We never planned on staying. There's a simple reason why one year is turning into five more and it has to do with school. I started this post on the week when the latest PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) scores were all over the news ranking American students about average in reading and in science and below average in math. I wanted to write about what it's been like for three American children to experience a different model abroad. Skip to the list below if you already know what PISA is and where you stand on it. . .
PISA compares how well 15-year-olds in 65 cities and countries can apply what they know about reading, math and science, to real-world problems- problems both in and outside of school. The test designers say, "reflects the fact that modern societies reward individuals not for what they know, but for what they can do with what they know."
PISA scores are controversial and I agree with my whole heart that there is something to the American spirit of believing, doing, and launching things that is unique, successful and special- no doubt about it- but what I have found challenging is American kids' getting caught in the middle of the adults' fighting about funding and pedagogy and whether it serves American children well.
To be sure, education historian and PISA critic Diane Ravitch remind us that "Over the past half century, our students have typically scored at or near the median, or even in the bottom quartile." The debate rages on whether or not the latest PISA results wrongly inspires a "Chicken Little" response or as US Secretary of Education head Arne Duncan says, ""We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we’re being out-educated.”
As for our own experiment, the kids have been plopped into an entirely different academic experience-one that is some part Finnish, some part Korean, some part KIPP school and a whole lot of other things.
Here's a list of what has been novel to the kids at their new school:
No standardized testing. None. Not monthly, not annually.
No social promotion. And children are held back.
Teacher autonomy.*
Rigorous Grading. Really. Rigorous. Grading.
Rigorous curriculum. Up to two years+ ahead in some classes.
Hot, homemade organic lunch daily.
Eating 'family-style' at assigned tables.
Fresh fruit snack and drink during a morning break.
Mandatory second and third language acquisition.
Cumulative final exams twice a year beginning in 7th grade.
Uniforms.
No make-up.
No devices.
Art and Music. Lots. Really lots.
Saturday hikes led by older students. Long hikes.
IB students summit the 12,533 foot mountain peak of Chirripo.
Mandatory Outward Bound hiking.
Mandatory sitting for International Baccalaureate Degree.
Overnight 3 night trips (longer for older) afield for service, learning and community building.
Long lunch. PE twice a week. Multiple daily recess where all children are free to roam the expansive campus.
*Compared to a U.S. public school teacher
I agree wholeheartedly with Diane Ravitch when she critiques the PISA results saying, "The scores tell us nothing about students’ imagination, their drive, their ability to ask good questions, their insight, their inventiveness, their creativity." But I would have to reply that the kids' education here has proven night and day and precisely because it now is focused on exactly these things: their imagination, their drive, their ability to ask good questions, their insight, their inventiveness, and their creativity.
As parents, what we notice is their happiness coupled with their growth as intellectual, mature beings.
Grit and perseverance have become 'go-to' words and coveted for being the ingredients found in students who can be safely predicted to excel (read: college admissions). What we've found observing the kids here is that they are growing grit and perseverance by being challenged way outside their comfort zones. Way.
Gigi was pushed out of the nest into 'full' 10th grade Spanish this year and she is reading Don Quixote and Carlos Fuentes' The Buried Mirror in Spanish. . . at the same time. To get a sense, my Dad was a university professor and taught The Buried Mirror to his university students. The question Gigi wrestled with over the weekend was comparing what Quixote and Fuentes' sweeping cultural analysis had in common in their first 15 chapters. She's had to write ten page paper's in Spanish. The first week she thought they might kill her. The second week she was simply numb. The third week we didn't hear much. Quietly, after the fourth week, she declared, she was done with the long summaries for this quarter. We'd be lying if we said we were sure she could do it, the books collectively weigh a ton---she is getting through it one word at a time. Best of all, compared to two years ago when she wanted to give up on learning French because it just felt too hard to learn two languages at once, this time (when they announced they wanted to put her in the full Spanish) she said, 'Well, all I can do is try.' Same feelings. Completely different reaction.
It's not all rosy down here. No place is perfect. J's 8th grade class is going through some incredible social dynamic challenges. J has been iced out. It's not just that but there are other problems. Another Dad in the class said he didn't know whether to slap or hug some of the perpetrators. In the Director's classic fashion, she is addressing the issue head on and doing a little bit of both. The boys of the class will be taking a mandatory Outward Bound hike walking from the mountains to the coast instead of having a week's vacation. Wow.
In a letter to parents, the director wrote that,
"I mostly see children whose personality is straining to define itself."
There will be a very specific push to build confidence, to recognize and control emotions, to depend on one another and to be vulnerable. Civility is being called in as a concept that will accept no compromise. The Director had Krishnamurti in mind (the Indian Philosopher) when she started the school. Here's some quotes that really resonate with me on what is happening with J's class and her response:
PISA compares how well 15-year-olds in 65 cities and countries can apply what they know about reading, math and science, to real-world problems- problems both in and outside of school. The test designers say, "reflects the fact that modern societies reward individuals not for what they know, but for what they can do with what they know."
PISA scores are controversial and I agree with my whole heart that there is something to the American spirit of believing, doing, and launching things that is unique, successful and special- no doubt about it- but what I have found challenging is American kids' getting caught in the middle of the adults' fighting about funding and pedagogy and whether it serves American children well.
