Thursday 17 May 2007

International School of America

About the International School of America

The International School of America was founded by myself as a non-profit educational foundation in 1958. Its mission was and is to maximise the educational benefits that formal education may derive from international travel. The round-the-world plane ticket was recognised as the most expedient vehicle since it provides for students and faculty to reach between six and nine destinations during an eight-month academic year. In each destination each individual student lives with a native family for two or three weeks while engaged in class meetings, guest lectures, field trips and particular individual field projects. The academic courses are generally related to a specific theme.

2004's theme was a examination of the world’s quest for sustainability and the challenges which face those working towards global sustainability. Previous ISA themes have included the family, man and nature, world religions, film and social anthropology, utopias and utopian communities and global ecology – nature, sociology and sustainability.

The ISA relies upon the leadership of outstanding academics with extensive field experience and a real talent for working closely with their students. Previous program leaders and members have included:
Clarence Taft
Edgar Snow, international journalist
Philip and Marjorie Appleman, Indiana University
Edward Kern, Photo and Education Editor, Life magazine
Kazuo Kawai, Ohio State University
Claude Bass, Stanford
Schuyler Camman, University of Pennsylvania
Paul Conners, Princeton
Louis Nemzer
Daniel Lerner, MIT
Huston Smith, MIT
Gregory Bateson, University of Hawaii
George DeVos, Berkeley
Robert Gardner, Harvard
Vlad Pertic, Harvard
William Rothman, Harvard
Edward Goldsmith, publisher, The Ecologist magazine

One of the outstanding achievements of the ISA has been its international reception and recognition in spite of its small size. It must be fair to say that that nature of ISA’s system and its quest for firsthand experience has opened many doors and hearts worldwide. Only the then soviet union rejected an application to live with Moscow families.

In the past ISA students have met privately with Malcolm X, Mrs Indira Ghandi, Mrs Eleanor Roosavelt, King Constantine, Jawaharal Nehru, Yukio Mishima, Hu Shih, Madame Chaing Kaishek, Ambassador Edwin O. Reicheuer, Ambassador Jon Kenneth Galbraith, Max Lerner, Lynn Margulis, Vandana Shive, Margaret Mead, Satyajit Ray, Willy Brant, Edgar Faure, Jane Goodall and Richard Leakey, among many others.

Alumni of the ISA include leading executives of major corporations and outstanding members of the medical, legal and film-making professions as well as environmentalists and writers.

The ISA offers an unequalled academic and personal challenge to students from a whole range of disciplines and backgrounds all contributing to the unique atmosphere of the group.

Board of trustees

Karl Jaeger, Chairman
Edward Goldsmith
Jean Houston
James Lengel
Richard Hasten

3 comments:

Justin said...

Karl
I am organising a public art event in Bath this summer.
See www.kingbladudspigs.org.

I wonder if I can encourage you to get involved.
I would certainly appreciate your opinions on our approach and any advice you might give us.

Justin Braithwaite
justin@kingbladudspigs.org

Justin said...

Karl
I am organising a public art event in Bath this summer.
See www.kingbladudspigs.org.

I wonder if I can encourage you to get involved.
I would certainly appreciate your opinions on our approach and any advice you might give us.

Justin Braithwaite
justin@kingbladudspigs.org

Lynne Locker said...

Karl

We are planning the 2009 Bath film festival and programming films and documentaries on themes of global politics and education which promote an understanding of other cultures and cultural ideas.

We would be delighted if you would have time to become involved in the festival and would welcome your ideas and contacts.

all best wishes from everyone at the Film Festival.

Lynne Locker
lynne@bathfilmfestival.org.uk