Sudbury Blog - Mountain Laurel Sudbury School

Cheating

12/17/2015

Cheating is rampant in our public schools. So many students admit to it in anonymous surveys. And is it any wonder? It’s not an inherent lack of moral fiber. It’s the predictable result of a system that stresses grades over all else. When grades are the end goal, of course people only consider how to get good grades.

Meanwhile, cheating isn’t really possible at a Sudbury school. How would you? You either know something or you don’t. If you don’t know it, you put in the effort until you do. And that is the difference. In a system where knowledge is the end goal, seeking knowledge is all that matters.

Sean Vivier

Lowest Common Denominator

12/11/2015

It’s no secret that public schools teach to the lowest common denominator. They even admit it, though they don’t use so many words. They talk about targeting struggling students. Or teachers are reprimanded for going beyond the curriculum. Or teachers deride brighter students because they aren’t there for them. Or they talk about educational inequality.
Of course, when they say educational inequality, what they mean is that, in a class where everyone is learning, some are learning more. While everyone’s life is enriched, some are being enriched more, and that simply can’t be allowed. So the people in charge decide that the schools should concentrate on those who are learning less, but should do little to expand the minds of those doing best. In the process, it becomes an institution that encourages less learning.
At Sudbury schools, we don’t slow anybody down. We recognize that everyone will be different and that’s fine. Some will have better social skills. Some will learn more language skills. Some will be better at math. Some will be more athletic. We give them all the space and support to excel at whatever they put their minds to here. Anyone who doesn’t want to pursue the same interests to the same extent doesn’t have to be forced alongside them, which removes much of the impetus for the dumbing down. We aren’t interested in holding everyone back to the lowest common denominator.
So, which kind of school would you rather have for your child? One that values accomplishment at all levels? Or one that values mediocrity?

Sean Vivier