Humble in Victory, Gracious in Defeat

I was a loser in college.  Yup, check the records, in each sport I participated in, I was a big loser.  On second thought, they probably have burned the records by now.

When I was fourteen, I tried out for and made the Arvco International junior soccer team.  This was a select group of teenagers from around Kalamazoo, Michigan who excelled in soccer and traveled around the state on the weekends.  I still remember that first jersey, red and white vertical stripes with the number 14 on the back.  I also remember playing fullback and while trying to clear a ball, having it slip off the side of my foot for an own goal.  They kept me around until I graduated from high school, and I was fortunate enough to play in college for the Olivet College Comets.

Our first season was solid, winning as many games as we lost or tied.  We played in a league that featured two highly ranked Division III teams, Calvin and Hope Colleges.  It kind of fell apart half way through my sophomore year with a bad losing streak to end the season.  The non-winning streak continued the next season and then the next.  We managed to tie a few games but victory was something we did not experience.  In fact, check the record book, I believe they went three more seasons without a win.

This experience and a few more taught me valuable life lessons about why we do the things we do.  It gave me a base of humbleness and one of introspection.  It’s easy as a parent to insulate our children from losing, but having them know that you are supporting them in success as well as failure is even more important.  Our children need a sense of stability and structure that only we as parents can provide.  Rather than ask how many goals you scored, or what your batting average is, we need to ask them if they gave it their all.

I know that while playing soccer or other sports on teams that were not successful can create stress and even a sense of failure, but we as parents need to place the focus elsewhere.  Our children need to know it is OK to fail and that we have failed in our lives.  True growth comes from learning from your past mistakes.  Did I mention I also played tennis in college.  My record of 2-23 REALLY made me very humble.  I did more apologizing to my opponent than celebrating.

I’m not sure if Olivet College is still in the Division III NCAA soccer record book anymore and I’m not really going to research that, but the experience is one that helped make me who I am today.

* Last year the Olivet College Comets were nationally ranked!

At the Core of Being Grateful

All across America, we will be sitting down to a big Thanksgiving meal and sharing what we are most grateful for in our lives.  Near the top of the list for me is being grateful to lead an independent school.  Having the opportunity to lead outstanding educators in knowing precisely what is needed to teach our children well.  Being independent allows us to teach to each child’s needs.  We have been preparing students for high schools in this manner for a very long time and doing it exceptionally well.

Our friends in the public schools have lost the opportunity to teach what they feel is important due to the Common Core Curriculum.  When we lose control over who we are, what we do, and how we do it, we are lost.  Adrift.  Wandering. 

I have collected three quotes about the Common Core from experts in education who are far smarter than me.  This is what they had to say;

“The curriculum is to schooling as blueprints are to builders, as maps are to travelers, as patterns are to clothing manufacturers, as models are to designers, complicated by the fact that what needs to be understood is dynamic, therefore impossible to model with a static curriculum.”  Marion Brady

“Some states adopted them without seeing a finished draft. The standards, unfortunately, were never field-tested. No one knew in advance whether they would improve achievement or depress it, whether they would widen or narrow the achievement gap among children of different races. It is hard to imagine a major corporation releasing a new product nationwide without first testing it among consumers to see if it is successful. But that is what happened with the Common Core standards.” Diane Ravitch

“However, for me there are two far bigger problems with the Standards themselves – errors that arguably caused the bulk of the current backlash. The writers of the Standards (especially in Math) did a terrible job of 1) justifying the Standards as appropriate to college and workplace readiness, and 2) explaining in detail what the Standards imply for educational practice. The documents simply fail at communicating the kinds of changes the Standards demand locally.” Grant Wiggins

While the debate rages on, I will sit down to our Thanksgiving meal grateful for Sumner Academy and knowing we are doing what is best for our children.

Our mission is to discover and cultivate each child’s unique abilities.

Snow Day? A retro blog about decision making.

