The Highlander School model was born in the larger social context of racial segregation in America. The founder, Myles Horton, combined education with community organizing to establish the first Highlander School in his native Tennessee in 1932. His concept of education was revolutionary to the traditional American education system. Drawing from the new Danish folk high school model, Horton introduced a student-led classroom content and interaction to his civic education school program. Students in the classroom directed what was to be taught, based on their own needs and experiences in the world. Open-discussion, chanting and story-telling were vivid methods for the community teachers to engage the students and foster an integrated group. Later with the Citizenship Schools, Horton’s educational model played an important role mobilizing Black Americans and advocating for racial integration and equal rights in the Civil Rights Movement.

Researched and produced by: UMN Center for Intergrative Leadership, Spring 2012.
See following link to view all eleven community organizing models: http://www.incommons.org/node/6591