A school is somewhere children and teenagers go to learn. It can be preschool, elementary school, middle school or high school. A school can also be a college or trade school. A school can be an institution where learning is a core value, or it can be an experience of skewed power and privilege. Regardless of what the school is called, it’s important for parents to find one that will help their children learn and thrive.
Choosing the right school starts with proximity, then setting and finally curriculum. The type of learning environment is key, as students who are more connected to each other are more engaged in their work and more likely to succeed. In addition to academics, a school should offer meaningful service-learning initiatives and be willing to connect with the community in new ways to foster student interest in their subject matter.
The etymology of the word school comes from the Greek skhole, meaning leisure. It’s no wonder that many schools struggle to see how they can make education more leisurely and less of a grind. To do so, they need to change how they view the purpose of school – from a place where kids get ready for adulthood to an experience that is as much about joy and growth as it is about test scores. A good school knows that knowledge isn’t just content – it’s about empathy, curiosity, art, craft, husbandry, legacy and the ability to understand and articulate our most personal hopes for the future. school