Academic Developments pt II

Later in the day, Jen and I presented some material on Attachment Theory and the way that underformed parental attachment plays out over the lifespan. One of my favorite exercises for the staff is to write all the students' names on index cards and spread them out on a large table. We then organize them into rough groups, for instance, according to which students have what type of language difficulties, or have suffered trauma, or know how to use free time productively. We do not seek definitive answers, but rather use it to stimulate discussion about the well being of our students and our efforts to make their lives better.

What emerged in our conceptualization of attachment difficulties is that many of our students (historically speaking- yesterday we included the names of many past students in the exercise) have or had significant trauma, attachment, and seperation issues that seriously impacted their school careers. We also observed that the vast majority of them become quite well adjusted over time. Our earliest students are now in their mid-twenties. Most seem to be doing pretty well.

Our mix of students is always changing, and always presents a powerful challenge to teaching orthodoxies. Our students learn how to be in relationships of various intensity, complexity, and type. They also develop a significant fund of general and specific knowledge. Where many seem to be less accomplished is in the execution of complex academic tasks. Part of this is an artefact of the kind of kid who comes to TAS. Some of it is the program itself falling short.

It is sobering to assess our work. Overall, we should be pleased that the vast majority of our students are moving towards happy, productive, interesting lives. Yet we may still be failing them in significant ways. There is real danger out there in the "real world" for underskilled adults. I think we are taking steps to address this. But the ultimate question is a complex one: what are the core skills a thirty year old American will need in 2020?

Is that question even answerable?