A century ago, most educators believed in the ‘mug and jug’ theory: children’s minds were like empty mugs, and teachers were supposed to fill them up with knowledge. But Community School has never subscribed to that theory. “As the poet William Butler Yeats said, ‘Education is not filling a pail, but the lighting of a fire,’” says head of school Matthew Gould. “Community School was founded to ignite the joyful love of learning and stoke the life of the mind, and that’s what we’ve been doing for 100 years.”
Some schools focus solely on academic development. “But that’s not our ultimate goal,” Gould says. “We believe in educating the whole child by nurturing the mind, body and spirit, providing children from preschool through grade six with a challenging curriculum in an environment that also encourages emotional, social, physical and moral growth.” Attitudes and values are as important as academic knowledge, he adds. “We encourage each student to become a critical thinker, a confident speaker and a compassionate, responsible citizen. We strive to develop intelligent, caring, thoughtful individuals with educated hearts and educated minds.”
Apparently the approach works. “Our students’ test scores are exceptional–we consistently outscore other independent schools in everything from reading and writing to quantitative reasoning and math,” Gould says. “Furthermore, statistics show their achievements continue to accelerate as they progress from grade to grade. So our graduates are extremely well-prepared for secondary school and beyond.” Alums include Pultizer Prize-winning novelist Jane Smiley and Grammy Award-winning composer and pianist Peter Martin.
Smiley and Martin are but two of 100 distinguished alumni from all fields who have returned for Community School’s centennial celebration. “It’s part of our ‘100 Alums in Our 100th Year’ initiative, featuring alums ages 13 to 93, from business leaders to rodeo riders,” Gould explains. “They share memories and stories of how Community School affected their lives, and the students are absolutely enthralled.”
A highlight of the yearlong celebration is Centennial Weekend, April 4 and 5, which includes a gala at The Four Seasons, as well as completion of the 11,000-square-foot Centennial Arts Center. “Our teachers excel at integrating the arts with other curriculum areas to strengthen the learning process,” Gould says. The new building features a 450-seat multi-use theater and rooms for art, music, band, drama and public speaking classes. “The center will encourage development of the three Cs: communication, creativity and collaboration, key skills in this era of globalization and technology,” he says. “Nothing spurs their development like the arts, which inspire unique, insightful connections that enhance problem-solving capacities in all disciplines, including math and science.”
Children learn best by doing, experiencing and collaborating in a supportive environment, Gould says. “There’s so much more to learning than just passively receiving facts. This is a school where individual differences and talents are respected, welcomed and valued. When kids feel loved, accepted and safe, they strive higher and try harder.”
Photo by Community School
Pictured: Centennial Arts Center, designed by Forum Studio and built by S.M. Wilson
[Community School, located at 900 Lay Road in Ladue, celebrates its 100th anniversary with a year of festivities, including a Centennial Weekend April 4 and 5. For more information, call 314.991.0005 or visit communityschool.com.]