What does it mean to be an Active School?
More than a method: A way of understanding life.
It is often thought that an Active School is a place without rules, or where innovation is simply a trend. At Mayrit, we understand the “Active School” as a profound commitment to the very nature of the human being.
The end of passive learning
Traditionally, schooling has been based on repetition and silence. In an Active School like Mayrit, we challenge that paradigm. We believe that action is the guarantee of true learning.
Learning by doing: It is not enough to simply listen; to integrate knowledge, children need to touch, manipulate, and experiment. Discovery is an action, not a passive process.
Real protagonism: We move from teacher-centered education to student-centered learning. The child is not a vessel to be filled, but a competent being with their own interests and a natural curiosity that we have the duty to protect.
Deep roots, not passing trends
Although we are often labeled as innovators, our foundations have more than a century of history. We lean on the theories of key figures who already understood that childhood requires something different:
Maria Montessori and the value of the senses.
Friedrich Fröbel and the vital importance of play.
Célestin Freinet and activity as the engine of expression.
Jacques Delors and the definitive commitment to “learning by doing.”
A compass for the future
Being an Active School means nurturing free, empathetic citizens with a critical spirit. Our goal is for every child to develop their full potential—intellectually, creatively, and personally—so that, by growing up true to themselves, they can contribute to creating a more just society.
To achieve this, our daily keys are:
Full confidence in the children’s autonomy.
Non-judgmental emotional support.
Free play as the highest form of research.
Respect for individual developmental rhythms.
What Mayrit is NOT: Our Commitment to clarity
To truly understand our project, it is just as important to know what we are NOT. We want to avoid common misconceptions and ensure that every family joining Mayrit shares our vision of respect and responsibility.
Mayrit:
- It is NOT a "method": It is a living philosophy, not a rigid set of instructions.
- It is NOT an "à la carte" school: We are a community with a shared vision, not a service tailored to individual whims.
- It is NOT a "recipe" on how to do things: There is no one-size-fits-all manual for human development.
- It is NOT a single answer to a problem: We embrace complexity and the unique needs of every child.
- It is NOT a school of strangers: We are a close-knit network where every face is known and every voice matters.
- It is NOT a place to "drop off" children: We are a space for growth, not a childcare deposit.
- It is NOT "innovation for innovation's sake": Our approach is not a hollow trend; it is backed by a century of solid theoretical and practical evidence.
Does this feel like the environment you’ve been searching for for your children?