The Things That Really Count

In an article for the winter 2012 edition of Independent School magazine, Neal Brown, Head of School at Green Acres School, writes that he often begins a conversation with prospective families by asking them to consider the individuals whom they most admire. The list usually includes those who exhibit qualities like openness to new ideas and perspectives, a willingness to take risks, an ability to think creatively, resilience in the face of adversity, and a passion for what they do. Brown then gently suggests that this is the paradigm that should drive how we educate our children, not a desire to ensure that they have a competitive academic advantage over their peers. Instead, an elementary school should focus on three priorities: igniting children’s natural curiosity to pursue their interests, glorifying effort and grit, and being attuned to children’s developmental readiness so as not to overload them.