Headmaster's Letter
March 2008
The Gift of an Independent School Education
Dear Students, Parents, and Friends:
Each year at this time I am reminded of my special calling as an independent school educator and parent. I am reminded, frankly, because those of us with children in independent schools make our commitment to invest in enrolling our child (or children) for the coming school year. The investment is not an inexpensive one. This exercise begs the question of "Why do we do this? Why do we pay for something that we might get for much less (or even for free)?" The answer is simple. Independent schools like Brookstone offer children opportunities not found in other schools.
This statement is not meant to denigrate public or religious schools; in fact, two of my three brothers attended schools other than independent schools, and two of my four children have attended public schools. So, I feel especially qualified both professionally and personally to speak to the differences in experiences and especially to what makes an independent school experience so precious. So, indulge me for a moment and allow me to share both data and my personal perspective shaped by experiences as a student, teacher, parent, and administrator.
My Journey
The beginning and end of my commitment to independent schools emanate from the fact that my own independent school experience indelibly changed and shaped my life. I was admitted to The Baylor School as a seventh-grader for the fall of 1969. During my six-year career there I slowly discovered in myself a growing loyalty to this institution which was requiring more of me than I expected of myself. Yet, I did not truly appreciate and understand the impact of that experience until I began college.
Though I had been an "average" student at Baylor, it was clear that I was years ahead of my contemporaries in college. I could read for understanding, write effectively, study with a purpose, think on my feet, speak publicly, and generally face new challenges with confidence. This reality was all the more profound for me because I could compare and contrast my experience with those of my next two brothers who chose not to attend Baylor. Neither graduated from college, and though they are quite capable, neither has had an easy road in life. When my youngest brother, who also attended Baylor, and I compare and contrast our lives with those of our middle brothers, we draw a quick conclusion: that our educational experience was the difference. The evidence of educational research validates my personal experience.
The Data
Based on the landmark findings of the U.S. Department of Education's National Education Longitudinal Study (NELS), independent schools "prepare our children not just for this year's tests, but for all of life's tests." From 1988 through today, NELS has traced the lives of students from a variety of educational settings (public, independent, and parochial), and the data says it all. Consider the following. NOTE - Brookstone students/alumni fall under the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) umbrella.
*Students Who Completed a Four-Year Degree or Higher
NAIS 76.3%
Catholic 65.9%
Other Private 57.9%
Public 38.1%
*Percent of Students Planning to Earn Postgraduate Degrees by Age 30
NAIS 55%
Catholic 43.2.9%
Other Private 25.1%
Public 21.6%
Beyond academic success, independent school alumni live productive and rewarding lives at rates far greater than their peers from other educational backgrounds. Again, based on the data, our graduates find higher levels of satisfaction in their lives than do their peers. From keeping themselves physically fit to understanding and implementing technology and from voting in presidential elections to volunteering in their communities, independent school alumni realize uncommon personal fulfillment.
The Difference
So, what separates an independent school from all others? What makes the difference?
Though the answers vary from school to school, there are some undeniable common denominators shared by independent schools that give them the edge.
?Small Schools, Small Classrooms, Big Goals! - Independent Schools make manifest what every teacher knows: that smaller learning environments foster active student participation and curiosity. The research bears this out dramatically. While the average public school has 15.6 students per teacher, the average independent school enjoys a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.
?A Focus on Core Knowledge - Perhaps A. Graham Brown, former president of the Council for Basic Education, articulated this best. "NAIS schools don't teach a heterogeneous connection of non-academic courses. There is a clarity of mission and a core academic program. Everyone agrees on the purpose - to get students into good colleges, to develop character and leadership, and to focus on values and participation in democracy."
?The Education of the Whole Child - From the athletic fields and courts to field trips, from community service efforts to special programs and speakers, independent schools understand that students learn many of life's most important lessons outside the four walls of the academic classroom.
The Brookstone Difference
Beyond the tangible and intangible differences that separate an independent school experience from other educational experiences, there are several characteristics that are truly unique to Brookstone and are noteworthy. First, during his numerous visits to Brookstone last spring, independent school consultant Ian Symmonds articulated a very special quality about our school. In addition to the normal attributes of an independent school (which we enjoy in abundance), Brookstone has a special quality of liberating our students to discover the right path for each of them. Notably, his interviews with Upper School students revealed a special gratitude for the school's support of their passions, be they Calculus or writing or bird watching or filmmaking or poetry, and the list goes on and on. He recognized that, within the framework of a somewhat traditional school, there exists the freedom to find one's path in life. Finally, Mr. Symmonds noted Brookstone's resemblance to family, that we are not simply a community of learners, but something much deeper.
The cover story of Atlanta Magazine's January issue is Private Schools (Why $16,000 a year is totally worth it). The independent school experience is not about a moment in time or an experience (good or bad) with a teacher or a triumph or even a disappointment; those are the common qualities of any childhood. Rather, an independent school experience is about a journey, one of sacrifice and hard work, passion and commitment, and ultimately of accomplishment and confidence to lead a meaningful life. Thank you for valuing the education that your child (children) receives at Brookstone. We are proud and excited to share this journey with you.
Sincerely,
Scott A. Wilson
