Irwin Avenue Open School (Charlotte, N.C.)

Abstract Collection contains a diverse assortment of papers concerning the Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School, mostly from 1973 to 2004. These records include such things as administrative, statistical and demographic information about the IAOS, promotional materials, papers concerning theories in alternative forms of education (with particular emphasis on the "open school" approach to teaching) and other papers generated by students. Though Irwin Avenue Open School is a public school, it is run in...

Abstract These interviews discuss the history and significance of open schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. Coinciding with court-ordered busing and following a national trend in education, three optional open school programs were opened in Charlotte-Mecklenburg in the early 1970s, including Irwin Avenue Elementary School, Piedmont Middle School, and West Charlotte High School. From the beginning these schools were supported by a diverse parent body, including many community leaders,...