Here’s the bottom line: as parents we are missing the boat
when we hyper-focus on singular, narrow variables in an academic program (e.g.,
relatively minor variations in grades, test-scores, class sizes, homework,
etc.). We disadvantage our
children when we protect them from adversity, conflict, and even failure. We disservice them when we de-emphasize
the value and importance of non-academic learning and experiences.
Don’t get me wrong, I am as big an academic snob as anyone
you will find, and I want students on the most rigorous path for which they are
capable. But the research is
clearer that this can only be achieved if students are
simultaneously developing non-cognitive skills and character traits. Even more
importantly, the deliberate development of non-cognitive skills will lead to
greater professional success and sense of well-being.
Here’s what’s not news: This is the fundamental principle upon which EDS was
founded. EDS wasn’t created because there was a shortage of places for
Augusta’s children to learn math and read great works. EDS was created to help young people
develop their whole selves into well-rounded and well-grounded citizens and
children of God. We are
intentional and purposeful about this in ways that exceed any other schools in
the area. We
understand that attention to this aspect of development supports academic
progress and leads to more effective citizens with higher levels of
satisfaction. For example:
·
We are the only school in the area that has a
required PreK3-8th religion, religious history, and theology course of
curriculum, complemented by daily prayer and pledge, weekly chapel, and monthly
communion, led by a full time ordained chaplain.
·
Our students have the most extensive available
public speaking and presentation training, practice and experience in PreK-8th
grades.
·
We have an intentional leadership curriculum,
including authentic leadership roles and experiences, that has been upheld as a
national model of excellence by the Council for Spiritual and Ethical
Education.
·
We don't just take school trips, we’ve
taken the care to develop a scope and sequence of integrated experiential education
programming into all grades as community experiences.
·
When anti-bullying programs became the trend,
EDS aimed higher and developed CORE, an integrated approach, involving parents,
teachers, and students in an ongoing effort to promote the kind of school
culture for which we strive.
·
Our teachers have worked to identify a specific
set of non-cognitive, affective skills as part of our Core Outcomes, along with
rubrics for determining progress.
·
Our teachers all believe that the character
traits they are teaching are as central and important as the academic content.
·
We create formative experiences in which
students face appropriate challenge, conflict, and adversity as teaching tools.
·
We are one of only 18 top schools in the country
who take this information seriously enough to partner with ETS in developing the
first-ever, scientifically supported non-cognitive skill assessment for middle
school students.
I could go on, but you get the point. I haven’t even touched upon our
commitment to the formative programs in the arts and athletics, the fact that
we have a full-time nurse unequalled in her qualifications and experience, the
team approach we take to problem-solving and conflict resolution, and our
commitment of time and money to professional development.
The links below clearly reveal that these things
matter. They help academic
achievement and they lead to success, meaning, and satisfaction. At EDS we don’t just strive to do
schooling better, we strive to do better schooling.
This American Life podcast from 9/14 about non-cognitive
skills:
Which Traits Predict Success from Wired.com science
blog:
Back to School: Why Grit is More Important Than Good
Grades from Time Magazine
Research from the Universities of Michigan and Rhode Island
show the positive results of perseverance, love, gratitude, and prudence:
My Sept. 10 blog entry (in case you missed it) about the
Stanford study of the impact of awe:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment