Patrick Bassett, the President of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), recently wrote about a panel he served on “to address the connection between and intersection of college-prep schools and selective colleges and universities.” Bassett wrote that the most interesting conversation revolved around these points:
- The fact that 21st century learning needs to focus on the “5 C’s”: critical thinking, creativity, communication (writing, public speaking, and facility with technology), collaboration (and leadership), and character.
- The statement by Harvard’s Dean of the Faculty that 30-40% of their students take anti-depressants and 10% of the female students have eating disorders.
- That when the college representatives were asked what they think is most important for them to work on with primary and secondary schools, their answer was not related to curriculum but instead was “students coming from high school already with a serious alcohol problem.”
- Virtually no American schools, other than ones with bilingual programs, develop fluency in a language other than English.
- What colleges most want to see in incoming freshmen are strong writing skills, independent thinking, emotional resiliency, and intellectual risk-taking.
While college appears distant for our elementary and middle school students, The Country School does provide much preparation right from the start of our children’s formal schooling. We provide significant focus on the 5 C’s and promote positive character, resiliency, and strong communication, thinking, and number skills. We try to partner with parents to promote balanced lives for our children so that emotional problems and addiction issues are less likely. We try to emphasize early intervention when we see problems developing. We offer Spanish for all our pupils. Ultimately we try to develop a solid and age appropriate foundation so that our students are exceptionally well prepared for their further schooling and so that future doors of opportunity are widen open.
Virtually 100% of Country School students, after secondary school, go on to college. Their preparation begins early, subtly, and in a nurturing environment that challenges all to do their best. So, even though college comes after four years at another school, the cornerstones are set starting in Kindergarten.