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From the FREEP

Dear Families,

The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

-Alvin Toffler

While the recent weather makes it feel like the dead of a snowy winter, the classrooms have a definite 'spring' feel to them. Everywhere you look there are signs of growth and renewal. There is a certain palpable energy that comes along with this time of year; learning, teaching and working together seem to have greater purpose, intention and vibrancy. The recess games have a new vigor, the plays being rehearsed have certain electricity, and math "ah ha's" are common place.

I have been rereading some of Roland Barth's books in preparation for his work with us at the Symposium in April. I was struck by something he said ... 50 years ago high school graduates left school knowing 75% of what they would ever need to know in order to function successfully in the work place, in their families and communities. A pretty reassuring statistic. Today, the estimate is that our high school graduates leave knowing only 2% of what they need to know, leaving 98% yet to come. It is not that high school graduates know less than their counterparts back in the 1950's, in fact they know far more. But today, a basic kit of knowledge just does not cut it any more. In our rapidly changing world, knowledge doubles every 3 years, computer technology changes every 18 months, the borders of Eastern Europe change almost yearly.

Unfortunately most schools today still focus on that old kit of knowledge. Society's measure of a school's success is how high their students score on standardized tests. As Barth says, this is "winning the battle, but losing the war." It is not about teaching kids to score high on a test that counts. Rather it is about producing kids who are engaged in the process of learning that really matters.

At SRV our goal is to help children learn how to navigate that 98% gap. We do that by developing their ability to work collaboratively, to problem solve, to have strong interpersonal skills, to communicate effectively, to listen well, to think creatively, to develop leadership skills, to pose questions, and to marshal resources. In doing so they will know how to learn, unlearn and relearn in order to thrive.

You see evidence of this approach every day in every class at SRV. In morning meetings children learn how to listen, share ideas and hear multiple perspectives. In math workshop they learn how to think conceptually and work collaboratively. In woodshop they learn how to imagine something and problem solve it into being. At assembly they learn how to plan, gather people's attention and speak in front of a group. Through partnership learning they learn how to become active and engaged citizens. Every day, through actions both large and small, we are helping them live as learners and people capable of navigating their todays as well as their tomorrows. Important work for children of the 21st century.

In partnership,
Carlye