Love All People Music Academy (L.A.P.M.A.)

“Creating a World of Love with Sounds of Music”

From the beginning, Reverend Minner believed that young people need an education. Although, most of the young people had a “street” education and would have told you that was enough, Prentice thought that in order to have a knowledge of who you are, you needed to understand what was going on in the world around you.

Most of the young people who walked through the doors of LAP had been living on the streets. They had dropped out of high school and decided that they were smart enough. In order to meet the state requirements of high school, they had to find a “different way”. Realizing that the public schools were not going to cut it for this group of young people, they began looking into becoming a private school.

As with all things, the group was fortunate to have supporters in the educational field. People such as Karla McComb, who helped give ideas on education these kids who needed to learn in a different venue – who believed they were smarter than the system, a new system had to be created. This was done – and in November 17, 1983 we received a call from Mr. Wendall Newman stating that Love All People Music Academy had been approved to become an accredited school in the state of Nevada.

Although, not required by the state to take the proficiency exams, the students of the academy did. They scored higher than most of their counterparts in the public schools.

School Anthem  written by Charles Cooper

Love’s winning spirit will lift us high above the clouds
Shining as examples for little ones to be proud
Through love and dedication
We strive to gain our education
We won’t give up, we won’t give in
we promise to be, live and act positive
Love’s winning spirit will guide our every stride
Love’s winning spirit will change our hurts to pride.

School Creed written by Rick Lane

We the members of the family of Love All People, will learn to live and love together, strive to help one another and others, speak up for what we believe in and promise to be, live and act positive, thus setting an example so that others may know and prosper from the love that flows between us all and God. Amen.

Sample of Class Schedule – Coming Soon

Graduating Classes (Info to be added)

Teaching Techniques  – With the assistance of our superintendent (at the time) Karla McComb, alternative teaching techniques were practiced at the academy to motivate teenagers who once were not doing well or failing in school, to become enthusiastic about learning. It convinces each student that they’re not in competition with one another, and encourages them to choose a career and then select courses that will be beneficial to them in aspect.

The curriculum at LAP is standard in goals and objectives with those of more traditional public schools. Where the gap is wide between the two is the methodology employed to achieve the same ends.

LAP is not bound by the constraints of time and shared responsibility which are imposed upon public school programs and teachers. A small school of this type can encourage freedom of expression by its teachers which can then be passed on to the students.

Time is a restriction which can be deadly. LAP uses the idea that projects can be extended to achieve the intended purpose. Therefore, flexible time scheduling for classes is employed. Simply stated, instructions work together to plan time allotments for best results, as demonstrated by the high marks which Love All People’s students received on the state proficiency test required for graduation in public schools. In fact, one of our students received a perfect score on 100% on his reading and comprehensive examination.

An effort is made to involve all students in activity type projects which immerse them in experimental-type projects. Students have participated in dramatic presentations of visual autobiographies in U.S. history, for example. What a treat to see General Douglas Mac Arthur stand before Harry Truman and discuss issues!

In another example, a mock trial was held in an actual courtroom with a District Court Judge presiding.

Our “role-playing”, method of teaching enhances the possibility of retaining what has been learned by making it fun and enjoyable. In other words, it encourages students not just to listen to facts, but tore-create the facts through role-playing and drama.

We believe that learning from emotional experiences is a more lasting and effective method of teaching. To replace pat, dull lectures the research mode is often employed. Students select a subject of interest, and research in detail with their report to the class of information learned. This also teaches our students responsibility and discipline, as they are on their own to complete the assignments.

As a result of such departures from standard methodology, the LAP curriculum is a living model which can be tailored to the needs of each unique student with maximum application of time and talent.