Kinds of Schools

Are you thinking about something other than the usual public school experience for your toddler or primary school age child? If you are, then the next question you are most likely asking is exactly what kind of alternatives are out there anyway? How expensive are they? Are there schools in my area? How will the foundation these schools provide serve my child's future learning in grade school, high school and beyond? Let's take a look at each of these questions and offer some answers.

Early Education Options

Traditional teacher-led education? A follow the child approach as championed by Maria Montessori? The Steiner approach? Reggio Emilia inspired? Those are your broad choices.

Traditional teacher-led education remains popular. Most of us are familiar with this approach to teaching primary age school children because we ourselves are products of those classes. The public school system which I attended in Westmount, Montreal back in the '50s used that traditional approach. Indeed we all had desks lined up in rows. Looking back it seems rather quaint and not a little bit militaristic. But that's the way we were taught back then. We had homework. We were given grades. We are rapped on the knuckles if we misbehaved.

In the 21st century traditional teacher-led education is the norm in many schools both public and private. There are an infinite number of variations on this approach. Some retain the regimentation and strictness which we and our parents remember. Most, however, tend to have been softened

It is a humbling moment for parents when they realize that their child is gifted. If we accept the definition of gifted as being something along these lines:

"A gifted person is someone who shows, or has the potential for showing, an exceptional level of performance in one or more areas of expression." ....National Association of Gifted Children

It dawns on us that we have a huge responsibility on our hands. Because you have enriched your child's learning since birth, you understandably are anxious about placing him in a school setting where both his teachers and his peers might misunderstand his giftedness. Ideally, you want him to blossom and flourish in a formal school setting; however you don't want limits placed on how fast he advances. If he decides to explore a particular subject in depth, you want him to be able to do that. If he is doing math several years ahead of his grade level, you want him to have an accelerated math program. You also want him to socialize in as normal a manner as possible. Learning how to fit in is paramount as he matures. Fortunately, you have several options available. Homeschooling, charter schools, talented and gifted programs run by your local school district, your local public school, and private schools are all possibilities into which you should look.

Start by looking for schools in the web. Ask friends and family for their recommendations. Once you have a short list of schools and

What is a lab school? It is a K-12 school or school with some variation of those grades which typically is operated by a university or college. Sometimes it is called a demonstration school. A few lab schools are not affiliated with any institution of higher learning.

The school is a lab or laboratory school because teachers in training and the faculty of the college's education department usually have a hand in teaching and running the school. Like scientists experimenting in their labs, these educators use the lab school as their place to try out theories and methods. They also provide student teachers a controlled situation where they can learn the art of teaching.

Most lab schools are progressive schools as well. What are the differences between traditional and progressive schools? This chart from the Wingras School in Madison, Wisconsin illustrates the main differences. Lab schools adopt the progressive philosophy as part of their child-centric approach to education. The flexibility inherent in the progressive approach works well with student teachers who are just coming to grips with how children learn.

The list of schools which follows includes only private lab schools. Many state and public universities operate their lab schools in conjunction with the local school district. As such they do not charge tuition or charge very little tuition. The private lab schools do charge tuition.

A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, Ruston, LA
Grades: K-8
Program: "The school's purpose is to educate students in a wholesome, challenging

How about living on a working farm for a semester? Or investigating marine life in The Bahamas? Perhaps you grew up on a farm and are hankering to explore a major city like New York. A semester school offers those experiences and more.

Semester schools offer students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in an intensive educational experience for half of an academic year. Unlike traditional schools, they often focus on specialized subjects or provide a unique learning environment. This alternative has become increasingly popular for those looking to enrich their academic journey.

When to Attend a Semester School
The ideal time to attend a semester school varies, but often these schools cater to high school students seeking a more profound educational experience. They can be beneficial for students looking to explore specific interests such as arts, sciences, or environmental studies, or those needing remediation. Typically students like to spend part of their junior year away from their home school. It's practical and doesn't interfere much with the academic sequence, testing, college applications and all the other features of your senior year.

The Cost of Semester Schools
Semester schools can range in cost, with tuition often similar to or slightly higher than traditional private schools. Financial aid and scholarships may be available for qualifying students. Careful consideration of costs, including travel and supplementary expenses, should be part of the decision-making process. The cost? From no cost to several thousands of dollars not including extras. Is there financial aid? Yes. Ask

Progressive schools have been around since the early 1900s. Some educators think that progressives are rebels against traditional rote learning. Progressive educators like to think of themselves as reformers. The truth is somewhere in between the two points of view.

This video offers an overview of the Progressive movement.

The movement has an interesting history. Read about John Dewey (1859-1952), the modern founder of the movement in the U.S. You can only wonder what might have happened to public education had some of his ideas taken root. As it is, progressive educators and schools that employ their philosophies are confined to the private sector. A list of private schools that embrace progressive ideals, teachings, and curricula is below.

• Bank Street College of Education
• Buxton School
• The Calhoun School
• The Children's Community School
• The Children's School of Oak Park
• The City and Country School
• Dalton School
• Foundations School Community
• Friends Community School
• Greenwood Friends School
• The Little Red Schoolhouse and Elisabeth Irwin High School
• The Little School
• The Manhattan Country School
• The Miquon School
• Oak Lane Day School
• Oakwood School
• Our Community School
• The Park School of Baltimore
• The Park School of Buffalo
• The Philadelphia School
• Presidio Hill School
• The Putney School
• San Roque School
• The School in Rose Valley
• Sequoyah School
• St. Francis School
• Westland School
• Windrush School
• Wingra School

The Origins of the Progressive Movement

In