MIND
Encyclopedia
MIND (est. 1975) is an alternative education high school in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
. Its reputation stems from its community-based programs and its composition of students who feel that they are "unusual" who can not fit into regular school environments, and are accepting of others regardless of thinking habits, personal beliefs or physical makeup.
MIND is a partnership between the English Montreal School Board
(EMSB) and McGill University
's Faculty of Education. The program focuses on providing critical thinking
and enriched education through alternative teaching methods.
at the corner of Parc Avenue and St. Viateur.
A vote was held by the community (students, staff and parents/guardians each had one vote), and "MIND" (Moving In New Directions) was declared the new name of the school. Early community votes dealt with use a recreational drugs at school (rejected), smoking during class (eventually banned on the third floor only), world poverty and debt (no resolution) and student apathy (a surprisingly large meeting with no real solution). Community meetings were held weekly and home group meetings were held every Monday morning.
Shortly after, MIND moved to the third floor of the old High School of Montreal building on University Street, which was otherwise occupied by the arts-oriented high school F.A.C.E.
. Staff consisted of eight teachers including one head teacher
, and approximately 133 students in grades 9-11 (secondannry III-V). MIND currently has five teachers and 65 students.
In 1999, MIND moved to its current location in the top floor of the Bancroft elementary school building at Mont Royal and St. Urbain, in the shadow of Mount Royal
. In 2003, MIND organized its first soccer team, and was soundly trumped by all of its competitors. The team's uniforms were black and white, with no logo.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its reputation stems from its community-based programs and its composition of students who feel that they are "unusual" who can not fit into regular school environments, and are accepting of others regardless of thinking habits, personal beliefs or physical makeup.
MIND is a partnership between the English Montreal School Board
English Montreal School Board
English Montreal School Board is the largest English-language school board in Quebec. The EMSB is responsible for anglophone public schools in the centre and eastern sectors of Montreal Island. Public education in the western portion of Montreal Island is administered by the Lester B. Pearson...
(EMSB) and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
's Faculty of Education. The program focuses on providing critical thinking
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
and enriched education through alternative teaching methods.
History
Founded in 1975 with 125 students from the entire PSBGM (Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal) and 7 staff, MIND was originally known simply as "The Alternative High School" and was located primarily on the third floor (with a few classes on the second floor) of the International YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
at the corner of Parc Avenue and St. Viateur.
A vote was held by the community (students, staff and parents/guardians each had one vote), and "MIND" (Moving In New Directions) was declared the new name of the school. Early community votes dealt with use a recreational drugs at school (rejected), smoking during class (eventually banned on the third floor only), world poverty and debt (no resolution) and student apathy (a surprisingly large meeting with no real solution). Community meetings were held weekly and home group meetings were held every Monday morning.
Shortly after, MIND moved to the third floor of the old High School of Montreal building on University Street, which was otherwise occupied by the arts-oriented high school F.A.C.E.
F.A.C.E. School
F.A.C.E. School is a bilingual pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary and high school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is run jointly by the English Montreal School Board and the Commission Scolaire de Montréal . F.A.C.E...
. Staff consisted of eight teachers including one head teacher
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
, and approximately 133 students in grades 9-11 (secondannry III-V). MIND currently has five teachers and 65 students.
In 1999, MIND moved to its current location in the top floor of the Bancroft elementary school building at Mont Royal and St. Urbain, in the shadow of Mount Royal
Mount Royal
Mount Royal is a mountain in the city of Montreal, immediately west of downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the city to which it gave its name.The mountain is part of the Monteregian Hills situated between the Laurentians and the Appalachians...
. In 2003, MIND organized its first soccer team, and was soundly trumped by all of its competitors. The team's uniforms were black and white, with no logo.