Anatomy of a Snow Day

Recently, Amy and I were able to drive to my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan to visit with my mother and two brothers.  It was a great drive and as we were approaching the Michigan state line, we began to see traces of snow on the ground!  That was a great reminder to me to let you know of my thought process in determining what constitutes a snow day and what does not.

The decision making process is different for our school in comparison to other surrounding independent schools and public schools.  Things I do have to consider include our faculty and staff driving in, our parents and their drive in, our bus routes and safe pick up and delivery, and the safety in and around the campus.  One thing I do not have to consider is having student drivers on the road!  Our school calendar and the required number of days in attendance does not play a role in closing school, safety always comes first.  There is a process regarding make up days should we go over the amount of extra days.  This is highly unlikely however.

If we do not close and the roads are questionable, our students are not counted tardy for that day.  I want your child(ren) at school, but I want them safely brought to school, so take your time!

When our area anticipates wintery weather, I rise at 5:00 AM or earlier and check the local news and the radar and forecast on the National Weather Service website.  Since our decision is independent of all other schools, I like to make sure all bases are covered before I make a final decision.  The first call I make is to Hannah so we can update our website and send out notices via email and text.  Next, I call four local television stations Channels 2, 4, 5, and 17.  In my experience in Memphis, I know that television stations are not the most reliable in regards to timely posting…so check our website first!

At this point it is around 6:15 or 6:30 and I have another decision to make – stay home and sit by the fire, or go in to work and complete some much needed paperwork that has built up over the last several weeks.  Sometimes, I choose to drive in just because I’m from Michigan and need to prove it to myself I can still drive in snow and ice.  So, if you see me in a ditch somewhere, just shake your head as you pass.  Stubborn Michigander.

I hope this gives you some insight into how I make the decision to close or stay open.  As you read, the fastest way to find out is to check our website at www.sumneracademy.org.

Take Care Now

So, we were ready to have a big week of fun and excitement for my wife’s fifty-fourth birthday.  The week included dinner out, tickets to see Josh Turner at the Ryman, and then head The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi Saturday for some tailgating with her family and rooting the Volunteers on.  One perforated appendix had other ideas.

In the early morning hours of her birthday, she complained of severe abdominal pain.  Our daughter, Madelyn, had surprised her Sunday by coming home for the celebration.  Instead, she ended up taking her mother to the doctor’s office.  An ultrasound was ordered for later that afternoon.  The initial reading of the ultrasound was inconclusive.  We were told if the pain became unbearable, head to the emergency room.  The next morning it was, we were in the Skyline Medical Center’s ER at 6:00 AM.  We had six, yes, six, nurses/techs/doctors there taking care of Amy.  Another ultrasound and a CT was ordered and it was still inconclusive, but many possibilities were thrown out.  We were admitted and in a room by 11:00 AM.  The two main nurses we had, Jackie during the day and Michael at night, showed exceptional care.  They both went above and beyond the call of duty in their caring and attention to detail.  Especially since it took the surgeon nine hours to consult with us.

That’s when it hit me.

I was seeing in this hospital setting the same thing our parents share with me regularly about Sumner Academy.  The teachers go well above and beyond the call of duty in their caring and attention to detail.  I have termed this practice, “prescriptive education.”  Since the founding of the school, the vision and mission has not wavered, “Our mission is to discover and cultivate each child’s unique abilities.”

Postscript:

Amy has healed completely thanks to the attention and care she received at Skyline Medical Center.  Our students continue to reap the benefits of a Sumner Academy education including the attention and care they receive fro each and every faculty member here.

Safe at Home

Since my beloved Detroit Tigers are no longer playing baseball, I will uncharacteristically refrain from making a sports analogy with my blog title.

Where do you feel the safest?  When we were growing up, most likely, it was home with your parents.  It was a safe, nurturing, and loving environment and you just had the feeling that all was well when you were there.

We hear the same words to describe Sumner Academy from our parents.  They consistently report how their children feel safe, nurtured, and loved in our learning environment.  Most of these feelings come from the classroom.  Our students trust their teachers and perform for them academically in a way I have not experienced in my thirty-plus years in education.  Meeting this basic need allows our children to grow academically, socially, and physically without having to worry about being safe.

