From the FREEP

Symposium Springs Back Into Action

By Kelly Goula, Symposium Steering Committee Member and mother of Anna, 5 day preschool

While it seems that spring weather has been as slow to arrive as mail delivered by a snail, the Spring Conference of SRV's national educational symposium is rapidly approaching. On Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, educators from across the country will reconvene to discuss what they learned during the Fall Conference and to explore where they go from here.

At the Spring Conference, SRV teachers and administrators will have the opportunity to share ideas with other progressive educators, carefully consider their definitions of progressive ed, and create a plan of action for making a "progressive" change. Conference participants' work will be guided by two expert educators, Eleanor Duckworth and Roland Barth, both Professors of Education at Harvard University's School of Education. Duckworth, a former student and translator of Jean Piaget, is a former elementary school teacher and has worked in curriculum development, teacher education, and program evaluation in the United States, Switzerland, Africa, and her native Canada. Barth is a consultant to schools, state departments of education, universities, foundations and businesses in the United States and abroad. His particular fields of interest are school leadership, school improvement from within, and the personal and professional development of educators.

But SRV teachers and conference participants are not the only ones having fun and considering the possibilities of progressive education. The Symposium Steering Committee has planned several events during the first week of April – Symposium Awareness Week – just for SRV parents! You are invited to attend any or all of the following special events:

  • On Tuesday, April 5th at 8:15 a.m. in the Library, the Symposium Steering Committee will be hosting a coffee to discuss a few short articles written by Roland Barth. These articles were sent home earlier in the week. Contact Dana if you did not receive yours.
  • On Wednesday, April 6th at 7 p.m. in Grace, parents will have the opportunity to view the video of Alfie Kohn's talk from the Fall Conference. Following the video, parents can engage in a discussion of Alfie's intriguing progressive ideas and convictions.
  • And on Thursday, April 7th at 3:30 p.m. in the Library, Karla Read will lead interested parents in a reflective process used throughout the symposium and among SRV teachers – a Descriptive Review of Practice. They will conduct a descriptive review of an SRV graduate's transition to middle school.

Through a national symposium, a lecture series, and other special events, The School in Rose Valley's 75th anniversary year has been a time for reflection and renewal. But the year is not over! Join us on April 5, 6, and 7 to broaden your understanding of progressive education and the significance of the symposium to our teachers, to our school, and to progressive educators nationwide.

In partnership,

Kelly Goula
SRV Parent and Educational Consultant

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20 School Lane : Rose Valley, PA 19063 : 610.566.1088 : office@theschoolinrosevalley.org