Many people understand that education is in desperate need of reform, but few recognize how radical the reform must be. What is needed is not a bigger education budget, a stronger teacher's union, smaller class sizes, or more rigorous testing procedures. But neither is the solution simply a return to Classical Education. What is needed is a basic, pedagogical revolution—a revolution in the science of education—a revolution in the selection of content taught to students, and the method by which that content is presented. VanDamme Academy is the leader of that revolution. Pedagogically Correct is our newsletter. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/ 2007 VanDamme Schools, Inc. Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST It's very easy for a student to let the activities of the day become a blur. Even the best students in the best classes can go through the routine of the day without taking a moment to reflect. But by taking a few minutes each class to discuss what we've http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=34 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT Two years ago, Mr. Travers introduced art appreciation into the VanDamme Academy curriculum. Like the name suggests, the purpose of this course was neither to teach students the history of art nor to train them in the production of art. Rather, his goa http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=33 Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT I have invented a new educational game. I call it "Tell Me Everything You Know." http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=31 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT I would say that a debate is raging in our culture over whether or not we need to preserve the formal rules of grammar, but the sad truth is that there are too few defenders of grammar for a debate to rage. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=29 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST The following is an interview with Evan Storms, a VanDamme Academy graduate currently in the process of applying to college. Perhaps my favorite part of the interview was his answer to my request for the interview itself: "Considering what I gained from y http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=28 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT "It is a beautiful thing to mold a statue and give it life; it is more beautiful to shape an intelligence and give it truth." - Victor Hugo http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=27 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT Most math curricula are an absolute pedagogical mess. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=26 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT Last time, I explained that in order for a teacher to properly motivate his students, he must really know the purpose of teaching his subject, and that purpose must set the standard for selection of the subject's content. Let me now add that the content s http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=25 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST In this and the next newsletter, I will outline the principles that define a proper approach to motivation. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=24 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST In Part 2 of this letter, I described the approach to motivation taken by advocates of classical or traditional education. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=23 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST On Wednesday, February 20, during convenient evening hours, the entire North American continent will be treated to a total lunar eclipse. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=22 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST Last time, I described the "all day recess" approach of Waldorf-type schools to the issue of motivation, which have children engaging in wood carving, finger-knitting, and movement games rather than learning to read or write because they find th http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=20 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:25:51 EST To say that a person is motivated is to say that he has some drive or desire that incites action. For the purposes of a rational discussion of education, that drive or desire must incite the ambition to learn. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=19 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:20:14 EST We at VanDamme Academy love hearing stories about things the students do or say at home that reflect their VanDamme Academy education. I recently asked parents to share some stories from home. Here are a few highlights. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=18 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:38:51 EDT In a letter called "Yesterday's Highlights," I periodically describe my observations of classes to the VanDamme Academy parents. I have decided to share these highlights with readers of this newsletter as well. http://www.pedagogicallycorrect.com/index.php?p=17