The Value of a JK-8 Education

Recently I attended a conference where the audience of teachers and administrators were asked to describe the qualities they would like the students to own upon graduation of their respective schools. The answers ranged from kind, motivated, involved, enthusiastic, critical thinkers, and creative all the way to the generic good citizens. The presenter then asked us if we thought it wasn’t just a little ironic that no one mentioned report card grades or class standings.

The Episcopal School of Knoxville is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools whose graduates lead the nation in obtaining a college degree, and we fully support a rigorous academic curriculum while understanding that students need a wide variety of experiences. Students at ESK enjoy art, music, Mandarin, Spanish, Latin, Physical Education, Religion, Guidance, Gardening, Library, Technology, Band, Chorus, String Band, as well as other elective choices. We know we prepare students well because we hear from admitting schools that our graduates excel through high school and are accepted at colleges of their choice such as Yale, Baylor, and Sewanee.

Michael Thompson and Catherine O’Neill Grace in their book, Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children, state: “It is a step in the right direction that around the country we are emphasizing school models like K-8 schools that keep a family-like environment through middle school…. If I could design psychologically safe schools, every elementary school in the United States would go from kindergarten through grade eight and would be no larger than four hundred children. No high school would have more than eight hundred students.” When children feel part of a community, they are willing to take risks and participate to the fullest extent of their ability. We all learn best when we have a relationship encouraging us to learn and share our gifts.

James Heckman, the Nobel prize-winning economist “has done research that shows spending money to put children into high-quality early childhood education offers the greatest bang for the buck in their adult years. The reason is from age 3 to 8, children develop traits like conscientiousness, perseverance, sociability, and curiosity. And these qualities matter more to ultimate success than SAT prep courses in high school or what college your children go to.” Earlier this year, this same idea was echoed in an article published by MSN Money entitled “5 Surprising Habits of the Wealthy.”

We know we make a difference at ESK in young children by supporting students as they learn and providing individual attention because we see the results in our graduates. We believe in the ability of children to be successful in life, not just in school.

By: Nancy Laurence, ESK Lower School Director