As an undergraduate, one of my most memorable classes was Art History and Appreciation. While it was outside of my major, it is possible that I learned more in that single class than any other. Among the many things that I recall from the class, was the way that artists in the Middle Ages and early Rennaissance depicted babies, especially Christ figures, as miniature versions of adults. Art historians attribute this to a number of factors, and I am not endevaoring into a meditation on this topic. What I find, however, is that there can, at times, be a parallel in education.
As an adult leader, I read many books about leadership, efficiency, self-improvement, and the like. Many of the messages and lessons are quite appropriate for a 53 year-old head of school. Moreover, the value of the messages in these books seem universal. After a lifetime of work in schools, however, many of these ideas are not applicable to middle school students, as adolescents are not simply little adults.
This week, there was a large article in The Concord Monitor reporting on the findings of research conducted by a Texas Christian University professor indicating that students benefit academically from outdoor play. I am not trying to be glib, but it seems to me that this is just common sense. However, I understand that educators often feel pressure to help students to achieve in an increasingly competitive and demanding world. Thus, we often treat students like little adults – trying to increase their performance through improved efficiency, data analysis, and technological advances. This often results in the reduction of play, of whimsy, and of discovery through chance.
At The Beech Hill School, we have long understood that middle school students are far from little adults. Likewise, they are not little kids either. We balance challenge and support, and we certainly value outdoor play. While I may not have the same data set as the professor from TCU, every day, I see students working hard and playing hard – enjoying their youth and growing up, all at the same time!