Susan Wise Bauer’s “Rethinking School” Captures PacPrep’s Mission to Change the Education Conversation
Read PacPrep’s Admissions Manager, Molly Tweten’s review of the thought-provoking book “Rethinking School” by Susan Wise Bauer and how it speaks to PacPrep’s mission of collaboration, respectful dialogue, and above all: helping students find joy in learning again.
The team at Pacific Preparatory recently finished reading the book “Rethinking School” by Susan Wise Bauer. In many ways it solidified what we already believed in as a team: each student has individual needs and is served best when we customize their education appropriately. Many families come to us because of the “artificial system” Bauer references that has failed to meet their needs and in some cases, has harmed them in the process. As a team built of teachers, social workers and other caring professionals, we also recognize that the individuals who make up that ‘system’ are doing the best they can to serve a very large number of students and their families. That is where PacPrep comes in. As a 1:1 school, we are set up to serve the students who have never quite ‘fit’ or for the families who are looking for something outside the traditional classroom.
Our teachers are experts at learning with their students; they come in as experienced thought partners who develop lessons and activities that incorporate student interests into their individual learning goals. As Bauer points out in her book, “Good teaching is responsive to student needs. This is hard to accomplish in large class settings or when the curriculum is inflexible.” In addition to our stellar teachers, we have a leadership team that is passionate about supporting families in the process. We believe in collaboration, respectful dialogue, and above all: helping students find joy in learning again. Our team is there to provide guidance and support throughout students’ educational journey.
One of our students, “Jack,” is an excellent example of the non-traditional program we can create. Jack’s mom first contacted PacPrep after Jack had to take a medical leave from school. He was experiencing personal turmoil and extreme anxiety. Jack was able to take a full course load while still prioritizing his mental health. Jack’s teachers incorporated Social Emotional Learning into his lessons and helped him to build back his confidence and love of learning. Jack transitioned back to his brick-and-mortar school and he is thriving, armed with the techniques his PacPrep teachers taught him to help him feel confident in a larger group setting.
When families reach out to PacPrep, we first want to hear where they are coming from and what their child has experienced so far, then we dive into what families are looking for. Each family’s path is critical for our team to understand so we can collaborate to create each child’s ideal program. Throughout the semester our parents receive weekly updates and have access to our leadership team to ensure that we can make adjustments as needed. We pride ourselves on being agile and responsive to the needs of our students.
In short, I highly recommend checking out Susan Wise Bauer's book to learn more about how the current system came to be, and what parents can do to guide their child to success. For any parent who has asked themself “What if my child didn’t have to conform to the system?” the book can spark new ways of considering each child’s academic path, and PacPrep is an eager partner in their new journey.
Reach out to us to find out how we can help your family!