To be sure, education historian and PISA critic Diane Ravitch remind us that "Over the past half century, our students have typically scored at or near the median, or even in the bottom quartile." The debate rages on whether or not the latest PISA results wrongly inspires a "Chicken Little" response or as US Secretary of Education head Arne Duncan says, ""We can quibble, or we can face the brutal truth that we’re being out-educated.”
As for our own experiment, the kids have been plopped into an entirely different academic experience-one that is some part Finnish, some part Korean, some part KIPP school and a whole lot of other things.
Here's a list of what has been novel to the kids at their new school:
No standardized testing. None. Not monthly, not annually.
No social promotion. And children are held back.
Teacher autonomy.*
Rigorous Grading. Really. Rigorous. Grading.
Rigorous curriculum. Up to two years+ ahead in some classes.
Hot, homemade organic lunch daily.
Eating 'family-style' at assigned tables.
Fresh fruit snack and drink during a morning break.
Mandatory second and third language acquisition.
Cumulative final exams twice a year beginning in 7th grade.
Uniforms.
No make-up.
No devices.
Art and Music. Lots. Really lots.
Saturday hikes led by older students. Long hikes.
IB students summit the 12,533 foot mountain peak of Chirripo.
Mandatory Outward Bound hiking.
Mandatory sitting for International Baccalaureate Degree.
Overnight 3 night trips (longer for older) afield for service, learning and community building.
Long lunch. PE twice a week. Multiple daily recess where all children are free to roam the expansive campus.
*Compared to a U.S. public school teacher
I agree wholeheartedly with Diane Ravitch when she critiques the PISA results saying, "The scores tell us nothing about students’ imagination, their drive, their ability to ask good questions, their insight, their inventiveness, their creativity." But I would have to reply that the kids' education here has proven night and day and precisely because it now is focused on exactly these things: their imagination, their drive, their ability to ask good questions, their insight, their inventiveness, and their creativity.
As parents, what we notice is their happiness coupled with their growth as intellectual, mature beings.
Grit and perseverance have become 'go-to' words and coveted for being the ingredients found in students who can be safely predicted to excel (read: college admissions). What we've found observing the kids here is that they are growing grit and perseverance by being challenged way outside their comfort zones. Way.
Gigi was pushed out of the nest into 'full' 10th grade Spanish this year and she is reading Don Quixote and Carlos Fuentes' The Buried Mirror in Spanish. . . at the same time. To get a sense, my Dad was a university professor and taught The Buried Mirror to his university students. The question Gigi wrestled with over the weekend was comparing what Quixote and Fuentes' sweeping cultural analysis had in common in their first 15 chapters. She's had to write ten page paper's in Spanish. The first week she thought they might kill her. The second week she was simply numb. The third week we didn't hear much. Quietly, after the fourth week, she declared, she was done with the long summaries for this quarter. We'd be lying if we said we were sure she could do it, the books collectively weigh a ton---she is getting through it one word at a time. Best of all, compared to two years ago when she wanted to give up on learning French because it just felt too hard to learn two languages at once, this time (when they announced they wanted to put her in the full Spanish) she said, 'Well, all I can do is try.' Same feelings. Completely different reaction.
It's not all rosy down here. No place is perfect. J's 8th grade class is going through some incredible social dynamic challenges. J has been iced out. It's not just that but there are other problems. Another Dad in the class said he didn't know whether to slap or hug some of the perpetrators. In the Director's classic fashion, she is addressing the issue head on and doing a little bit of both. The boys of the class will be taking a mandatory Outward Bound hike walking from the mountains to the coast instead of having a week's vacation. Wow.
In a letter to parents, the director wrote that,
"I mostly see children whose personality is straining to define itself."
There will be a very specific push to build confidence, to recognize and control emotions, to depend on one another and to be vulnerable. Civility is being called in as a concept that will accept no compromise. The Director had Krishnamurti in mind (the Indian Philosopher) when she started the school. Here's some quotes that really resonate with me on what is happening with J's class and her response:
What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it.
To be continued.
Hi there! I've been hoping to contact you somehow to ask a few questions. My husband and I are planning a minimum 6-month sabbatical with our 2 year old in the coming new year and I am so impressed by your guts, vision and planning to make it happen...with four kids in tow no less! Is there a place to contact you off your blog? I didn't see one. I wasn't sure if I should post my email here or not?
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, I used to work and live at La Carolina Lodge (off an on for 2 years)! I dated the owner. That was about a million years ago, but your post brought back the memories in a flood! Thanks. It really hasn't changed, I was happy to see. -Carey
Hi Carey- Thanks for reaching out.
ReplyDeleteSabbatical with a 2 year old is brilliant timing- a great idea. Congratulations and yes, I'd love to communicate. You can reach me at familyintow@gmail.com
That is SO crazy that you used to work at La Carolina. Glad to hear the magic we found is enduring. Talk to you soon.
Lisa
Hello, so nice to read your blog, you make it sound so exciting! We are leaving for a sabbatical on january with our 3 year old and a 6 months old daughters. Your writing is making me want to start this adventure as soon as possible. :-)
ReplyDelete