The New School · K-6 Education · Syracuse, NY
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Philosophy

There are three main facets of The New School philosophy:

  1. Content is important, however, focusing on a child's disposition to learn is far more powerful. Though outcome is valued, the education process for an individual is most significant. Within this process, it is essential for children to be active participants, exposed to a wide variety of experiences that can challenge them within the safety of a caring atmosphere.
  2. Academic development does not happen in isolation. We respond to all aspects of a child's development, including social, emotional, physical, creative, and cognitive abilities. Specific skills such as cooperation, communication, organization, decision-making, use of time, critical-thinking, and problem-solving are important elements of an ongoing education.
  3. What children learn and what is taught are not necessarily the same. Children assimilate information idiosyncratically, based on their prior experiences. We observe and analyse how children are processing concepts and information, then make adaptations to revisit issues and ideas with appropriate adjustments to ensure learning.