I have yet to discover a school that does not invoke the language of “excellence” in its viewbook, its annual report or its web site. The claims quickly strain credulity. What does excellence really mean? How does one distinguish between real excellence and mere gimmicks? Within the last two decades, the debate around educational improvement has focused on technology, specific teaching methods and small class size as potential lynchpins in the quest for educational quality. While each approach has its merits, none of them independently has the capacity to create the kind of “excellent” schools that our children will need to make their way in the 21st Century.
Just what would a school for the current era look like? And how might we build it?
Creating excellence is not simple. Educational leaders who truly seek it face a “marathon,” a lengthy and detailed process of school improvement, and not the quick fix of a “sprint.” Those who have the courage to run that marathon should work to build schools that feature exemplary governance, thoughtful educational design and a focus on authentic learning outcomes, all within the frame of a school that takes ownership of a clear and compelling moral purpose. (continued...)
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