Being safe in schools has become more and more a topic of concern.  Moving here in the summer of 2013, one of the first local school articles I read was about the Sumner County Schools hiring resource police officers in every school.  They trumpeted this as a good thing.  I have been told this line item is close to a one million dollar cost per year.  What a disappointing commentary on today’s society.

When parents drop off their children at Sumner Academy, they have the knowledge, trust, and confidence that they will be safe.  Last year, the entire faculty and staff was involved in writing the school’s first Crisis Action Guide.  In the unlikely event of a crisis on campus, the guide gives a step-by-step process to follow.  Much time and energy (and cost) went into the publication of this guide which can be found in every room on campus.

We appreciate the way our parents care for our school and hope that they are able to convey that feeling to others who may be interested in becoming part of the Sumner Academy Family.

Headmaster Gets Schooled

Professional development for me comes in different ways.  Being able to attend a national conference isn’t something that I can do budget-wise every year.  In mid-July thousands of elementary and middle school principals met at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for the National Association of Elementary School Principal’s National Conference (insert your own joke here).  Having the conference thirty miles away was a real blessing.

It was my fourth such conference and a great chance for me to see outstanding speakers, hear what is going on with various colleagues around the country, and witness what impact national policies and legislation is having on elementary principals.  As an independent school leader, I was definitely in the minority by about 99.5% to 00.5%.  It was refreshing for me not to have to attend Common Core themed discussions and presentations which dominated the agenda. 

Instead, I heard one of the best presentations ever by Robert Fulghum who authored the best seller, “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”  He told a beautiful story about his neighborhood elementary school.  During his morning walks, he always knows what season it is by what is displayed on the windows of the classrooms.  From fall leaves, to pumpkins, to snowflakes, the seasons are all on display.  On one such occasion, he ran into the principal, a very busy man, and mentioned the beautiful snowflakes.  The principal replied, what beautiful snowflakes?  Mr. Fulghum walked him to the nearest kindergarten snowflakes window display which the principal had never noticed.  They both stood there and enjoyed the sight.  The message here is for more than just principals: Don’t miss the snowflakes.

Todd Whitaker is a highly sought after speaker and former principal.  He concentrates his messages on moving ordinary schools to extraordinary ones.  Schools which are extraordinary shape a vision of academic success for each student (sound familiar?).  He also stated that schools that are extraordinary keep the needs of the students first in all they do.  It is so refreshing to hear what we do at our school being espoused on a national stage.

Finally, Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor held a session championing iCivics.  This is a web based civics program for middle and high schools.  Still sharp as a tack at 84, she told of not being able to find a job after law school due to her gender. She eventually found employment as a deputy county attorney in San Mateo County, California after she offered to work for no salary and without an office and sharing space with a secretary.  Her message to us was the importance of civics in the curriculum.  It was a personal delight for me to meet her afterward and have her sign some books.  The Secret Service was very careful to explain how to have the books out, don’t ask for the book to be personalized, and keep moving.  It was a bit like the soup line in a Seinfeld episode.  When she noticed I had bought a hard back copy, she asked who it was for.  I told her it was for my son Tucker who teaches history and government in high school.  We had a nice talk about Tucker before the next person came up.  When I looked in his book later, I noticed she personalized it and wrote a sweet note.  I hope the Secret Service doesn’t read this blog.

Learning never ends, even for headmasters.  This love of lifelong learning is something we are instilling in each of our students here at Sumner Academy.

Seven Common Parenting Mistakes

I have never claimed to be the perfect parent.  Usually, the perfect parenting moment for me arrives just after I made a not-so-perfect parental decision.  I do like to read advice on parenting and pass along those that I feel strike a nerve with me, and maybe you as the reader.

Dr. Tim Elmore is an expert in the transition of children becoming adults.  He has written over twenty-five books and founded Growing Leaders http://growingleaders.com/ which is dedicated to mentoring today’s young people to become the leaders of tomorrow.  Here is his take on some parental behaviors which keep our children from growing into leaders:

Ø  We don’t let our children experience risk.  Children should be able to fail without parental interference.  We have all heard about helicopter parents…sometimes you need to turn off the key and let your child crash.  (this is probably the hardest thing as a parent to do)

Ø  We rescue too quickly.  It is human nature to swoop in and protect our children.  As in the first point, we are removing the child’s ability to navigate choppy waters on their own.  We need to remember that children are often much more resilient than we are as adults.

Ø  We rave too easily.  Face Book posts are such a culprit here.  When our children hear us constantly rave and sometimes downplay poor behavior, children often avoid difficult realities and can resort to lying and cheating. 

Ø  We let guilt get in the way of learning well.  Children can get over disappointments in life, but it is much more difficult to get over being spoiled.  Material rewards for something like good grades takes away any possibility of intrinsic motivation or unconditional love.

Ø  We don’t share our past mistakes.  Teenagers will push the envelope.  These may be the very envelopes you pushed when you were there age.  “Life lessons” are more meaningful when it is YOUR life as their parent.  Share your feelings on how you felt in a break-up, or being left out of a party.

Ø  We mistake intelligence, giftedness and influence for maturity.  Children learn and grow at different rates.  Keep from comparing your child to those around them.  There is no magic age of responsibility and research shows that the brain is not fully developed until the ages of 20-23.

Ø  We don’t practice what we preach.  We need to model the life we want our children to live.  If that means praying before a meal in a crowded restaurant, then those behaviors must be modeled by you.  Be mindful of those ethical choices that are before you…there are always another set of eyes or two watching what you will do.

One of Dr. Elmore’s favorite lines is, “coach them, more than coddle.”  There are many moments in the past I would have loved to practice these but failed in doing so.  Perhaps we can allow our parents, our children’s grandparents to display these seven mistakes!

My next blog will discuss some thoughts from attending the National Association of Elementary School Principals Conference held right here in Central Tennessee!

If it's Thursday it must be Soccer, or is it Ballet?

I am a huge proponent of the arts, athletics, hobbies, and other endeavors which help to round out who we are as people.  The most common pastime for me and my neighborhood friends was to head to the field for football or baseball depending on the season.  A few of us even had an indoor hockey league during those snowy days in Michigan and we would take our plastic hockey players and play on each other’s table top hockey games, complete with statistics.  We would play until the sun started to go down and run home as fast as we could before dark, sometimes we even made it.

Today, things have changed quite a bit.  If your child has a special interest, you can find others locally and enroll your child in that endeavor.  Most of these things take our finances and more importantly our time.

Here are some healthy guidelines about scheduling (and over scheduling your child’s time) from the National Association of Elementary School Principals:

>  Aim for three activities.  A great balance would include one athletic, one artistic and one social, not necessarily all in one week.

>  Limit involvement.  This avoids burnout and keeps the child focused on just a few activities.

>  Broaden their horizons.  Encourage “stretching” their interests with new pursuits.

>  Be supportive and not critical.  You should be your child’s biggest cheerleader.  The goal should be to expand a child’s interest, not to live vicariously through them or to expect the next LeBron James.

>  Schedule downtime.  We all need time to reflect, rest, and relax.

>  Change it up.  Time and energy spent on one sport or activity can be draining and can lead to burn out.

>  Watch for signs of stress.  This is a key factor for not only your child, but you as well.  Watch for signs of stress in your child including stomachaches, headaches, difficulty paying attention and a drop off in interest in the activity.

>  Decompress at home.  Family dinners are an excellent way to communicate about what is going on in the lives of each family member.  Schedule regular dinners with everyone at the table at the same time.

We all want what is best for our children.  Sometimes we need to take a

step back rather than forward.

Share-Care-Wear

I love getting together with other heads of school.  Since the position of head of an independent school is unique in nature to other jobs, I relish time spent with those who share my vocation.  It is also a great time to steal innovative ideas and programs from them.  With that being said, this blog’s title and idea comes from a fellow head, the content is all mine however.

