Prospective Parents: What Visitors Say About Green School

David Copperfield

World Class Magician

was a guest at the Green School in August '09 and enjoyed our Mepantigan performance. He said...

" My job is to create wonder in people, however it's rare for me to get that same feeling. Thank you Green School, both architecturally and in mission, you inspire and astonish. You've accomplished a spectacular piece of visual magic with your Heart of School building. It's as breathtaking as the nature that surrounds it."

Peter Seligmann

Conservation International, Co-Founder, CEO, and Chairman

"I applaud the aspiration of the Green School to create an educational experience that is built upon respect for Balinese culture as well as sustainability of nature. The world needs your inspiration and ingenuity."

Helena Norberg-Hodge

Founder and Director of International Society of Ecology and Culture (ISEC) in London, environmental analyst, and Right Livelihood Award recipient

"Both visionary and practical, the Green School is a pioneering effort to turn young leaders away from the waste and pollution of the dominant culture, towards truly sustainable ways of living. The School's magnificent bamboo architecture is an outstanding example of the ecological, spiritual and aesthetic benefits of working with nature rather than against her."

Dereck and Beverly Joubert

National Geographic Mission Programs, Explorers-in-Residence

"I feel a longing for what could have been had I been born now and been exposed to the love and stimulation, the opportunity of being a student here." - Beverly Joubert

"For me, I feel that same magic while walking around the buildings, education is ‘a place’ as well as a flow of knowledge. And I can half visualize children dreaming more vividly, more creatively, running and playing, and challenging their masters in this place, void of traffic noise and surrounded by green buildings. And at last I get a sense of hope that perhaps we are not doomed. The wildlife and natural world that Beverly and I fight so hard for, the environment of peace that we long for and know we are all destroying may just be fine, if it is in the hands of graduates of this school. If any great leader of the future will have the vision to drive the environmental changes we need, I would not be surprised to learn that he or she was a product of the Green School." - Dereck Joubert

Bill Kizorek

Bill Kizorek, chief executive of Two Parrot Productions, makes professional videos that highlight the efforts of charities worldwide. The author of nine books, Bill has appeared on or helped produce segments for the Oprah Show, 20/20, BBC (radio and television), A&E Channel, AM Singapore, and the four major US television networks. He came to Green School, filmed our campus and our people, and left us with these words: "What an amazing, refreshing, innovative concept of education: the natural setting is stunning, and the bamboo open-air architecture is futuristic, solid, and stunning.”

Thom Henley

Internationally known as an environmentalist, human-rights advocate, and educator, Thom Henley has helped preserve millions of acres of wilderness and inspired thousands of young people worldwide to love and preserve the earth. About his visit to Green School Thom said, “Brilliant, bold, visionary does not begin to describe what is happening at Green School - a paradise setting, inspired architecture, and a revolutionary approach to education.”

Ann and Thomas L. Friedman

Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist and author of the bestseller “The World is Flat”

"Well, this is my second visit to Green School. I was at Green School when it was really green, when it was just coming out of the ground. I’m back now and it’s about half done and I’m really excited to see it when it’s completed. I think it’s a fantastic concept. It’s been designed with a real vision in mind on how to educate young people about the world they’re growing up in and how to make it a more sustainable place. And so I’m really looking forward to visiting again once it’s up and running."

Mohammad Yusuf Asy'ari

Minister of Public Housing, Republic of Indonesia

"Fantastic… That was my first impression of Green School. The buildings are inspiring; its architecture design innovative and artistic. Bamboo, traditionally regarded as a cheap building material, once treated and preserved properly, has an awe-inspiring potential comparable to other commercially-used building materials. It is my great hope that Green School will contribute towards the development of affordable public housing in Indonesia by using beautiful and strong bamboo as alternative building materials. Once again, congratulations and keep the creative juices flowing."

Peter Seligmann, USA

Bart Cornille, Belgium/Vietnam

"Visiting Green School is an overwhelming experience. I'm trying to frame my daily work in Vietnam within the concept of education for sustainable development and walking around the Green School made me realize your approach is 100%. Everything has been perfectly thought through, taking a lead in how everything is designed, etc. In other words, it is the perfect environment for children."

