tag:blogs.edweek.org,2012-02-06:/edweek/independent_schools/153 2015-11-16T17:42:24Z Peter Gow has been an administrator and teacher in independent schools for nearly 40 years. Currently Executive Director of the Independent Curriculum Group, he writes about the relationship between private and public education and how the two sectors might draw upon each other's strengths. Movable Type Pro 5.2.7 tag:blogs.edweek.org,2015:/edweek/independent_schools//153.55473 2015-11-16T17:42:32Z 2015-11-16T17:42:24Z

On Friday we learned of the sudden death of John Chubb, president of the National Association of Independent Schools. John was only a couple of years into what promised to be a long and productive mission at NAIS, and his...

Peter Gow On Friday we learned of the sudden death of John Chubb, president of the National Association of Independent Schools. John was only a couple of years into what promised to be a long and productive mission at NAIS, and his... tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.41927 2014-09-24T12:26:17Z 2014-09-24T12:28:08Z

I have been struck by how separate our world is from the public and charter school world--just as I long observed the great divide between public and charter. All of us as educators would do well--learn and improve--from opening lines of communication and participation.

Peter Gow I have been struck by how separate our world is from the public and charter school world--just as I long observed the great divide between public and charter. All of us as educators would do well--learn and improve--from opening lines of communication and participation. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.41899 2014-09-22T12:03:42Z 2014-09-22T12:04:14Z

Our schools are all mission-based. Missions are almost universally concerned with the student's social and emotional development--the building of character, confidence and a commitment to service. Our schools may tell parents about these virtues. Our schools may be missing an opportunity to make the case more explicitly to parents.

Peter Gow Our schools are all mission-based. Missions are almost universally concerned with the student's social and emotional development--the building of character, confidence and a commitment to service. Our schools may tell parents about these virtues. Our schools may be missing an opportunity to make the case more explicitly to parents. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.40651 2014-07-18T13:21:11Z 2014-07-18T13:21:31Z

A challenge for any school, of course, is to both know and understand its mission beyond just the simple mission statement. The greater and most essential challenge, however, is to live and communicate that mission fully--to make, if you will, the Venn diagram of a school's "mission" and "experience" a perfect circle.

Peter Gow A challenge for any school, of course, is to both know and understand its mission beyond just the simple mission statement. The greater and most essential challenge, however, is to live and communicate that mission fully--to make, if you will, the Venn diagram of a school's "mission" and "experience" a perfect circle. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.39539 2014-05-22T11:30:14Z 2014-05-22T14:05:17Z

Independent schools extol and cleave to their mission statements, and I'd like to see an organization, or a series of events, whose stated purpose would be to bring educators together across all sectors to build and fortify, to lift some language from the #PubPriBridge statement of purpose, "a mutual commitment 'to make the waves that raise all boats'" and to "direct these waves toward helping all students in all schools rise higher, think more deeply, and become more engaged and active citizens."

Peter Gow Independent schools extol and cleave to their mission statements, and I'd like to see an organization, or a series of events, whose stated purpose would be to bring educators together across all sectors to build and fortify, to lift some language from the #PubPriBridge statement of purpose, "a mutual commitment 'to make the waves that raise all boats'" and to "direct these waves toward helping all students in all schools rise higher, think more deeply, and become more engaged and active citizens." tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.39358 2014-05-13T14:33:45Z 2014-05-14T13:21:06Z

Independent school students and their families may have absented themselves from public schools, but there is no reason that our practices need to do so. In return for tax-exemptions and public acquiescence to our relatively unregulated existence, why not give back by sharing what we know best: our own experiences related to teaching and learning?

Peter Gow Independent school students and their families may have absented themselves from public schools, but there is no reason that our practices need to do so. In return for tax-exemptions and public acquiescence to our relatively unregulated existence, why not give back by sharing what we know best: our own experiences related to teaching and learning? tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.37889 2014-03-03T12:47:49Z 2014-03-09T16:42:12Z

The Grit Narrative, its shadow spreading back over the land under the guise of "research," threatens to take us straight back to an era where poverty is about laziness and where failure, unless it's the "failing up" of a revered entrepreneur, carries the stain of moral bankruptcy.

Peter Gow The Grit Narrative, its shadow spreading back over the land under the guise of "research," threatens to take us straight back to an era where poverty is about laziness and where failure, unless it's the "failing up" of a revered entrepreneur, carries the stain of moral bankruptcy. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2014:/edweek/independent_schools//153.37016 2014-01-17T13:27:22Z 2014-01-17T14:20:39Z

The folks behind last night's Twitter chat believe the time has come to act on the apparent enthusiasm for--need for, I would even say--some grass-roots, teacher-to-teacher connectedness between our sometimes rarefied world and those who work in public schools.

