I guess this is a great time for Progressive schools

[Anonymous]

Given the state of things, I think that the so called Progressive schools will be in vogue these years to come. The US is entering a new era, an era of change and new possibilities. Traditional schools with their obsolete ways of educating children are OUT. Same thing with schools that are all about status and superficialities. I want my children to be able to think globally. Diversity is IN, multi-lingualism is IN, Green is IN and the list goes on.

[Anonymous]

I am happy that you are so enthusiastic, but before you launch onto the next trend, education is evolutionary. I would suggest that you look at best practices rather than trends. BTW, some of these "progressive" schools have not moved on from the Dewey days. A lot has happened since then.

[Anonymous]

Dewey's philosophy never saw the actual practice until more recent years right?. I think that it has been seen more outside the United States: Reggio Emilia municipal schools for instance. The US has not embraced what Dewey had to say about education. What has happened since then? I just want to know, not challenging your statement.

[Anonymous]

The issue that I have with the progressive schools that I have seen is that they are not as ready to look at new things as you would expect. If sight reading has been shown to be a disaster, they'll be the last to go back to phonics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want my children to be able to think globally. Diversity is IN, multi-lingualism is IN, Green is IN and the list goes on.

I think you're a little late to the parade. Most good schools have been trying to accomplish all these things for some time now.

[Anonymous]

This is goofy. We are a minority progressive family and our children go to a "traditional" school. The school is just as concerned with these issues as any "progressive school."

[Anonymous]

Not a very knowledgeable or sophisticated original post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is goofy. We are a minority progressive family and our children go to a "traditional" school. The school is just as concerned with these issues as any "progressive school."

Goofy is a good word for it. Most parents who actually have kids in school want solid traditional academics--not funky programs. NO radical whole language and NO fuzzy math. Free form classrooms might have looked great in pre-k but carry that onward and it's counter-productive. And who would want a situation you're paying for where teenagers are allowed to roam off campus during the school day? Guess what? Maybe roaming over to another's house while the parent is at work. Learning to read and good math are important. I do find it amusing that so many parents on these boards want certain schools for their kids. Worse than a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

1/2 the people responding clearly know what Progressive philosophy is, from Dewey onward, and the other 1/2 clearly are talking out of their butts.

hint: it has nothing to do with your family's progressive view on gay marriage or off-campus v. on-campus consumption of food.

[Anonymous]

I'd put OP in the second category.

[Anonymous]

A school is only as good as it fulfills the needs of the students. I have taught in VERY traditional religious schools, but ironically, I found an openness and a refreshing dedication to knowledge, as well as embracing something LARGER than themselves. Some of the progressive schools in the area can produce kids who are pretty obsessed with themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is goofy. We are a minority progressive family and our children go to a "traditional" school. The school is just as concerned with these issues as any "progressive school."

Goofy is a good word for it. Most parents who actually have kids in school want solid traditional academics--not funky programs. NO radical whole language and NO fuzzy math. Free form classrooms might have looked great in pre-k but carry that onward and it's counter-productive. And who would want a situation you're paying for where teenagers are allowed to roam off campus during the school day? Guess what? Maybe roaming over to another's house while the parent is at work. Learning to read and good math are important. I do find it amusing that so many parents on these boards want certain schools for their kids. Worse than a waste of money.

Well said.