ALPHA Alternative School

ALPHA Alternative School is an alternative public school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1972, it is Toronto's oldest elementary alternative school.^[1] It was created by parents, and inspired in good part by the Ontario government's Hall-Dennis Report.^[2] ALPHA stands for "A lot of people hoping for an alternative."^[1] It is located downtown on Brant Street, near Adelaide St.

The school was started with no tests or grades. Behaviour rules were created and enforced by students and staff democratically.^[3]

Background

ALPHA is based on a philosophy of "non-coercive, holistic, learner-centered education".^[4]

The original School site was located on the 3rd floor of the YMCA (open and in use) close to the intersection of Broadview and Gerrard Streets, a few minutes walk to the community of Riverdale.

Reception

ALPHA was the focus of the Masters thesis Defining and Defending a Democratic Education Site, by Deb O'Rourke. The Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning published an article, Letting the Child Work, based on this thesis.^[5]

Alpha II

Alpha II Alternative School is a student-directed senior elementary and secondary school for grades 7 to 12 located in Toronto. Part of the Toronto District School Board, Alpha II was founded in 2007 by a group of ALPHA parents.^[6] Students decide for themselves what to learn and how to learn it.^[7] School-wide decisions are made by a student-led weekly meeting where each person's voice counts in developing consensus.^[7]