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Progressive and Traditional -- Good read
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Anonymous
| Really appreciate the posting on the definition of what progressive education really means. Also, for what it's worth, in case someone out there is still thinking about where to go next year, Lowell School in NW DC, which is definitely in the progressive camp, has a few slots left in some grades for next year. (nothing for Kindergarten though). If the progressive approach is something you are thinking about and perhaps didn't look at Lowell before, you might want to give them a call. |
Anonymous
Is it in fact the case that a standard curriculum is most appropriate for a child who is "behind"? Is a progressive approach to education really only useful for more naturally advanced kids? |
Anonymous
That's what I gather. |
Anonymous
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I have found absolutely nothing at all in the research or literature that suggests that academically struggling kids require a traditional curriculum to learn and that academically advanced kids do best in a progressive curriculum. Doesn't the idea just seem silly? Traditional and progressive curricula, to start, have some notably different goals, so one being better than an other in at least some part depends on one's values and expectations for what a school should accomplish.
I'm not saying this is true, but what we assume the following: a) Most kids from traditional schooling are more competent in, well, the traditional academic sense (solving math book problems, balancing chemical equations, writing five paragraph essays, answering literary comprehension questions, having lots of information memorized, etc.), and they are more often extrinsically motivated than intrinsically motivated. b) Most kids from progressive schooling are more creative and critical thinkers who have a better understanding of how to work cooperatively in teams, and they are more often intrinsically motivated than extrinsically motivated. If one were to accept these broad hypotheses, there are still parents of struggling students who would argue over which is better and parents of successful students who would argue over which is better. |
Anonymous
| My impression is that some subjects lend themselves to progressive more than traditional, and vice versa. |
Anonymous
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I think of traditional and progressive as two overlapping circles, like a venn diagram. There is moderate size group who would fit better in a traditional environment and there is a moderate size group who would fit better in a progressive environment. There is a smaller group of children who would thrive eqially in either. You need to figure out what kind of child you have and then figure out if YOU are willing to support it.
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Anonymous
| Do parents really know what kind of learner their child really is? Do they talk themselves into believing that their child is best served by a particular method? |
Anonymous
| Take a look at some of the learning styles information out there and also seek out related topics such as howard gardner's multiple intelligences. There are things you may recognize in your child that can help you to give you a sense for which environment, overall, might be a better fit. |
Anonymous
| Any good books or websites about learning styles and how to recognize them? |
Anonymous
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there is a ton of stuff out there; take a quick look on amazon, just type in learning styles, childhood intelligence, childhood development and learning, etc.
to start, though, look at http://www.howardgardner.com/ howard gardner is a very well-known harvard researcher who pioneered a lot of the work on different ways in which kids learn and are skilled. his stuff is backed up with research, whereas some of the other stuff you find on amazon are not. this isn't to say they aren't useful - there is just a TON so many you even just want to go to the bricks and mortar store and check some of them out in person. |
Anonymous
| BUMP -- I think this thread could be potentially very helpful to families who are currently trying to think through their options. Good luck everyone! |
Anonymous
Wow, thanks for reintroducing this thread. While it takes some time to read through, it is fascinating. It is also very relevant for parents starting out in their trek for determing which academic style, and subsequently which schools, are best for their children. Alot of the posts on this forum are focused on which schools are the most prestigous for their children - less so on what is the learning approach that the school uses and how does that map to the way their children are wired. Most schools are some hybrid of the two camps (traditional vs. progressive), yet on balance lie clearly on one side vs. the other. It would be very valuable if somehow someone were able to categorize the local independent schools as to where they are positioned on the traditional/progressive spectrum. This would be helpful that for parents starting their search or for narrowing their focus. As an example, just reading some of the prior comments, I had always heard that Burgundy Farms was an excellent school. But beyond that I never knew that is was more on the progressive side of the spectrum. |
Anonymous
| I have heard from a number of parents that Burgundy is not a true progressive from their experiences. Was also surprised to learn that Potomac practices progressivism in the true sense. |
Anonymous
that's scary bc i have heard the exact opposite! so weird and i'm not being sarcastic, that is really weird! |
Anonymous
| A pp here. Knew someone who started at Burgundy but then left for Potomac simply because, as they put it, it was a true progressive school. |