From the Director’s Chair March 2008
Posted by lsnl in : From the Director's Chair, March 2008 , trackback… the criteria for a great school is a relationship between teachers and learners that works to build the intellectual skills of all kids.
What Makes Penn Charter So Great?
My recent professional thinking has centered on some of the commonalities in terms of what makes the difference between a “good” school and a “great” school. Deborah Meir, educator and author of In Schools We Trust, raises up the notion that the criteria for a great school is the relationship between teachers and learners that works to build the intellectual skills of all kids. This concept resonates with me as I think about the principles and progress we have made in the Lower School over the past decade. I am asked by many prospective and current families, “What makes Penn Charter so great?”
First, it is a school that is safe. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests that, first and foremost, 
all humans need to feel safe to get their needs met. Creating safety for kids with a diversity of histories and goals means more than just making them physically safe – it includes helping them to feel safe from ridicule and embarrassment.
Second, it is a school that makes for successful learning because it provides a good balance between support for teachers and support for children. This means not only the ratio of teachers to students but also the range of expertise available to kids — other adults, older students and students with different skills and abilities, not to mention varied learning tools (computers, books, real-life learning experiences). The ways are varied: small classes, older students working with younger ones, adult volunteers, interdisciplinary learning, and strong relationships with teachers and parents.
Third, it is a school that makes it possible to share learning expertise. The addition of the learning support team in the Lower School provides support for teachers, and, in the end, this benefits kids. The learning support team, comprised of a learning specialist, counselor and learning center coordinator, share their expertise in the classroom by working with students, adapting curriculum for learning differences, and by collaborating with teachers and parents.
Fourth: It is a school that is guided by research on how young children learn. This ensures that the curriculum is developmentally appropriate and child-centered.
Fifth, it is a school that offers plenty of time for ideas to grow and asks students to reflect on their thinking. Reflection is part of Quaker practice and is beneficial to all students and adults in the community.
Sixth, it is a school built around a model that learning should be engaging and fun. Engagement and pleasure help focus the mind, keep one persevering and encourage repeated practice. Children’s interests and experiences should find a way into the curriculum. By sharing interests and experiences, children can learn from each other.
Seventh, it is a school that believes in teaching children to care for themselves and others. Social skills are just as important as academic skills and they are stressed in Responsive Classroom practices and supported by the work of our counselor in conjunction with the teachers in the school.
Eighth, it is a school that values the diversity in the community and values parents as partners in learning. All students learn more when they feel valued and supported at home and in school.
For these reasons and more, Penn Charter is certainly a unique place, and the Lower School is an exceptional program. The quest for improving educational practices will continue to grow and challenge educators for years to come. For now, let’s reflect on the pride we take in our program, and more meaningfully, in our children.