David DeLuca, USA

"Upon a recent holiday to Bali, and subsequently a short trip because of a friend's introduction to Green School just outside Ubud, I was surprisingly stunned and inspired at the ground breaking work taking place. Green School and its staff are arduously concentrating to create the ultimate and most holistic approach to a well-rounded education in just the design and construction of the campus alone. The entire campus is virtually being produced and made out of all things natural, i.e. bamboo, mud, rock, etc. The setting serves as the perfect model of what the modern 21st-century classroom should be; the natural and world environment surrounding us. What was most impressive too, beyond the scope of the campus' worldly innovative architecture, is the individual educational focus that Green School intends to provide each of its students.

With the natural environment serving at the perfect catalyst. Students and parents are going to seemingly find themselves taking part in a ground breaking educational experience that is ultimately going to connect the teachings and philosophies of the old world with the present while casting a bright light onto the future. It is eye-opening to see what is going on physically and in principle at Green School. I can only imagine what the coming months and years will be like like, especially just having gathered this feeling strictly through observation and conversation on a recent visit. Green School is really an awesome place to be and experience and I am confident that it will surely continue to do just that in the years to come."

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Te, Vietnam

"I'm very happy to be at Green School. I find the idea of the school very relevant to friendly school that the vice-minister of Vietnam MOE wish to have in Vietnam. I wish to have contact and cooperation between Institute of Education and Management of Ho Chi Minh City and Green School. I hope to welcome you to Vietnam and our Institute. Good luck!"

Sarah Bess, USA

"On my recent trip to Bali, I was fortunate enough to have had a great time taking in the culture and arts of the small island. One of the highlights of my vacation included visiting Green School. I had heard about the school through family friends and was eagerly awaiting a chance to tour the site. Needless to say, my experience at Green School was incredible. As a graduate student in education, the school was a representation of what a truly unique 21st century education needs to be. By creating a sustainable model that cares for and protects the environment, Green School is setting an example of a learning atmosphere that practices what they preach at a time when global warming is a threat to our earth and it's species.

Another aspect I found interesting at the school was the open-ended, creative curriculum. By giving students the opportunity to explore their natural surroundings and allowing them to learn skills applicable to today's society, the students will no doubt serve as global leaders in an interdependent world. The fact that the school uses Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, is key to allowing children to develop at their own pace, in their own unique way. Additionally, the resources and technology provided for the students will also give them the tools and skills to function in a diverse world. Green School is a ground breaking, innovative school where teachers and students will no doubt create learning that is truly meaningful, all within the confines of a beautiful, natural setting."

Nguyen Thanh Trung, Vietnam

"The idea is unique, structure is unique, classroom is unique. And all of that comes from the general idea: Our children are the most important. Our environment has to be saved. Thank you for your uniqueness."

Rotary Club, Seminyak, Bali

"A sincere thank you for an absolutely inspiring day at our tour of the Green School. On behalf of the members that participated on our field trip, we all thank you. All of us were in awe of the progress with this exceptional endeavour and we wish you the best with the Green School. We hope in the future to be supportive of your scholarship program too."

Ayip, Bali

"Two thumbs up for Green School as I see this is very important contribution to build sustainable brand of Bali." -

Bamboo League

"Wow! This place is amazing. Architecturally stunning and beautifully situated, the Green School is a model for all things possible in education. Global staff, balanced curriculum, community involvement, family-based housing and a vision for developing the next generation of great thinkers and leaders."

Simon St. John, Australia

“Our visit was inspirational on many levels - not only did we have many of our questions answered but we were also offered many fascinating ideas through permaculture, etc., which we did not expect. Each person we met gave freely of their time and knowledge and for this we are very grateful.”

Ralph Fertig, USA

“I greatly admire what you're doing, the school sounds wonderful, designing with native materials is excellent, choosing appropriate transportation is awesome, helping the children there live with their environment, within natural constraints, is the way to a sustainable future.” -

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