Academy of Miscellany

You call up the Academy, tell them you'd like to book a seat in a class at a certain time on a certain day. The receptionist asks your name and age (some classes would have age requirements) and tells you what room you'll be in. Nothing about what class is being taught in that room - you can find that out when you arrive.

What room you'll be in is decided by a computer program which factors in the fullness of each class and balances them accordingly. It also accepts groups up to a certain number so you don't have to get split up from your family and friends.

You show up at the building and head to your room. For the next hour, you learn all about the art of train hopping from an enthusiastic young hobo. You decide to stop by a few days later. This time it's wine tasting, taught by the owner of a local vineyard.

Once you are in a class, you must either finish the class (they each last either an hour or a couple hours, I haven't decided) or leave. No switching mid-class.

The entire school is volunteer run and paid for by donation. The teachers are all interviewed before they are allowed to teach. To be a student in the program, you also have to go through a short interview process after which you receive your membership card. Classrooms are also video-monitored to ensure maximum safety for students and teachers alike, what with everything being public.

Finally, all teachers would be strongly encouraged to use group activities in their classes to get strangers to interact and break out of their shells.