marietta johnson museum

We have been to the lovely little town of Fairhope several times, but had never visited the Marietta Johnson Museum. We didn't know what we were missing! This little FREE museum is on the campus of Faulkner State College right in the middle of town... An easy walk from any shopping you are doing. The hours are limited, 2-4 pm weekdays or by calling ahead. Be sure to watch the short video they offer & visit with the director Maggie! If you happen to have any teachers in your group they will REALLY like this spot!

Housed in the original building of the school, this little museum has an excellent collection of artifacts from earlier times and reflects the philosophy of The School of Organic Education founded by Marietta Johnson in 1907 which continues today in a new building.

I hate to give the museum a bad review, since we never even saw the inside of it; however.... the website, the brochures we picked up in town, and the plaque on the door all indicate that the museum in open on Monday from 2:00 - 4:00 or by appointment. We arrived at 2:10 pm on Monday, the door was locked, we called the phone number for an appointment and no one answered. As we were walking back to our car we ran into a guy walking down the street who indicated that the museum hadn't been open on Mondays for some time. I feel this information is important for Tripadvisor travelers to know so felt compelled to write a review. I wish there was a category that doesn't require a review rating but allowed for this type of information to be passed along.

We were greeted by Maggie and she made our visit such a delight. This small museum contains a number of artifacts. They provide evidence of the various activities in which the school's students engaged. Maggie helped us appreciate the underlying philosophy of the school's founder, Marietta Johnson. One of this woman's beliefs included focusing on individual learner's needs. She was unconventional and avant-garde for her time. A worthwhile stop for anyone interested in education.

A small town in southern Alabama seems like an unlikely spot for one of the Progressive Education movement's shining experiments, but then Fairhope is unlike any community in the South, founded by idealists and dreamers back in 1894. Here in 1907, Marietta Johnson founded her School of Organic Education, which she operated successfully until her death in 1938. While the school itself still exists, the golden age was under Johnson's watch, and this museum tells us much about this remarkable woman, who spoke around the world about the need for "education without failure" and where "physical and emotional development are just as revered as cognitive development." Located on the campus of Faulkner State College in the School's original Bell Building, you have to kind of know where it is -- located in the BACK of the Bell Building on School Street. Besides artifacts, photos of the era (one taken by John Dewey himself, who was a big fan), and samples of student work, Maggie, the museum director, is so bubbly and enthusiastic you begin to get a sense of the joy and excitement that must have been at the heart of Johnson's philosophy and school. When my educator cousin and I finally figured out where it was and when it was open, we were, quite literally, embraced by Maggie. Make sure to see the ten-minute video on the School. Open only between 2:00 and 4:00 Monday to Friday or by appointment, it is well worth a visit. While there, pick up a copy of Johnson's collected writings, Organic Education: Teaching Without Failure. In this age of computer-driven classrooms and high-stakes testing, her ideas are refreshing and compelling.