Is Your Child’s Elementary School Stifling Their Potential?
Redefining education in Mason, Ohio with Acton Academy
My 5-year-old son and I went for a bike ride on a recent beautiful spring afternoon.
We rode by some neighbor-friends who were outside and we stopped to chat.
I saw she was wearing a t-shirt supporting the local elementary school, so when she asked what we’ve been up to, I sheepishly told her we’re starting a school, as our neighborhood is part of one of the better school districts in greater Cincinnati and most people love it.
She said, “oh, you don’t have to be soft spoken around me; I know it’s a mess!”
My face did a full-on, “about-face.”
It was not at all what I’d expected her to say since she was wearing the elementary school’s t-shirt.
I expected the standard, “what’s wrong with you; the public schools are perfect!”
“huh?” I said. I was so nervous to mention we’re starting a private school in Mason, but this public school employee was about to tell me what I’ve been saying all along: that it’s not the teachers who are bad, but the model and its incentive structures; it’s not the children who need to be medicated, but the system that needs to updated; and that the system is designed to reinforce itself through a closed loop that connects high school college prep programs to collegiate teacher training programs, politics, and the real estate value of a given district’s homes.
Relatedly, there was a recent and illuminating New York Times article about ADHD where they say, “‘We have a clinical definition of A.D.H.D. that is increasingly unanchored from what we’re finding in our science.’” It’s worth the read. Here’s the article.
“Oh yeah,” she said. "If parents knew… I don’t know, I just do my job. I’m only a substitute teacher and I don’t want to lose my job. I'd love to tell people about your school though. It sounds awesome, especially with that Monday-Funday thing you’re looking to do. That sounds really special,” and then we changed the subject and her husband went back to mowing the lawn.
“Oh yeah,” she said. “If parents only knew… I don’t know, I’m only a substitute teacher and I don’t want to lose my job.”
If a teacher sees the cracks in traditional education, what does that mean for your child’s future? Keep reading to discover why Acton Academy North Cincinnati is the learner-driven private school revolution your family’s been searching for.
What’s “Monday Funday?”
We’re planning a 4-day school week, Tuesday through Friday, as several other Actons do, but we’re planning immersive real-world experiences on Mondays; whether it’s at a farm, the Cincinnati Symphony, or the Cincinnati Reds, and many others, to give children real life experiences with masters of their crafts in a wide variety of fields.
How many traditional school teenagers do you know who can even do their own laundry?
While academics are important, we know life is more than just academics, and we know socialization is best done with people at various stages of life and in wide-ranging roles. Of course we want children to thrive academically, but we also want them to normalize character, culture, and relationships with mastery across industries.
Our children will feel comfortable in a wide variety of settings, speaking to a wide variety of people with knowledge about a wide variety of subjects, all at a mastery level.
That’s what we call “Monday Funday.”
Doesn’t that sound fun to you?
The Hero’s Journey
I’ve been intrigued (if not obsessed) with the Hero’s Journey since I learned about it in college, and Acton Academy is using it to redefine private education..
“The Hero’s Journey” is a term synthesized by Joseph Campbell in books he wrote called, “A Hero with a Thousand Faces,” which brings together the common story elements of virtually all the great stories that live beyond the generations they were lived in; whether it’s Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth, George Washington, or Harriet Tubman.
The Hero’s Journey, as we use it in Acton Academy’s education philosophy, frames every child as a hero, asking them to set a noble vision and bounce back from setbacks.
That might be experienced by a 6-year-old learning to tie their shoes, a 12-year-old learning algebra, an 18-year-old writing college application essays, or a child participating in the Children’s Business Fair (6-15 years olds from any school are welcome, apply now!) but in all of those cases, it sets a child up with the innate character to set a noble vision in their adult years and persevere when things get tough.
It instills courage, perseverance, teamwork, and a whole bunch of other intangible character traits that you can’t measure on a standardized test.
Acton’s model even calls its learners “heroes.”
Regarding the term, heroes, here’s Acton co-founder, Laura Sandefer, on, “6 Things to Know About the Hero’s Journey,” and “Beyond Mere Coaching — Why The Hero’s Journey Works.”
The Socratic Method, a foundation of Acton’s Learner Driven approach
In fact, I used Acton’s Socratic method when I was substitute teaching in Loveland, Madeira, Milford, Sycamore, and Cincinnati Classical and the children responded to it very well, saying things like, “That was the best class I’ve ever had in 12 years of school!”
“You’re just saying that because subs don’t normally do anything,” I said to that high school senior in that classroom down the long hallway; and he said, “No; favorite class ever, including regular teachers, because you were as honest as you could be and you talked to us like people.”
In another situation, I got a standing ovation from 6th graders, probably for similar reasons. I actually wrote about that story in my free article, “Why I’m Sending My Child to Acton Academy North Cincinnati.”
Let’s wrap it up:
Really, there’s so much to say about our revolutionary approach to education and the benefits it gives to children and to families.
I really wanted to keep this short, but I ran out of time, and I know that if you’re still reading this, you’re still considering where to send your child for school, and I want to help you feel comfortable making the brave decision.
For next steps, read Laura Sandefer’s book, “Courage to Grow,” about the story of Acton Academy, for just 99 cents, to help you know if Acton Academy is right for you; and get in touch with us to learn more about the revolution in learning we’re bringing to southwest Ohio at Acton Academy North Cincinnati.
Lastly, registration closes on April 26, for your 6-15 year-old to participate in our 2nd Annual Children’s Business Fair. This event is free to attend and open to the public, so come and support our young entrepreneurs!
Talk soon,
Joshua Blatman