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| From Kyle Armstrong, Associate Head for Academics September 2010 |
Swain Families:
Thank you to
all who attended our divisional coffees over the last week; we hope the time
was well spent learning about our school, where we have come from, and where we
are going. If you could not make the coffees, many of the points presented
below were covered during the presentations. I encourage you to find 10 minutes
to read about the framework of our wonderful school!
Kyle
Every year at this time, parents want to know how their child can have a great year, teachers are on the lookout for new lessons and ideas, and administrators are connecting with each other regarding professional development and/or capital campaigns. The beginning of every school year is always filled with excitement, planning, and anticipation; in short, there is a healthy buzz echoing in schools across the country.
As we find ourselves immersed in yet another school year, it is essential to take a step back and look at the big picture. Yes, you are probably busy setting up schedules and managing the day-to-day, but reflecting upon the principles of a great education is vital to the health of our school and our students. Here at Swain, we are constantly talking about modeling our program after best practices in independent schools. As you focus your mind around this academic year, consider the following buzz about independent school education.
Academics
So what is the academic mission of a great independent school? There are over 1,100 independent schools across the country, and they are all a bit different in terms of size, feel, and population; yet, most all embrace the idea that independent schools should shape leaders for the future. Schools such as Swain certainly offer above grade level academics, but, thinking on a larger scale, this enriched education needs to be framed with the idea that we are developing students who will solve problems that have yet to arise. Teaching kids how to synthesize information and to communicate with people from other cultures are essential skills that our students will need to survive in the global economy. This is what great independent schools are doing. Curriculum might look different from school to school-in fact it should look different in accordance to what schools need at a particular time and place-but the scaffolding for delivering curriculum in independent schools is essentially the same.
To see the independent school curriculum another way, Po Bronson (author of Nurture Shock)  recently wrote an article in Newsweek titled "The Creativity Crisis". In this article, he discusses the creative ideas generated by the right side of the brain and the logical order of the left side of the brain. Too often, people tend to look at the different sides of the brain as separate entities. Bronson says that our schools need to merge the two hemispheres. In other words, the best schools should be helping students to generate big ideas and then filter those ideas and apply the most useful ones by using the logical side of the brain. This, Bronson, argues, is true creativity. Through flexible instruction and small class sizes, independent schools like Swain have been teaching creativity for years-it's what we do best.
Social/Emotional
 The buzz in the independent school world in this category is framed nicely by gurus such as Dr. Michael Thompson and Rosalind Wiseman (author of Queen Bees and Wannabes). Boys and girls need safe zones within school walls in order to function well in the classroom. According to polls taken in independent schools across the country, the number one reason why parents send their kids to independent schools is safety. Obviously this means safety from intruders and crime, but, more to the point, it means safety from harassment and bullying within the school walls. No school is immune to name calling and the like, but small, safe schools like Swain can address these issues when they arise. The best schools are proactive in this work, establishing character education programs and addressing these issues through literature and classroom activities.
Often overlooked in the social/emotional development of students are their diets and how they structure their free time. Too often, independent school teachers and administrators report that their students are over-scheduled. Poor eating and sleeping habits coupled with overly-tight calendars produce lots of stress. And stress is ugly. In recent years, independent schools across the country have tried to incorporate the idea of balance into curriculum. Being a good student does go hand-in-hand with playing a sport or instrument, being a great sibling, and having the free time that kids deserve. In schools like Swain, this is known as educating the whole child. It includes wellness courses, structured free time (isn't this an oxymoron?), and a healthy variety of academic and exploratory courses. This approach needs to be coupled with healthy habits in the home, but independent schools are more and more embracing the idea that a healthy lifestyle needs to be taught, modeled, and embraced.
Technology
Of the five categories described here, this is most fluid. As soon as I write something about technology, it will be outdated. In addition, there are multiple opinions out there on where technology is leading us. Some experts believe in the power of One to One laptop programs and in the importance of social networking, while others advocate keeping technology in check in favor of actual human interaction. There is no doubt that technology is here and that our students are growing up with Skype, texting, and there's an app for that, yet we must think carefully about its place in humanity.
Dr. Adam J. Cox, a leading advocate for fostering the cognitive abilities and emotional well-being of young people, recently published an interesting article in The New Atlantis about the potential correlation between the rise of technological noise and the rise of ADD in boys. He believes that the "constant barrage of battery powered stimuli deliver limitless distractions and enables them [boys and girls] to potentially bypass the realities of being a flawed, ordinary human being." In addition, being constantly connected seems to be eliminating that necessary quiet time for reflecting, reading, and playing. Children are growing up with technology in ways that we never experienced or imagined, and, although you may not agree with Cox's argument, he is right to consider the long term consequences.
As we consider the role of technology in our lives, both at school and in the home, remember that balance is the key. Taking a dogmatic stance in a fluid area such as technology is a  flawed approach. SmartBoards have their place, but it is also true that hours of mindless video games prevent young people from getting outside and interacting with the world. The best independent schools value both sides of the debate, and they take time to figure out the role of technology within the framework of their particular school.
Community
Many schools across the country use the word community somewhere in their mission or vision  statements, yet not all of them truly deliver community to their constituents. This year, Swain is entering our 81st year, and our community is as strong as ever. Robert Putnam--author of Bowling Alone--argues that we have witnessed a breakdown in community in our country over the last 25 years. Bowling leagues, church groups, and small community events have decreased significantly, and as you might imagine this has had negative consequences. As our society struggles with changing, disjointed communities, small independent schools like Swain become even more important. Swain is a place where children are known and loved (to steal a phrase from Patrick Bassett, NAIS president), and it truly is a home away from home for kids. Buddy programs, birthday groups, small classes, a plethora of events, and the presence of loving teachers all work to provide a safe, happy environment for kids to learn and grow.
In 1945, our founder D. Esther Swain stated that the purpose of a Swain education is to "teach children how to stand on their own two feet, talk, and communicate." This simple yet powerful statement still rings true 65 years later. So as we begin another school year, partner with us as we teach your children how to stand and deliver. Celebrate our tradition, and help us move forward in becoming a leader in independent school education.
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