One of the periods in history that I most enjoyed teaching was the early/middle 19^th century.  In particular, I took great pleasure in exploring the American reform movements and the Transcendentalists with my eighth classes.  A favorite quote of mine comes from this study, and it was typically the focus of long, thoughtful discussion amongst my students both in public school and at Ellison.  

What does education often do? It makes a straight-cut ditch of a free, meandering brook.  Henry David Thoreau

You can imagine that students would have a great deal to say regarding Thoreau’s feelings about education; they had very strong opinions on both sides of the argument.  After spending several years in public school, I came to appreciate the challenges that teachers, students, administrators, and parents face as part of such a large system with such a vast job to do.  By its very nature, public education must systemize most of what it does- routine, regulation, and order are necessary features of accomplishing the goals of public education.  One of the things that I have always loved about independent school education, and Ellison in particular, is that routine, regulation, and order in the classroom are not our mandates for success.  Because the dictates that rule and sometimes strangle some public schools are not an inherent part of our school’s functioning, we are able to avoid the straight cut ditch. 

There is much to learn, and here at Ellison there are many ways to do it.  I am proud of what our school is able to do for our students, the programs we offer, and the exceptional teachers who provide these avenues to learning.  Most of all however, I am proud to be in an independent school-- one that allows its teachers and its students to meander just as Thoreau’s brook.