Your perfect school?

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Small class sizes

Inquiry-based learning (rather than sit and get)

Field STUDIES not field trips

community involvement and service component

I used to work at one of these schools (minus the small class size)...they're called Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound!

 

[Magpie]

More choice!

Some things we might all agree on - smaller class sizes, for example.

Other things we might disagree on - grouping children of varied intellectual ability and achievement together and peer tutoring.

So for me, I'd like to see a variety of different school options offered. If a Montessori-style education is your preference, then you should be able to choose that. If a highly academic, accelerated, education is what you prefer, then go for it. Something focussed on the arts? Or sports? Part time, integrated with homeschooling? It's all good.

For MY children... We're coming out the other side pretty well at the moment, but I wish my daughter could have been allowed to learn at her own pace when she was little. She was SO energetic and eager to learn, and it would have been nice if that energy could have been supported, channeled and encouraged, instead of stomped on. She cried the first day she came home from Junior Kindergarten (4yos). I told her the other children wouldn't know how to read and write, but she didn't believe me. Secret notes don't really work if your new friends have to ask the teacher to read them.

Primary school was a sad experience for my kids. (Although, I'm not sure if there was any school system that could have really helped my son - homeschooling WAS his best bet for the first 5 years, and I'm glad we had the option.)

So my main wish is MORE SCHOOL CHOICE. And smaller classes, because that's never a bad thing.

 

[PollyannaMom]

smaller class sizes - maybe 6 preschool, 12 elementary, 16 secondary?

more individual time with the teacher for each student

children grouped by learning styles

structure and "seatwork" beginning later, rather than the current trend of earlier and earlier

Dump the high-stakes testing mania. - In trying to get everyone to the same level, we are forced to set that level too high for some and too low for others, doing a dis-service to both. I'd like to see a better definition of basic knowledge vs. standard knowledge vs. mastery, and flexible ability tracking to go along with it (including a way of switching to a higher track, some sort of a "bridge class").

creativity and flexibility given back to the teachers (no more trend toward tight scripts)

subject specialists available to elementary teachers, to assist with planning, provide enrichment, or tutor students

more respect and communication between teachers and parents

adjustment of school hours - In my district, high schoolers start earliest, then middle, then elementary, when studies show that exactly the opposite would probably be better for most students. (But ideally, both schedules would be available to anyone. - Haven't sorted out how practical that would be yet.)

individualized homework - practice drills when students need them, appropriate projects, flexible deadlines

 

[mom2rb]

As far as I know, any private school in Texas that is accredited (ie, students get a real diploma as opposed to having to get a GED) by the state are required by law to give the TAKS test. While it might not seem to be "emphasized", the students will have to take the tests.

Not true. I don't know any private school that gives the TAKS. Private schools choose what test to give. 80% of the girls I coach go to private schools, as well as my own children. Most of them take the ERB, my children take the Iowa State test. Some of them don't take any. In fact at my school they are voluntary. I only have my boys take them every other year. All of these schools are accredited.

 

[mom2rb]

I am very happy with my boys' school. They go to school two days a week. It is called a University Model School. They get a lot of homework to do the other days.They have no more than ten kids per class. They are grouped by skill level. My boys are in 8th grade Math and Science, Seventh grade History and Sixth grade English. At a traditional school they would be Seventh graders. They have Spanish on a computer. They do the grammar as homework and at school they use Skype to speak to a Spanish teacher in South America.

My boys are both Athletes. They train 14-18 hours a week. This counts as their P.E. For the students that are not athletes, they have P.E. for three hours once a week. They change sports every six weeks. Right now they are taking Ballroom dancing.

 

[Liberty Belle]

smaller class sizes - maybe 6 preschool, 12 elementary, 16 secondary?

more individual time with the teacher for each student

children grouped by learning styles

structure and "seatwork" beginning later, rather than the current trend of earlier and earlier

Dump the high-stakes testing mania. - In trying to get everyone to the same level, we are forced to set that level too high for some and too low for others, doing a dis-service to both. I'd like to see a better definition of basic knowledge vs. standard knowledge vs. mastery, and flexible ability tracking to go along with it (including a way of switching to a higher track, some sort of a "bridge class").

creativity and flexibility given back to the teachers (no more trend toward tight scripts)

subject specialists available to elementary teachers, to assist with planning, provide enrichment, or tutor students

more respect and communication between teachers and parents

adjustment of school hours - In my district, high schoolers start earliest, then middle, then elementary, when studies show that exactly the opposite would probably be better for most students. (But ideally, both schedules would be available to anyone. - Haven't sorted out how practical that would be yet.)

individualized homework - practice drills when students need them, appropriate projects, flexible deadlines

Yes! Forgot to include that.

