it.”
Adams serves on the board and plans to teach two classes — Consumer Credit Repair and Debt Elimination & Consolidation Techniques.
Adams is a loan officer at Building and Loan Mortgage Co. and also works in the real estate business.
He said, “There’s been so much misinformation about credit repair and debt consolidation.”
Frank Norman, of Lawrence, plans to teach a class called Medicinal Native Plants of the Prairie and a class called Herbal First Aid.
“Basically I’m going to talk about what plants people can use and what forms they can use at home, while traveling or while hiking,” Norman said.
The catalog will be a tabloid format on newsprint, and 10,000 will be placed throughout Topeka at businesses and organizations interested in distributing them.
Classes begin in September and will cost a minimum of $5 to cover administrative fees. Additional class fees may be added by the teacher for specialized space or extra materials, but should only be about $10. The classes will take place in the location that makes the most sense to each class, which may include people’s homes, backyards or churches.
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