Ok, maybe that isn’t a good description of this idea. When googling “coop college” I found that most people take this to mean some sort of internship with a corporation, where students can learn the ropes of the “real world.” That is not what I mean.
I was talking to Ned recntly about colleges, and he remarked about what incredibly odd places they are. People pay and go there to learn (and do other things). There is no real economic model, and they only work with an outside support system.
The thing is, they don’t need to be that way. Imagine a college commune, or something of the sort. Tuition is free, and there is a sustainable economic model. Everyone works, everyone learns.
I’m imagining Freshman doing a majority of unskilled labor – keeping things running on a day to day basis. Each year above freshman could teach (or help teach) the year below.
I like this idea a lot, since it fits so snug with my previous commune ideas. I’m going to keep this stewing.