Heart of the Matter: Diary of a School Year

Dear Friend,Education is a hot topic these days. A good friend and long timeacquaintance has run a very successful small private school for over twenty years. He has recently written a book narrating the happenings of one school year. Anyone interested in education should check out this work. The book is filled with insights, teaching tips, humorous happenings, and is an all together pleasant read...

The guiding principle at Fayette Street Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes from a quote by the legendary college football coach, Bear Bryant: "If anything goes bad, I did it. If anything goes semi-good, we did it. If anything goes real good, you did it." John Chamberlain, headmaster, teacher, and "head elf" of the school has written a "real good" book about an excellent school.Twenty-eight students, ages 7-14, use no textbooks, attend classes only four days a week, do no academic work for the seven weeks preceding the Christmas holidays, spend many wonderful hours swinging and climbing the ropes course in the "Big Elm," and play baseball every afternoon in May. They sprawl on floor pillows instead of sitting at desks, don't use computers in school, and don't work for grades.However, they study physics, history, Greek, Latin, French, music, algebra, and inorganic chemistry. They perform Shakespearean plays in the Big Elm, read Robert Burns and Harry Potter, portions of the Bible, the Koran, and the Dhammapada, and the U.S. Constitution. They perform in near-professional Winter and Spring concerts, play non-competitive soccer, and spend many hours perfecting their essay-writing skills.The 20-year-old school has a reputation for academic excellence and innovative teaching techniques. They have no endowments, use no government funds, and do not advertise, yet have five applicants for each student opening. A majority of former students have been on high school honor rolls and excel in college and post-graduate studies.Highlights of the school year are the two Parents' Weeks in which parents take charge of the school and all instruction. Those periods serve several important functions: they provide the staff members needed breaks for rest and class preparation; they allow parents an inside view of the school and a taste of the challenges teachers face every day; and they give students a chance to see other faces and experience new ideas.A continuous thread of climbing weaves its way through the book, both physically and metaphorically. Using his many years of mountain climbing expertise, the author has rigged the Big Elm with all manner of climbing ropes, pulleys, handholds, and swings, and carefully supervises each student's practicing. Students climb and swing almost every day, some making their way to the very top of the tree, others perfecting their swinging skills from shed rood to shed roof. This emphasis on climbing and swinging develops the children's mastery in paying attention and following directions and also enhances their self-confidence. Students at Fayette learn not to underestimate themselves, to develop their skills and intellects to the highest degree possible. They climb the heights intellectually. The love and skill shown at Fayette Street Academy is palpable and thoroughly honest. John can tell when his students are learning by looking in their eyes. Please read this comfortable, entertaining, enchanting, and uplifting book. Yo