 

[Nette]

Not true. I don't know any private school that gives the TAKS. Private schools choose what test to give. 80% of the girls I coach go to private schools, as well as my own children. Most of them take the ERB, my children take the Iowa State test. Some of them don't take any. In fact at my school they are voluntary. I only have my boys take them every other year. All of these schools are accredited.

Agreed. Our school is accredited and does not give the TAKS. They do standardized testing every other year, but it's ITBS or something similar. Of course, it's only K-8 too... so the GED vs diploma doesn't even come into play.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I have no idea what would make up the hypothetical perfect school, but I know what I'm going to look for when I do go searching for the right school district.

1. Recess. On cold days as well as clear. To me, recess is way more important than PE. And while we're at it, playground equipment! It's okay if it's a little bit dangerous.

2. Language classes at the elementary school level (wish I'd had this).

3. Zero zero tolerance. I want my teenaged girls to be able to carry their own darn Midol. When I was in high school another kid did a speech project about hunting and brought his rifle in as a prop. He had permission from the principal. I doubt my kids would be into hunting, but if they were, I'd want this sort of option for them.

4. Cursive. I know a lot of schools are phasing this out now, and I understand why. But at the same time, some kids who get the bigger concepts like math and reading could use a little help with fine motor control at that age.

5. Prefects. Okay, yeah, that's a stretch, but why don't we have these in America?

 

[castleview]

Smaller class sizes.
Go back to tracking kids by ability.
Push all kids to their individual ability.
Require as much math and science as we do English and history.
Teach civics.
Kids shouldn't be studying the explorers in high schools - they should have a good grasp on that by the time they enter high school so that they can go harder on U.S. history - many curriculums hardly make it through World War II because they are studying things they already know.
Keep technology updated - you have no choice.
Have as many academic clubs as sports…and someone to oversee them so the teacher/advisor doesn't feel they are on their own.
Bring back alternative schools for problem students.
Be realistic about mainstreaming - for some kids it works, for others it's unrealistic and a major distraction to the rest of the class.
Ignore "reforms" and "next best things" from anyone who doesn't have at least seven years TEACHING experience.
Cut down on the paperwork, assessments and testing.
Hire great art teachers that not only do art projects but also teach the kids who Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso are.
Don't allow four year olds to start kindergarten (I know some do, but what is the rush?)
Stop the push for full day kindergarten and preschool - kids have the rest of their live to be at school or work all day.
Finally, TEACH - don't parent. I know legislators keep pushing more parental responsibilities on schools, but I wish it would stop.

 

[sturdypeasantstock]

Kids would be grouped according to their abilities in different subjects not just stuffed into a classroom.

Kids would be encouraged to compete with each other and to excel.

Rewards would be offered for excellence and effort.

Field trips to expand their horizons would be frequent.

Art, PE and music would be included always.

The school day would be longer and the basics would get more attention while Art, PE and Music would be mandatory.
After school clubs would be offered that could improve their independent thinking, their problem solving skills and overall educations.
Example: Future City, Lego Robotics, Science Olympiads.

Standards would be high and all teachers would only teach their areas of expertise.

Classrooms would be physically large but small in population to allow areas for exploring, display, libraries etc.

Technology would be state of the art. Teachers would have the resources needed; paper, crayons, markers copy machines that work etc,,,,,

Uniforms would be mandatory, it just makes like simpler for all concerned.

You did say the perfect school - those off the top of my head

this

 

[tvguy]

I'd love year round schools - IF I could take my family on vacation whenever the heck I want to - so my WDW trip wouldn't have to be in the summer with the rest of the world! Just let me have 2 weeks to take when I want!

We have had a few year round schools around here because they couldn't build schools fast enough, but they are moving away from it. Among the problems, kids being out of school when parents couldn't take time off from work, families with multiple children and despite promises that this would never happen, not all the kids on the same track and not having the same time off. And for younger children, child care issues, because there are no public daycare options, and most of the private options are very expensive.

 

[Took]

Different "types" of schools (Montessori, arts-focused, science-math focused, competitive learning for those who thrive on it) for different kids with parent choice important.

Small classes.

Project based learning that requires a good deal of reading/writing/math.

More memorization in the lower grades (perhaps of fairly fun things). I am amazed at how poorly most college students are at memorizing anything, even multiplication tables or basic lists. Memory is like any skill--it must be developed. Yes, it will be a bit harder for some but not impossible. It takes practice.

An emphasis on thinking skills in the higher grades.

Teachers who are really smart, themselves, and who are intellectually curious. Administrators who recognize and support these kinds of teachers.

At least one school for academically gifted students that looks just like Hogwartz. I love old schools/colleges that LOOK like schools/colleges and not insurance buildings....They make me want to learn. While I like technology, too, I appreciate a good old fashioned library with books on tall shelves and tall ladders and a everything a bit musty...Ok, so I'm really old-fashioned.