Headmaster-Blog

An AP Test

This is a test blog entry as I refine the role of my blog. A test because I am posting an email I received that speaks of a current issue in independent school circles. By posting this, I am in no way implying that Porter-Gaud is on a track to eliminate AP classes, I am merely looking to develop a conversation on the topic. There are many strengths in the AP curriculum, among them national standards and college credit. The majority of independent schools will continue to offer AP classes for years to come and I have no immediate desire to make a move away from this position. Let's see whether blog readers can read this piece and not jump to the conclusion that this is going to happen at P-G. I am just interested in public reaction to an independent school movement. Here is the gist of the email I received.

Toward An Organization to Defend Independent Curriculum For more than a generation, the College Board's Advanced Placement program has dominated the curriculum of American high schools. As a result, national discussion of teaching and learning at the secondary level has been minimal at best. Scientists and educators have made dramatic advances in the world's collective knowledge of how students learn, but little has changed in high school classrooms. Teaching to the tests has been the overriding priority. A handful of the nation's finest secondary schools have chosen the path of independence. Our choice has sometimes created challenges in public relations, but none of us has ever doubted that a curriculum designed locally by our teachers and administrators would best serve our students. We know that authentic and engaging lessons are most often connected to the shared experience of our school community, its passions, its beliefs, and its points of access to the wider world. Secondary education in the United States is at a unique moment. A critical mass of schools has embraced independent curriculum, and the time is ripe for us to join the national discussion. For the sake of our own schools, we need more communication with the colleges about the value of what we do. In some cases, we need to encourage them to reassess policies that disadvantage students from schools that do not teach to the tests. Just as important, we can help put teaching and learning back at the center of the national discussion about secondary education. We are not non-traditional, we do not seek an end to standardized testing, and we favor more rigor, not less. We simply believe that teaching to a test is seldom the path to dynamic curriculum. Though our schools have flourished without AP, potential threats to our curricular autonomy from standardized tests are everywhere. Few elected officials or members of the general public appreciate the crucial role of independence in creating the ethos at the heart of our schools. Even fellow educators often do not understand. If we don’t speak up now, the odds are greater that we will be overwhelmed by a future wave of testing that sweeps the school world. The Next Step During February's NAIS conference, at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 28 at the New York Hilton (Concourse A/Lower Level), heads and others from non-AP schools will meet to launch a new non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy for independent curriculum. Independent schools will make up a majority of the members, but we expect that like-minded public schools will join us. Charter participants will choose a name, discuss the creation of a board of trustees, and agree on a financial contribution to be asked of member schools. Activities of the new organization will include: A School/College Study of the Last Two Years of High School and the First Two Years of College The organization will seek foundation support for a joint examination of teaching and learning on both sides of the transition to higher education. Faculty from schools and colleges will exchange visits and compare practices. A concluding conference will codify conclusions and suggest next steps. Web Site and Book Highlighting the Benefits of Independent Curriculum – The curriculum of each school will be described on the organization's web site. Aspects of each school's curriculum will be described in professionally-written articles that will be posted on the site, disseminated to the media, and used in print publications. Support will be sought to publish material such as this in book form as part of the case for independent curriculum.

Communication with the Colleges – The organization will publicize its existence to the nation’s colleges, and share information about the curriculum at member schools. The organization will communicate with admissions officers and others about policies that disadvantage students from schools that do not teach to standardized tests.

Participation in the National Debate – The organization will place commentaries in major media outlets to communicate its point of view about current issues. It will also work with school communications offices to place articles highlighting the work of particular members. There you go... What say you about AP courses? CP

Right Brain Thinking

Last night at the State of the School speech, I presented on right brain thinking. Much of what I said has been presented in other forums by Pat Bassett, the Executive Director of the National Association of Indpendent Schools, but the message speaks directly to the future direction of Porter-Gaud School. The gist of my presentation was that Porter-Gaud must look to what skill set is most important for our graduates as they enter a rapidly changing, global economy. Clearly, our traditional focus on the academic disciplines remains important but the type of linear, left brain thinking produced by this educational path may no longer be sufficient. My focus last night was on the "softer", right brained skills that would set a graduate apart from the vast majority of schools in the world. These skills include creativity, entrepeneurship, leadership, team building, empathy, and joy. I did want to provide my references for those that are looking for a little light reading. Tough Times or Tough Choices by The National Center on Education and the Economy. Five Minds for the Future, Howard Gardner College Learning for the New Global Century, American Association of Colleges and Universities A Whole New Mind, Daniel Pink And the You-Tube video I was talking about is named "Shift Happens" CP