My Experience in a Free School
At first I couldn't believe it! There were no1in rows; no bells rang; no one had to go to2. Although we all lived "in", 3 made us go to bed at a certain time; there was no "lights out".
The4thing was that practically all the students went to class, 5very few people stayed up late at night. Only the new people stayed up or6class. The new ones always went wild (狂怒)7, but this never lasted long. The freedom(自由) took some getting used to (习惯). Our teachers treated (对待) us like 8; never did we have to play "stand up", "sit down", "speak out". I don't9one student who didn't try his best.
The subjects were the same as those in10schools, but what a difference in the approach(方式)! For example, in botany(植物学)we had11classes in the spring or fall, but instead we12two gardens, a vegetable garden and a flower garden. 13in winter we each studied a few particular things about what we had grown. In maths, the students built three different kinds of storerooms (库房)—small ones14, but usable (可用的). They did this instead of having lessons in the classroom. They really had a15time too, designing everything, drawing the blueprints, figuring out the angles(角度)and so on. I didn't take16. I can't stand it! Besides, I could do the basic things with numbers. That's 17！
On the whole, I think I am a18person for having gone to the school. I can read and write as well as anyone else of my age, and I can think better. That's probably a real big19between the free school and regular school—the amount of20.