Peter Gow The folks behind last night's Twitter chat believe the time has come to act on the apparent enthusiasm for--need for, I would even say--some grass-roots, teacher-to-teacher connectedness between our sometimes rarefied world and those who work in public schools. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.36689 2013-12-31T14:00:22Z 2013-12-31T14:00:56Z

Too many people whose instincts ought to be better have learned the vicious lessons of extremist talk radio or adopted as serious stances the rhetorical excesses of satirists.

Peter Gow Too many people whose instincts ought to be better have learned the vicious lessons of extremist talk radio or adopted as serious stances the rhetorical excesses of satirists. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.36323 2013-12-09T12:20:19Z 2013-12-09T14:12:34Z

Supporting the public sector ought to be an important industry goal in whatever ways we can accomplish it; as Americans we've got the future of millions of kids besides those in our schools to worry about. By doing well by them, by asking what we can do for our country and then doing it, we'll be okay.

Peter Gow Supporting the public sector ought to be an important industry goal in whatever ways we can accomplish it; as Americans we've got the future of millions of kids besides those in our schools to worry about. By doing well by them, by asking what we can do for our country and then doing it, we'll be okay. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.36153 2013-11-27T13:39:42Z 2013-11-28T13:17:29Z

To Smil's point, real improvement is not going to fall like "manna from heaven" into our schools, nor is it going to come from "fairy-tale solutions," no matter how many apps we can access. For all schools, independent, private, public, it's going to take real effort--better policies and more thoughtful and intentional practices--to move education forward.

Peter Gow To Smil's point, real improvement is not going to fall like "manna from heaven" into our schools, nor is it going to come from "fairy-tale solutions," no matter how many apps we can access. For all schools, independent, private, public, it's going to take real effort--better policies and more thoughtful and intentional practices--to move education forward. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.35346 2013-10-15T11:50:34Z 2013-10-15T11:51:13Z

What is the influence of Big Money on education, even at places like Yale, where even a giant gift represents only a relative drop in a $20.8 billion endowment bucket? Put more edgily, don't big gifts tend to come with agendas and expectations, even if the expectations are carefully masked by words of openness and pure intention?

Peter Gow What is the influence of Big Money on education, even at places like Yale, where even a giant gift represents only a relative drop in a $20.8 billion endowment bucket? Put more edgily, don't big gifts tend to come with agendas and expectations, even if the expectations are carefully masked by words of openness and pure intention? tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.35017 2013-09-27T11:48:16Z 2013-09-27T11:58:14Z

If there are able, invested kids whom the College Board's efforts to aid with fee waivers and information can propel to the next level, then I'm a fan. If all of their initiatives to support underrepresented and underserved populations are going to become the full focus of their attention, then I'm a fan.

Peter Gow If there are able, invested kids whom the College Board's efforts to aid with fee waivers and information can propel to the next level, then I'm a fan. If all of their initiatives to support underrepresented and underserved populations are going to become the full focus of their attention, then I'm a fan. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.34858 2013-09-20T11:16:31Z 2013-09-20T23:45:51Z

Coleman even said, the head of the outfit that gave the world mass standardized testing (and the idea that a test can be a singular measure of something important, like a kid's worthiness to be a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist), "We don't need more tests [for kids], we need more opportunities." Wow. Huh.

Peter Gow Coleman even said, the head of the outfit that gave the world mass standardized testing (and the idea that a test can be a singular measure of something important, like a kid's worthiness to be a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist), "We don't need more tests [for kids], we need more opportunities." Wow. Huh. tag:blogs.edweek.org,2013:/edweek/independent_schools//153.34724 2013-09-13T13:01:33Z 2013-09-13T16:25:39Z

The Maker Movement, it strikes me, is a kind of glorified acknowledgment, often without the actual acknowledgment, that human children--and adults--need to be handling things and actually doing things physically every bit as much as they need to be thinking about them, talking about them, exploring them on the internet, or figuring out ways to sell them via social media.

Peter Gow The Maker Movement, it strikes me, is a kind of glorified acknowledgment, often without the actual acknowledgment, that human children--and adults--need to be handling things and actually doing things physically every bit as much as they need to be thinking about them, talking about them, exploring them on the internet, or figuring out ways to sell them via social media.