If you really want to see how innovative a school is, inquire about its thinking and practices regarding assessment. For the students, does the mere thought of assessment trigger stress? Do the teachers rely heavily on high-stakes, multiple-choice, Bell Curve-generating tests? Or do the students seem relaxed and engaged as teachers experiment with…

Author Jonathan Howland writes here that he is hardly the first to suggest that much of the testing going on in the educational system today appears dumb. The tidal change that brought schools the Common Core standards is a maneuver born of an admission: educators took their eye off the ball, testing for too much of the wrong thing--thin skills…

As recently as five years ago, educators politely listened to, and largely ignored, suggestions that the world is changing at a dramatic rate and that education must adapt. Today, many educators agree that the traditional Industrial Age model of learning no longer adequately prepares students for their futures. As a result, many schools, and…

In the June 2010 "Harvard Business Review," Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, wrote a column entitled "You Are What You Measure." In it, he thoughtfully prods business leaders to consider the problematic correlation between the tools for measuring progress and actual…

As a history teacher and advocate for Asian and American students, the author is concerned about what appears to be waning interest in the study of multicultural education and racial politics. In particular, as independent schools become more diverse, as international Asian student populations continue to grow, and as people become increasingly…

This article is an edited version of a speech delivered at the 2009 Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS) Annual Conference in Florence, Italy. In the author's past speeches--in Seville and Rome--he had urged his listeners to use their distinctive power and influence as independent, international educators to advance…

Most nations now administer standardized tests--for adult job seekers and young students alike--but the Chinese remain the world's preeminent practitioners. The nation's national college entrance exam, known as the "Gaokao", lasts for nine hours across two days. The author has seen the intensity of China's work ethic firsthand as part-time…

The "Summary of Key Operating Statistics" is an informative document which includes the most recent statistics derived from the Annual Institutional Report submitted to the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) annually by accredited members. It presents data on educational outcomes and operations, enrollments, retention…

Individual Humanities aims at "training independently acting and thinking individuals, who, however, see in the service of the community their highest life problem" by studying the lives of persons who have achieved independence of action and significant service to other human beings. Describes a course designed to develop students through…

Considers certain aspects of independent school life that obstruct communication between parents, students, teachers, and administrators. Attempts to define what a good school is and what parents should expect to be getting for their investment in a child's education. (Author/RK)

Amateurism is the authentic sporting spirit, the spirit of playful delight. The competitiveness and elitism of professional sports have a place in American life, but not on its school campuses, where coaches should emphasize true educational values: fitness, enthusiasm, morality, self-awareness, and self-mastery. (Author/SJL)

Noting potential conflict between the two most-frequently stated goals of independent schools, academic excellence and dedicated concern for the individual, the author discusses ways to achieve both. (SJL)

The author suggests that schools should try to adopt a systematic approach to personnel and institutional evaluation, presents the findings of a questionnaire on evaluation and professional development, and describes some key factors which will determine the success of any evaluation system. (KC)

The author believes too much time is spent teaching students to compete for good grades and to prepare for entrance into a good college, and not enough time spent educating for good character, thoughtfulness, and cooperation. He suggests that individuation of learning fosters independence, cooperation, and mutual respect. (KC)

No longer is it enough that schools teach students to be independent thinkers. Because our democracy gives precedence to group judgment over individual conviction, independent schools need to offer students experience in forming a consensus as well. (Editor)