Alternative Approaches

Here, we explore non-traditional approaches to education, such as Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and progressive schools. This subheading delves into the philosophies, teaching methods, and learning environments of these alternative models, helping parents understand their distinctive characteristics and potential benefits.

View the most popular articles in Alternative Approaches:

6 Schools and Their Beginnings

Updated
|
6 Schools and Their Beginnings
This article explores the rich histories of several prestigious schools in the United States, including the Allen-Stevenson School, Lycée Français de New York, Catherine Cook School, Shattuck-St. Mary's School, and The Spence School. It explores their origins, founders, growth, philosophies, and enduring legacies, highlighting their commitment to academic excellence and progressive education principles.
iStockPhoto/Shalith

Have you ever wondered how a private school got its start? When and why was it founded? Who founded it? As I researched this article, which is a companion article to several I have written for Boarding School Review about boarding schools, I found a common thread. The founders of all these schools sought to provide a balanced, comprehensive, excellent education for their students.

Allen-Stevenson School, New York, New York

- Founded in 1883
- 200 students
- Grades K-8
- Boys
- Non-denominational
- Urban setting

The Allen-Stevenson School in New York City was founded in 1883 by Francis Bellows Allen at a home on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. It started with only three boys enrolled in its first class. In 1885, the school moved to rented rooms at Madison Avenue and 44th Street with an enrollment of 20 boys. In 1904, Allen met Robert Alston Stevenson, a tutor, and they joined forces, moving the school to 50 East 57th Street with 100 students.[5] By 1918, enrollment exceeded 200 students. In 1924, the school purchased two brownstones and moved to its present location at 132 East 78th Street on the Upper East Side. Allen retired in 1939 at age 80 after 56 years of service, while Stevenson retired in 1947 after 43 years, with his son Robert "Huck" Alston Stevenson Jr. succeeding him as Headmaster. Over the years, the school has expanded its facilities, introduced new academic and extracurricular programs, and celebrated significant milestones like its

. . .read more

All About JROTC

Updated
|
All About JROTC
Explore the multifaceted advantages of Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs in private schools. Delve into how JROTC cultivates leadership, discipline, and citizenship skills among students, contributing to their holistic development and future success.

https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3813058/flight-academy/All About JROTC

How did JROTC get its start?

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program has its roots in the National Defense Act of 1916.

  • The NDA of 1916 authorized military training in secondary schools.
  • Initially known as the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), the program aimed to prepare young Americans for military service while still in high school.
  • Following World War I, the ROTC underwent significant expansion. In 1919, the first high school unit was established at Manual High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Over time, the program evolved to include junior-level training, leading to the establishment of the JROTC in 1964.

Photo by iStockPhotos

JROTC's primary purpose is to instill in students the values of citizenship, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

  • While military training remains a core component, the program also emphasizes leadership development, character education, and physical fitness.
  • Today, JROTC has units in over 1,700 high schools across the United States and its territories.
  • These units are sponsored by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps and operate under the guidance of active-duty or retired military instructors.

Participation in JROTC is voluntary, and students who complete the program are not obligated to join the military.

  • However, they may benefit if they enlist or pursue a commission.
  • Overall, the JROTC program plays a vital role
. . .read more

Exploring Reasons for Choosing Religious Schools for Children

Updated
|
Exploring Reasons for Choosing Religious Schools for Children
This article delves into the reasons why parents choose religious schools for their children. It provides insights into the educational philosophies of Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Seventh Day Adventist, Muslim, Jewish, Quaker, and Christian schools. By exploring the unique offerings of each religious affiliation, parents can gain a better understanding of how these schools align with their values and aspirations for their children's education.

Choosing the right educational environment for a child is crucial for parents. For some, the decision involves considering religious schools as an option. Religion cannot be taught in public schools per se. The concept of the separation of church and state is a fundamental principle in American jurisprudence that emphasizes the independence and autonomy of religious and governmental institutions. It refers to the constitutional principle rooted in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."Public schools.

Sending your child to a religious school offers the unique advantage of an education that integrates faith, values, and academics, providing a solid foundation for spiritual, moral, and intellectual growth.

In this article, we will explore why parents might choose to send their children to religious schools, focusing on specific religious affiliations.