As Sumner Academy steps into its next forty years of service there are three ways you as a parent, friend, alumni parent, or alumni can assist our school to thrive and prosper.  Just think of the following three rhyming words…share-care-wear.

SHARE

The best means of marketing for our school is reading this blog right now!  Sharing your experiences at Sumner Academy with those who may not know about our school opens the door for us to serve others.  As we attempt to increase enrollment, we need you to help us reach as many Sumner-Wilson-Davidson County families as possible.  Share our mission, our website, and more importantly what Sumner Academy means to you.

CARE

There are several ways to care for our school.  One of those is sharing monetarily.  Most of you have received a letter from me requesting additional funds for our annual fund.  As a parent, you were “hit up” several times this year for donations, gifts, and even dog food.  The policy of different groups asking you for money over and over and over is changing.  Next year we will limit the times the school asks you for money in addition to tuition and our adventure education trips.  Here is what we will be focusing on: (1) The Annual Fund.  You will see a formal campaign next year on how your gift to the annual fund will support our mission and long range strategic planning.  (2) The Auction.  What a great time for fellowship and supporting our school while winning some fabulous items and services.  (3) A Top Secret Event planned for February you will not want to miss.  Intrigued?  I hope so!

WEAR

Seeing our Spirit Wear around the area helps with our brand marketing.  You will have a chance to purchase more Spirit Wear when school begins.  Our hoodies are appropriate for school and the new dress code!  Being a rather big guy, I am a walking billboard for the school.  Let’s show our school spirit whether it be our logo shirts or new athletic logo items.  Please join me in this “walking billboard project.”

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s education.  We have remarkable children at this school and I know they come from remarkable families!

Bullying

Some memories from childhood can be joyous, others painful.  The most powerful of those painful memories usually involve teasing or verbal bullying.  Bullying is not a typical “kids will be kids” problem anymore.  Bullying is a societal problem which touches all of us whether we are in public or independent schools.  Recent studies show that one of ten students is regularly harassed by bullies.  Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the students who stand out who are bullied.  Children who wear glasses, are overweight, have red hair, speak differently or dress differently do not automatically invite bully attacks.  Any student can be a victim of a bully.

Here’s what you can do to help stop this from being a big issue at our school.  (1) Acknowledge your child’s feelings.  Don’t minimize the distress caused by teasing.  A child who has been teased or bullied may be ashamed to tell anyone, so be sensitive to your child’s concerns.  (2) Watch for symptoms your child may be a bullying victim.  Withdrawal, a drop in grades, torn clothes, unexplained bruises, not wanting to go to school, needing extra money, “losing” possessions at school are all symptoms.  (3) Share your past with your child.  Were you bullied or teased?  Sharing this information will help to ease your child’s humiliation.  (4) Praise your child’s kindness and acceptance to others.  Our children look to us as parents to set the tone when it comes to accepting the differences of others.  (5) Most importantly, notify your child’s teacher of possible bullying behaviors in a timely manner.  It helps us tremendously if we can investigate this as soon after it occurs as possible.  Waiting a week or two does not help in these situations.

If you have any further input on this topic, please contact me through email at sjackson@sumneracademy.org.

Be a Dreamer!

Well, for me, it was a dream come true.  In the summer of 2007, before a crowd of about fifty or so at AutoZone Park in Memphis, I had my chance to play big time baseball.  It was a Fantasy Day for Memphis Redbird sponsors, coached by former big leaguers Reggie Williams and Charlie Lea. I was issued practice clothes, a uniform, and a locker…complete with my name.  I got to participate in pre-game batting practice and fielding practice.  Then there I was, playing first base at AutoZone Park!  My performance was one you might expect from a then 46-year-old, overweight, slow, minimal-talent "wannabe."  My stats: two walks, one hit by pitch, two runs, and NO fielding errors.  My performance at the post-game buffet dinner was much better!  My team, Reggie's Raiders, did come up victorious 24-4.

