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Ideally, a private school education is a partnership. The school, parents, and student comprise this partnership. What makes this partnership unique is that all partners must work together for the best interests of a young person. In addition, each partner has a specific role to play and items to take care of. So, let's examine the three partners and their roles and obligations implicit in this arrangement, which makes a private school education a good value.

This video discusses effective parent-teacher communication.

School

Motivation Obviously, the school wants the partnership to work for several reasons. First, successes enhance the school's reputation. The academic marketplace is always competitive unless, of course, the school happens to be located ten miles from the James Bay. Word of mouth within a community spreads word of both successes and failures. I realize that some will interpret word of mouth as gossip, but most parents do their own diligence. They can distinguish between those with an ax to grind and the truth. Furthermore, parents visit schools and see for themselves and ask questions.

Contractual The contractual agreement the school signs with parents spells out its obligations. Private schools are unique. So, the contract you signed at another school will be very different from the one your child's current school requires you to sign. Review it carefully, and, if warranted, have your legal advisor review it.

Academic Academics, the curriculum, and how

What is Progressive Education?

Picture your ideal classroom. What do you see? A line of desks, concentrated students diligently solving math problems? Or do you envision something different?

• Perhaps you picture a classroom electric with energy.
• Small groups of students stand on whiteboards around the classroom, debating, arguing, and trying to figure out the best approach to a difficult math problem.
• A teacher circulates, asking questions and making observations.
• And suddenly, there was a flash of celebration as the students arrived at the solution.
• They’re active; they’re engaged; they’re motivated. And they’re learning.

This is the promise of progressive education.

What is Progressive Education?

Arising from the ideas of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the focuses on the process of learning over the rote memorization of facts.

• Beginning in the 19th century, progressive educators such as John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner, and Maria Montessori began to develop a philosophy of education that became progressive education as we know it today.
• A true definition of progressive education is admittedly difficult to pin down – the field is broad and contains many schools of thought. However, several values are shared by the progressive education community.

This video offers an overview of in Switzerland.

Attending to the Whole Child

Progressive educators are concerned with the holistic development of the child.

The , is an integral part of military high schools in the United States. While my daughters attended non-military boarding schools, my eldest daughter was enrolled in the while she was at Harvard. I was very impressed at how the blend of military training and first-rate academics played out then and in her later life. Consequently, as I scanned the seventeen military schools' websites we have on , I couldn't help but notice how seamlessly these schools weave the JROTC program into their school life. JROTC is not an add-on or an extracurricular activity. When you blend and integrate the JROTC program's proven training and goals with a military school's rigorous college-preparatory academic curriculum, you aim to produce graduates who understand service to their country, know how to lead and are confident in their personal path forward.

Here is a look at JROTC and what it entails.

What is JROTC?

Congress established the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) in 1916. Each branch of the services has its own distinctive JROTC program. However, they all have the altruistic-sounding mission "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens."

The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is one of the world's largest character development and citizenship programs for youth. Source:

Some people think that JROTC is a recruiting program for the military. But it is

Are You Looking At The Wrong Schools?

You've started the process of choosing a boarding school for your child.

• You've done a bit of reading about the reasons for sending your child to a private school.
• You've listened to the suggestions and recommendations of family and friends.
• You've explored dozens of school websites.
• None of this is challenging to do.
• Chances are that you will find the right school for your needs and requirements.

Hopefully, you will. However, despite your reasonable efforts, here are five reasons you might be looking at the wrong schools.

1. They don't offer the kind of curriculum you require.

Think carefully about what the schools teach and how they teach it.

• Think about this well before creating the shortlist of schools you want to visit.
• The school's curriculum, how it's taught, and the quality of its faculty should be at the top of your checklist. That's how important an issue this is as you choose the right school for your child.

This part of the process is daunting because boarding schools are unique.

They won't all offer the same courses, and they will certainly not approach teaching them the same way. By now, you have a pretty good idea of your educational goals.

• Are you looking for schools that offer a solid college preparation using the College Board's or