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The Model School Comprehensive Humanistic Learning Center is
dedicated to the promotion of human growth and development. This
dedication is geared not only to children but also encompasses
staff and parents. We believe that the growth and development of
children is, after all, dependent upon the the growth and
development of those adults whose privilege and duty it is to
guide them.
Growth, for our purposes, is defined not only as a continuous
developmental process in terms of learning facts and developing
skills, but also as the development of those attitudes, ideas,
feelings and behaviors which denote greater understanding and
acceptance of self and greater understanding and acceptance of
others.
The Model School philosophy concurs with
Carl Rogers, (Freedom To Learn, 1969) who asserts that when
the human being is inwardly free to choose whatever he or she
deeply values, he or she tends to value those objects,
experiences and goals which contribute to his or her own
survival, growth and development and to the survival, growth and
development of others.
The Model School philosophy concurs with
Abraham Maslow, (Eupsychian Management, 1965) that it is
characteristic of the human organism to prefer self actualizing
and socialized goals when exposed to a growth promoting climate.
The Model School concurs with
John Dewey, (Schools of Tomorrow, 1962) that the environment
is not a place within which behavior occurs but a genuine part
and contributing condition of behavior. The role of the
environment is not to mold or to shape the individual but rather
to permit him or her to actualize his or her potentialities.
The Model School accepts the major philosophical concepts
developed by
Dr. Maria Montessori, (The Absorbent Mind, 1949). These
concepts include but are not limited to:
 The
concept of the prepared environment
The
concept of freedom of movement
The
concept of the absorbent mind
The
concept of normalization
The
concept of sensitive periods
The
concept of the three period lesson
The Model School philosophy believes in the worth and dignity
of every human being, thus children and adults are entitled to
equal respect. We are all partners in the process of growth and
development. It is assumed that persons who enroll their
children accept these Model School philosophical concepts.
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