A few years back, choosing which school to send our kids to just meant looking at school fees, proximity, and reputation. Otherwise, everyone went to the school where their parents studied.
Nowadays, there are so many other options. Sending their kids either to a traditional school or a progressive one is a quandary more and more parents find themselves in.
Pia Cruz, who sends her sons to a traditional school, says, “We want a school that espouses our family values which include Catholicism. The Catholic schools we found were traditional ones, which dictated our choice.”
Erika Dela Cruz also sends her son to a traditional school. She says, “It is the same school where my husband went. We believe that our son will grow, build character, and gain confidence in a traditional setting.”
Moreen Rodriguez thinks otherwise. She says, “I believe that my son will develop his skills more in a progressive school.”
A progressive school is also the choice of Karen Dumpit and her husband. She says, “It will give us a better perspective on how to nurture our daughter’s growth as an individual and a responsible citizen of the world.”
In the chart below, Michelle Dizon, who has been a guidance counselor in both types of school, shares the basic points which differentiate one from the other.
Michelle says, “In choosing a school, it is important to know your child’s strengths and challenges, character and personality.”
How your children thrive in their school environment is largely dependent on their cognitive capacity, learning style, flexibility, adaptability to new environment and personality, and your family values. Creative, kinesthetic, and naturally curious children usually do well in progressive schools while children who can sit and concentrate, memorize things easily, and repeat information will do good in traditional schools.
I still have doubts with progressive schools because when the kids grow up I think they need to adjust to college and adult life .A friend of mine I think regretted that they shifted to progressive school , since his son experienced “shock” going to college life.
“Traditional school: focuses more on acquisition of facts, ideas, information; what students know.” — This is not true. In fact, for schools that are implementing the K+12 curriculum, knowledge is a minority of the grade.
“Progressive school: Assessment of performance through formative and summative assessments.” — This is true of all schools, progressive and traditional. A periodical test, an end-of-the-sem exam, project or essay — these are all examples of summative assessments. Quizzes, recitation, class discussion, asking students what they’ve learned — these are all examples of formative assessments.
Inasmuch as we would love to send our kids to a progressive school, they are quite expensive. Hope there will be less expensive options in the future