[Keating stands on his desk]
Keating: Why do I stand up here? Anybody?
Dalton: To feel taller!
Keating: No!
[Keating dings a bell with his foot]
Keating: Thank you for playing, Mr. Dalton. I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.
Dead Poets Society also may have been my first cinematic view of independent schools, and with Williams’ death the movie strikes me as stunningly relevant to the work business officers do every day. An article in NerdScholar underscores Keating’s point. In this case, the "different way" of looking at things comes from experts in higher education, who were asked to explain the top reasons students should apply to private colleges. The following three seem most relevant to independent schools.
Educational curriculum is flexible and innovative
"It may seem simple, but attending a private college or university allows for a higher level of flexibility in a student’s educational curriculum."—Matthew Barsalou, Trinity University. This valuable perspective is too often lost in conversations about independent schools. Our value proposition and competitive edge IS flexibility and the opportunity to innovate with educational curriculum, which should be exercised freely and fully.
Close interaction among students and with professors
"Private colleges and universities provide students with the greater opportunity for an educational experience that takes place in a learning community..."—George Walter, La Salle University. We know that the leading contributory factor to successful student outcomes is the quality of the student’s interaction with educators. It’s almost universally agreed upon that private education does this better than its public school counterparts. I believe we should be promoting interaction between teachers and students, not class size.
Campus culture tailored to students’ values and personalities
Each private school has a campus culture that reflects the student body and all of its unique qualities. Steve Langerud, of Maharishi University of Management, says a benefit of private education is "matching a culture to your goals, values and personality. Private colleges are often more clear and distinctive in their culture. Finding the right fit is an important part of a college experience and preparation for life after college." When families choose our schools, they are choosing a culture for their son or daughter. And when that fit is right, something magical happens. I see it with my own daughter every day of every week at her school. She knows she has a place there. With that comfort and confidence comes great learning.
Like you, I know and appreciate the uniqueness of the independent school experience. However, new perspectives help us keep an informed frame of reference for what we are and what we can still become.
Before you start the new school year, stand on your desk and gain a new perspective for the challenges ahead.
