Chapter 4: Schools as the Workplace for Students and Teachers

The Martian Institute of Technology is not staffed and organized in the same way that most schools in the United States are today. Collectively, the teachers keep the school running smoothly. Unlike many United States schools, the Martian Institute of Technology does not have a principal or vice principle. Since the teachers at the institute are researchers in their field, they work together to establish order for the school. Students work individually on their projects and collaborate with other students to gain as much knowledge in their field as possible. The teachers facilitate the learning and are available to encourage and work with the students as needed. The organization of the school is very loose, but has a basic framework of teachers and students learning together. While many schools are held accountable by superintendents, school boards, and state governments, the institute is private and policies are generated and democratically established by the researchers. Student accomplishment of work is evaluated by the teachers and weekly progress is established by student assessments. Unlike other schools that are reliant on income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, and other generated funds, the institute is paid for by private funds, grants that were awarded to the Mars project from organizations and federal governments, and from research organizations seeking new and innovative researchers for the future. A large percentage of the money generated is placed right into the research that is done, and the researchers doing the research. The rest of the money is divided up among the teaching resources, and student needs. Overall, the Martian Institute of Technology is organized and operated independently of that educational system that has been established in most communities, and is literally and figuratively out of this world.