“The function of Education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” -Martin Luther King, Jr
Education in Middle and High Schools these days is rapidly changing. The conventional notion of a classroom where the students would sitting quietly and neatly in their seats, while the teacher would up front pour pearls of wisdom and knowledge into their brains is a practice of past. There has been a paradigm shift in the pedagogies from the old system and is constantly evolving with each passing year.
Reality in the 21st century is quite contrary to the old methodology. Our students come into the classroom with the same attitudes and expectations as the society in which they live, from varied backgrounds. The main objective at school, hence, is to take up the responsibility of grooming children holistically, strengthening the scholastic and co-scholastic areas while reinforcing the value system or the ‘Sanskars’ to turn each Lotusian into a Good Samaritan.
“A carefully constructed structure of education is supposed to smoothen the pursuit of knowledge, instead of restricting the flow of knowledge.”
The need of the hour is an educational system that works for and with students. Keeping in mind the present generation’s curiosity and eagerness to learn, it becomes imperative to adopt an approach that would take care of innovative student-centred learning environment enabling an educator to deal effectively with all types of students in the same classroom.
Even an educator's role is changing from the traditional "imparter of knowledge" to that of coach and consultant. There are many exciting examples of successful strategies and programs in which the students are not only allowed, but encouraged and required, to take responsibility for much more of their learning than ever before.
Do-it-yourself, student-to-student teaching, project-based learning, and student-centred learning environments are some of the more encouraging programs. Also, the integration of technology into every subject and at all grade levels allows unprecedented levels and types of exciting collaboration and learner to learner connectivity.
Middle school offers maximum flexibility in terms of experiential and experimental learning. On one hand, there is lots to offer to the age bracket of middle school learners and lots of vitality that can be fruitfully manoeuvred, on the other hand, this age group is the most turbulent in terms of the emotional quotient, hence, maintaining a balance.
Keeping all the above factors in view, we design working of students in small groups, perform different learning tasks and learn from different books. Teachers provide guidance, and all students have the opportunity to participate in school activities.
Lotus Valley International School provides educational experiences that emphasize the instruction and overall well-being of learners. Working collaboratively, teachers, counsellors, administrators and many parents address middle school students’ learning and socialization needs and ensure some degree of success for all learners. They also recognize and address adolescents’ developmental diversity.
We aim to recognize learner diversity, employ educators trained in middle school education, offer exploratory curricular programs that encourage learner interest, provide age-appropriate guidance and counselling, ensure equal access to educational experiences, promote a positive school environment, and involve parents and families in the educational process.
It is important to state that the middle schools do not downplay academic achievement and appropriate behaviour. Quite the contrary, teachers and administrators emphasize these fundamental aspects of education, but they also provide learning experiences that meet individual needs.