Roman Catholic

Strong Moral Foundation

Roman Catholic schools emphasize the importance of moral values and character development. Parents may choose these schools to provide their children with a solid ethical framework.

Faith Integration

Catholic schools incorporate religious teachings into various aspects of education. Parents who prioritize religious instruction may opt for Catholic schools to ensure their children receive a comprehensive faith-based education.

Community and Sacraments

Catholic schools often provide a close-knit community where children can form lasting relationships. Additionally, these schools offer opportunities for students to actively participate in sacraments, fostering a deeper connection to their faith.

This video

. . .read more

How To Find The School You Want

Updated
|
How To Find The School You Want
a comprehensive guide for parents navigating the complex landscape of private school selection. Drawing from 25 years of experience, the article offers practical advice on leveraging modern tools to evaluate schools based on cost, curriculum, reputation, extracurricular activities, and more. Whether you're considering day or boarding schools, religious or military institutions, or specialized programs, this guide provides a roadmap to help you make an informed decision.

I've been writing about private schools for twenty-five years. I always remember how little we knew about private schools when we started looking for schools for our girls. My late wife had attended several private schools when she was growing up in New York City. So, she was at least familiar with them. She spoke favorably of the small classes and individual attention she received. I attended the Westmount Public Schools growing up in Montreal. Those schools were run along English public, i.e., private, school lines and might as well have been private schools. They had small classes and lots of individual attention. They also had strict codes of discipline.

However, when it came to identifying private schools for our children, our choices seemed limited. Before the Internet and smartphones, we had to research schools by phone and snail mail. We asked around and learned about schools from friends and associates. Fortunately, we lived in the suburbs, which always seemed to have a school or two for us to consider. In any case, in the 2020s, you have some truly amazing tools to help you identify the right school for your children.

So, let me save you time and lay out a road map for your research. Your decision process will include consideration of cost, suitability of schools in your area, the reputation of schools and their teachers, curriculum, athletic programs, and extracurricular activities programs, among other items.

The first thing you need to do is decide when

. . .read more

Private School Search Tips

Updated
|
Private School Search Tips
We look at several ways you can use to search for private schools. Whether you are beginning the search process for a school for your child or just want to find out more about particular schools, we offer some tips and tricks to make searching more efficient.

Google, Bing, and Yahoo will find anything you are looking for provided that you ask them correctly. The problem with these search engines is that if you aren't careful, you will end up with far too many results. And 99% of those results will not relevant to you and your needs. For example, when I search for "private schools" on Google, I get 1.5 billion search results. Nobody has time to look through all those schools. With that in mind, here are a few search tips to help you search more efficiently.

Save interesting sites.

Before we start searching for schools, take a few minutes to set up a Google or Word doc. Save interesting school websites for easy reference tomorrow, next week, or a month for now. Doing this will save you valuable time and keep your search process organized.

Use quotes.

When you enter the term private schools without quotes in Google, Bing, or Yahoo, you will get millions, even billions, of results. By surrounding your search term with quotation marks, you will restrict the results to precisely what you have specified. For example, "private schools raleigh nc" will produce a list of private schools in Raleigh, North Carolina. You will still have to filter the results to find schools which match your requirements.

Be precise.

If you are looking for Jewish schools in Nashville, Tennessee, enter jewish schools nashville, tn You will still have to filter the results, because depending on the keywords which various

. . .read more

Recent Articles

Resources for Parents of Gifted Children
Resources for Parents of Gifted Children
This article compiles a comprehensive list of resources for parents of gifted children, including organizations, books, websites, and testing information. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and nurturing gifted children's unique needs and abilities.
Pre-AP, PSAT/NMSQT, BlueBook, and More
April 19, 2025
Pre-AP, PSAT/NMSQT, BlueBook, and More
This article explains the College Board's programs designed to prepare middle and high school students for the SAT. It covers Pre-AP courses, and the PSAT Suite of Assessments, highlighting how these programs use technology to enhance learning.
Independent Schools in Africa
April 18, 2025
Independent Schools in Africa
Discover Africa's vibrant international education landscape with our comprehensive guide to private K-12 schools across the continent. From British and American curricula to French, German, and niche language programs, explore how expat families can find world-class education tailored to their needs. Learn about boarding and day schools in South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and beyond.