I have dreamed of such an experience all my life!  Growing up a Detroit Tigers fan, I dreamed of playing first base for them and having Ernie Harwell announce my name.  To have a chance to hit in a real ballpark with adoring fans (Amy and two other couples) and have my name announced for all to hear (50), was truly a dream come true.

What about your dreams?  What about those of your children?  I firmly believe that as we get older, our dreams are put on the back shelf.  As you have probably noticed, time goes by more quickly with each passing year.  So don’t wait. Make time to take that trip you've always wanted to take. Or, just enjoy some real quality time with your children.  It's so easy to say, “maybe at Christmas Break, or Spring Break, maybe this weekend . . . or next?”

So, what is that dream of yours?  Is it rafting down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, riding horses at a dude ranch, or visiting lighthouses on the coast of Maine?  Perhaps you’re yearning to try out for American Idol or a game show like Jeopardy (been there, done that)?  Maybe you simply desire to sit down with your family for dinner three nights in a row.  How about reading a book like Treasure Island as a family instead of watching episode #500 of “Law and Order” or some other show? The mother of one of my colleagues is taking tap dancing lessons at the age of 77.  The last time she tapped was in elementary school!

Some of the things I’ve mentioned here can be cost prohibitive--others are free.  Only you know what you are able to afford, but please continue to chase your dreams.  My time in the spotlight lasted only six hours, but the memories will last a lifetime!

As always, I hope this message finds you well and happy with our school.  Please know that my door is always open, should you have anything you would like to discuss with me.  

Back to the Basics

Each year in mid-February Florida and Arizona comes alive with one single phrase, “pitchers and catcher report.”  It’s one of those signs that spring is nearly here.  It’s also a time when baseball fans everywhere say, “this is going to be the year.”  Even Cubs fans!

Spring training for major league baseball players has a long and storied history.  In 1894 the Baltimore Orioles, skippered by Ned Hanlon, worked eight hours a day for two months in Macon, Georgia on the basics of the game.  This base of solid fundamentals led the team to three straight National League pennants.  You can imagine what soon followed, every other team in baseball now had a spring training regimen.  These basics and fundamentals early on can determine October championships.  Just ask my Detroit Tigers in the 2006 World Series.  Our pitchers committed five errors in five games opening the door for the St. Louis Cardinals to be world champions.  I was fortunate (?) to see two of those errors in games one and two in Detroit.  You just know that every team after that 2006 series put into place additional fielding work for their pitchers.

Solid fundamentals and understanding the basics lead to success. 

It’s true on the baseball diamond as well as a school setting.  Often times you hear about the extraordinary at Sumner Academy: a Shakespearian play, a Geographic or Spelling Bee champion, a math team placing high in competitions, outstanding science and social studies fair projects, etc.  What you do not hear about is all the hard work it took to get to that point.  You do not hear about all the countless hours of instruction, drill and practice, and homework it took to get to that point. 

Many of our students will never win a Geographic Bee or place high in a mathematics competition, but they will be prepared for their high school experience regardless of the demands placed upon them.  Thanks to an incredible gift of education their parents have given them, an outstanding faculty and staff, a philosophy that places each child’s unique learning styles first and foremost, and a very low pupil/teacher ratio.  This low ratio allows our faculty to delve deeper into the basics and fundamentals that may be lacking with our students.

Sumner Academy prides itself on the hard work of our students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and then through high school and college, but most of all, helping to create productive and involved members of our society.  It all starts with the basics.

Kids Do Say the Darndest Things!

