WATERVILLE PUBLIC

SCHOOLS PHILOSOPHY

The Waterville Public School system believes formal education plays a major role in the lives of youth, perhaps second only to the role of parent. Therefore, the relatively brief time allocated to schooling must be dedicated to developing our youth to be able to learn beyond the boundaries of school walls and the time con-straints of a regular school day. Students of today must gain physical, emotional and intellectual understanding to translate masses of information into useful knowledge. Growth, expansion and creativity are now the privilege of all who are interested, from early childhood through adulthood -- comprehensively spanning the range from theory to application, and general to exceptional needs. Ultimately, education's purpose is to develop responsible citizens cognizant of their membership in both local and worldwide communities. 1earning shall be approached as an oppor-tunity to access lifelong joy. Toward these ends, the Waterville Public School sys-tem will aspire to create the most inviting schools possible for students, staff and community.

EDUCATING THE MIDDLE LEVEL STUDENT FOR SUCCESS
Grades 6-8 Philosophy

We believe that:

- Each child is an individual and that emerging adolescence is a unique phase of child development.

- We should strive to reach and teach the whole child.

- We should accept a commitment to aid each student to grow and develop intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially.

- We should recognize the critical aspect of courtesy and the value of humor in the building of strong inter-personal relationships.

- It is important to recognize the destructive quality of prejudice and affirm our respect for individual differences.

- We understand that a free and just society is dependent upon a competency in the skills of good citizenship.

- We recognize the need to provide a climate in which students and teachers are learners.

- We acknowledge that the school climate shouid encourage critical thinking, reasoned choices, freedom of expression, and the ability to accept the choices of our decisions and behaviors.

- Exploration, discovery, socialization and direction occur in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

- We recognize the changing nature of the human community, the environment, and the world; and we will strive to provide the skills needed to adapt and to respond to these changes.

ADOPTED: 2-2-76; Revised: 12-05-88
LEGAL REFERENCE:
SOURCE: Board Policy