my internet file cabinet.
John Taylor Gatto - 01 The Elite Private Boarding Schools (via rinkuhero)
14 Principles of Elite Private Schools:
1.) No kid should graduate without a theory of human nature attained through the study of History, philosophy, theology, literature, and law.
2.) Every graduate has a strong experience with the active literacies: writing and public speaking.
3.) Insight into the major institutional forms: courts, corporations, military, etc.
4.) Repeated exercises in the forms of good manners and politeness, based on the fact that these things are the basis of future relationships.
5.) Independent work. (Contrast with public school where the teacher is tasked with filling 90% of the class time.)
6.) Energetic physical sports are not a luxury, but are rather the only way to confer grace on the human presence.
7.) A complete theory of access to any workplace or any person. (Imagine an assignment for a student to get a personal meeting with the governor.)
8.) Responsibiity as an utterly essential part of the curriculum. Always grab for responsibility when it is offered, and always deliver more than what is expected.
9.) Arrive at a personal code of standards. Standards of production, behavior, and morality.
10.) Familiarity with the master creations of the arts so that you are at ease within all the arts.
11.) Realize the power of accurate observation and recording. (Drawing is Gatto’s example.)
12.) The ability to handle challenges of all sorts. Challenges are different for different people.
13.) A habit of caution in reasoning to conclusions.
14.) The constant development and testing of judgements. You make judgements, but you keep an eye on results to see how you’re doing.
