Southwest Education is NOT a Factory Model

The factory model has persisted over these past hundred years, despite some serious push back along the way. Changes in teacher education, huge leaps in understanding about child development, an acknowledgment of various learning styles, and the still insufficient but increasing acceptance of the need to embrace the different cultures of students and value the knowledge of those cultures are all hallmarks of an improved modern era.  -- School Beat: Schools are (Still) not Factories by Lisa Schiff on February 7, 2013 

Another year is underway.  All the excitement, challenges, possibilities and potential is out there in the months to come.  We cannot undo what we already have done, but the new year provides that image of starting new. 

Southwest staff, students, families and community continue the desire to have the best possible educational opportunities for all its students.  That is a major quest for our school and every other school throughout the country.  There is a long tradition of education excellence.  There are pages and pages of outstanding graduates from Southwest.  The alumni make names for themselves in all walk of public, political and business life.  Numerous graduates move back into the neighborhood and their children are now become part of the Laker tradition.

Since 1988 Southwest has attempted to follow the philosophy and practices of the International Baccalaureate (IB) -- education of the whole child living in a global society.  Mixing IB with the creative talents of fantastic staff, the support of parents and hard-working students allowed for outstanding results with spirit, commitment and understanding.

In addition to IB the Arts have a major influence on the educational history of Southwest.  The Arts empowers all to be part of the action.  Each student has an important voice, can dream of what is not possible today, display what has been and continues to be important and explore the rhythm of life.  IB and the Arts at Southwest provided the opportunity to practice the speeches, make the proposals, dream the impossible dreams and put it all together with and because of each other.  Individual efforts and talents are joined in plays, projects, performances and a wide variety of projects both inside and outside the classroom.

Southwest has not been a factory.  The raw product coming in the front door does not leave after four years a perfect mold of every other piece on the assembly line.  The Southwest way is messy filled with mistakes and adventures.  The journey from childhood to young adult is filled with decisions, responsibilities and opportunities.  There is not one answer for everything.  There are possibilities and interpretations.  One has to defend his/her opinion.  One must demonstrate her/his learning and make show its meaning.  There is no whistle and the excitement happens during a standard school day and before and after school in activities.

If Southwest is going to maintain and continue the quest for excellence in education a dedicated staff will be in every classroom.  Students will be hard-working to meet their dreams.  Parents and community members will support the school and its goals.  The Arts and IB will continue to be framework and backbone of learning experiences.  Southwest will resist the factory model.

Another new year and another set of possibilities and opportunities.  Quality education and outstanding learning is hard work and difficult.  With a collective effort, it is possible.