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SRV: A school for the 21st century
I was reflecting on what I would say at an upcoming open house for prospective families; I wanted to be sure to tell them why I think SRV is so compelling.
Over 75 years ago the founders of SRV started a school where children could learn with their heads, hands and hearts. At the turn of the 20th century, traditional schooling was based on a factory model of education - one size fits all. SRV founders knew that children came in all shapes and sizes, with different needs, ideas and a deep curiosity about the world around them. They set out to create a school that acknowledged the unique needs of each child, as well as a place that would allow their children to be connected to nature. They envisioned a place where children would learn the importance of perseverance and hard work, where their ideas, passions and voices would matter, and where they would learn about responsibility, citizenship, and their place in the world. What was wise a century ago remains so today.
While we are no longer in an industrial revolution, we are in an information and technology revolution. It is changing the world in dramatic and profound ways. Software, broadband connectivity, email, and search engines like Google have eliminated physical distance as a barrier to being connected. Knowledge and intellectual ideas can now be developed piece by piece at remote sites and then brought back together again, all through technology. As a result, our worlds are becoming increasingly connected, mobile and diverse. It is, therefore, essential that we arm our children with the habits of mind that they will need to navigate this fast paced, complex and interconnected reality. They need critical thinking skills, the ability to collaborate, to see things from multiple perspectives, and to have an appreciation of differences.
This dynamic reality has changed the face of childhood. Childhood as we know it is long gone. Our children's lives look very different than they did 10 or 20 years ago. Their reality is one of:
- increased academic pressure,
- pervasive technology use,
- tightly scheduled lives,
- less time to play and less time to interact with peers,
- decreased exposure to arts and humanities, and
- increased exposure to adult ideas and situations at an earlier age.
Our children will be asked to do things that we cannot even imagine now. What we do know is that they will need to have flexibility, creative problem solving skills, and the ability to work with others in order to meet those unknown demands. Most schools are not set up to support this 21st century reality. They are still stuck in the outdated lock-step delivery of basic facts, prescribed skills and standardized tests - a cycle reflective of the 20th century.
Schools that adhere to that old model are not the type of schools that our children need and deserve. SRV knows that, and is committed to being responsive to these societal and childhood needs. We are a school for the 21st century. We are a school that honors both the here and now of childhood as well as the need to ready our children for their future. We offer a rich, engaging learning environment at a less hurried pace. We have:
- time for discussion and important questions,
- time to listen and for reflection ,
- time to develop social skills and mentor leadership skills,
- time to develop relationships between people and ideas,
- time for experimentation and extended learning expeditions,
- time for the arts and yes, even time for play!
It's not just that we offer a more developmentally appropriate and humane rhythm and pace to our day that differentiates us, it is also the WHAT and HOW we teach that sets us apart. We are a school that recognizes the need to be less parochial and more global and relevant in our approach. Our curriculum and teaching methodologies
help children develop not only the skills and knowledge but also the habits of mind and perspectives that they will need in order to develop a broad and deep understanding of systems, cultures, service and citizenship.
We challenge our students to learn for meaning and create deep understandings. This rigorous approach to teaching assures that our students will have their experiences, perceptions, and ideas transformed by what they are learning. Evidence of that is our school wide expedition into the study of culture through the lens of Central America.
While immersed in our study of Central America our students will learn map skills and facts about the Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, and that Panama City is the capital of Panama. But more importantly they will learn how to apply that knowledge to a higher level of understanding so they can ponder…
- How and why do cultures change?
- How are children's lives affected by where they live?
- What is the role of the arts and creative expression in people's lives?
Why is this such a critical distinction? Because while it may be important to know the capitals of foreign countries, it is far more important to know why capital cities emerge, how countries' economies are affected by their geography, and that people around the world are both similar and different. When children understand that, they can then apply those conceptual understandings to when they study a different culture, or when they travel to a foreign country, or when they work or partner with someone who comes from someplace else. It is these deeper, enduring understandings that will help our children lead richer lives both right now and well into the 21st century.
As my grandmother used to say… the proof is in the pudding. The proof of the efficacy of our approach and program is in our students. Our small classes are built on trusting relationships, academic challenge, and meaningful work. Our students are excited about learning, are comfortable taking risks, and know how to ask questions of significance. They are self-confident learners who are developing solid conceptual frameworks and mastering skills that will help them navigate novel situations.
So what is a school for the 21st century? A place that helps nurture and grow grounded, responsible, engaged citizens. A place that is built upon the new three R's: relevance, rigor and relationships. A place like The School in Rose Valley; changing the world one child at a time.
In partnership,
Carlye
Past Principal's Page Articles
- End of the 05-06 School Year
- Why I think SRV is so compelling
- Time is a valuable resource for all of us...
- Tsunami Assistance
- Children As Builders
- Celebrating Snow
- Candle Making
- Seasons
- First Day 04
- Renaissance Revelry