Art Linkletter was well known for his interviews of children on his radio and television shows, House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things.  Amy and I were honored to hear him speak in 2001 in Los Angeles.  He told his favorite “kid quotes” from those shows and they were hilarious.  As educators, we hear lots of stories from children as well.  Here are a few of my favorites…

My second year of teaching at Clark Elementary School in Charlottesville, Virginia was challenging due to sheer numbers.  I had twenty-nine students that year.  A part time teacher was hired to assist me in teaching reading and language arts.  That year I had Bobby, one of my all-time favorite students.  Bobby was legally blind.  His parents were both blind since birth.  Down the road from Clark was a company who hired visually impaired employees and both of his parents worked there.  It was a short walk from their house.  One Monday, Bobby came into class with a big bandage on his head.  I asked what had happened, and he told me this…”My Mom and Dad took me for a drive Sunday and got into an accident.”  So, I was thinking to myself, “uh, both are blind…hmmm, should I ask?”  Of course, I did.  It seems they inherited a car from a seeing family member.  Bobby explained, Dad would load everyone in the car on Sundays and pull forward until he bumped the house, then back up until he bumped the garage.  Apparently, on the last ride he bumped the house a little too hard.

Then there was the kindergarten boy who told me just how tired his father was every afternoon.  “He comes home, puts down his briefcase, gets a drink, and then falls asleep until dinner.”

I enjoy giving riddles for students to solve.  Here is one and the surprise answer;  “What do you cut at the table, but do not eat?”  The answer I was looking for was a deck of cards.  The answer I got was, “Dad’s credit cards.”

And a little bathroom humor…

I picked up my phone one day in June several summers ago to hear the following…”Mr. J, I pooped in the potty, I pooped in the potty!”  This was from a rising pre-kindergarten student whose mother had told her, “Mr. Jackson says you cannot go to big girl’s school until you poop in the potty.”  Mission accomplished!

So kids aren’t the only ones who come up with some funny stuff.  My third year teaching, Sherry came into my class about 30 minutes late and handed me the following explanation from her mother, “Sherry is late due to tardiness.”

I’ll keep adding to my list of funnies…who knows, you or your child could be in the next blog!

When Being Uncommon is Good!

I want to preface this blog by saying I am not politically motivated to write what you will find here.  Just look back at my other blogs about my family, TV shows, or snow days and you will see I have never written anything political.  The intent here is to educate the reader on the Common Core and where Sumner Academy stands in the growing controversy.  More and more we are giving tours to prospective parents who are dismayed with the Common Core in their public schools.  I am not endorsing any political party or specific politicians.  These are just my thoughts.

There have been many opinions expressed on the Common Core issue in our nation’s public schools.  In a nutshell, the Common Core is an attempt to nationalize the K-12 curriculum in the United States.  Proponents say multiplication facts, for example, in one state should be taught at the same level in every other state.  Since the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Act, curriculum issues were the responsibility of the states.  The intent was to limit federal intervention in these matters.  The state’s testing and accountability period that began in the 90’s spawned some national efforts such as No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top.  These national efforts came with big funding attached to set goals.  During my last two years in public education, we were (in my opinion) spending an inordinate amount of time preparing our students to take tests rather than teaching the actual content.  We needed another two hours in our school day to accomplish both.

Independent schools such as Sumner Academy regularly review national standards in each of the subject area when setting and reviewing curriculum.  These standards are set by national organizations of teachers in those areas.  Here are a few websites which contain these standards:

http://www.csun.edu/science/ref/curriculum/reforms/nses/

http://www.socialstudies.org/standards

http://www.ncte.org/standards

http://www.nctm.org/standards/

The Common Core has adapted some these into a their guidelines.

What makes us uncommon is our independence.  Everything about Sumner Academy is centered on our mission, not state or national testing or Common Core curriculum guidelines.  Our mission is to help discover and cultivate each child’s unique abilities.  The Common Core is incongruent with the creative curriculum building and management we employ at Sumner Academy.  We know our students well and prescribe the best curriculum and teaching practices to cultivate their learning.  Our teachers are free from teaching test taking and able to incorporate more depth and breadth to our curriculum.  It is important for us to prepare our eighth graders for success in ninth grades at schools they historically attend.  Our students are highly successful on the standardized testing we conduct in the spring.  Area high schools clamor for our students who have shown to be at the top of their classes year in and year out.

Sumner Academy embraces being uncommon and has been successfully serving its students and families for forty years.  Tell a friend, neighbor, family member or co-worker about us being uncommon.  We would love to show them the campus and introduce them to some outstanding and uncommon faculty members!