Philosophy
As Montessori educators, we believe that each child is born to be a learner, and that the full potential of each person is realized only through work in an ordered, challenging, nurturing environment that contributes to their physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual development.
- We believe that the child and their needs are the central and commanding focus of the learning process.
- It is the role of the school to observe, to know, and to represent the child as they proceed through the stages of development.
- We see in each child the future of society, our nation, and our planet. The child has unlimited possibilities and the future rests on our ability to cultivate this potential.
The Post Oak School seeks students from diverse social, economic, ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds. We are an inclusive environment committed to providing a safe space for all children.
We recognize that education requires an ethical environment in which the values of the community are respected and the worth of the individual protected. Our philosophy includes the cultivation of the following values:
- Self-reliance and hard work. We facilitate education based on self-inquiry while maintaining school-wide standards of academic excellence. We recognize the intrinsic rewards of the children’s work.
- Respect for other people and cultures, including those who live or lived in other places and times. We emphasize the constructive advances achieved by humans rather than the wars waged by them.
- Interpersonal skills. We seek to create situations where children cooperate at least as much as they compete.
Our Method
At The Post Oak School we practice the dictum, “Begin with the end in mind.” And so we envision our students as adults who are lifelong learners; people who know deeply what they want and have the inner resources to pursue their goals; leaders who not only want to contribute to the world around them but who have the skills they need to do so in exceptional ways.
At the heart of our vision is not a method, but rather a goal: to help young people construct themselves as complete human beings. This goal includes core beliefs that mean:
- Learning is active, not passive; that children and adults alike learn best by doing.
- People learn best when they want to, and not when they’re coerced by external rewards or competition.
- Peace and cooperation are not just utopian ideals, but an orientation and skill set which must be cultivated from earliest childhood.
- Ultimately, a worthwhile life has significance to both the individual and to society.
Our method, the path by which we express our beliefs and achieve our goal, is the Montessori method, an educational approach with a long and venerable history. More than that, Montessori is a living idea whose relevance is being borne out by the students who graduate Post Oak annually—self-reliant, intellectually curious, fully equipped for the adventure of life.