What Is "Traditional" Education?

Updated on September 03, 2008
M.M. asks from Gilbert, AZ
11 answers

My son just started kindergarten at our local Gilbert elementary school. I've found that a few people in our neighborhood send their children to another school in the Gilbert district that offers "Traditional" education. Does anyone know the difference between the two types of schools? Is one "better" than the other?
I would appreciate any information you have.

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K.H.

answers from Phoenix on

They may be referring to a Charter school or there are two schools : Chandler Traditional and Neely in Gilbet, which offer the Spalding program for Language Arts and a math program that all of the grade levels use. They start out very intense and build on eachother each year. They teach one grade level higher.

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K.M.

answers from Phoenix on

My son attends Ward Traditional Academy in Tempe. They have uniforms and smaller classes. My understanding is there is no "group work", mostly individual. When 80% of the class has a concept down, they move on - they 20% gets outside tutoring so they catch up. I believe it's a tougher ciriculum than other public schools. There are also mandatory parent hours - 20 per year are required or your child cannot re-enroll for the next year. With more parent involvement, there are hardly any discipline problems or anything like that. I personally love it and so does my son. Good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi M.! My step-daughter goes to the Franklin East Academy, one of the Mesa Public Schools traditional academies. I have been very impresse with the traditional environment. The students have a pretty hard core curriculum, but they learn to read by the end of the first semester of their kindergarten year. And reading opens so many doors to learning!! It is a little frustrating that she doesn't quite understand the days of the week or the months or money, but the reading is very impressive. It is not for every kid and I don't believe they do well with special needs kids. It is as close to private as you are going to get with a public school!

Good luck!

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M.G.

answers from Phoenix on

C H is correct. Also, "traditional" teaching is where the teacher stands up and teaches the subject then the kids do a lesson in class and then has homework each night to reinforce the learning. My children have been at Cheyenne Traditional School in Scottsdale for the past 10 years. We have been very happy with it. The kids that attend Cheyenne are usually advanced when they switch to the middle or high school. When my children interviewed for the private high school the admissions coordinator said they always felt comfortable accepting the Cheyenne students because they were used to the accelerated learning, the strict rules and wearing a uniform. You should also check the school test scores. Usually they are higher at the traditional schools

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J.L.

answers from Phoenix on

We also live in Gilbert. I think you must be talking about the school - Neely Traditional Academy. It focuses more on phonics and other traditional learning methods. The other elementary schools use sight words and other techniques to teach reading. I know that there are waiting lists for children to attend that school. I would go and visit it and find out if it's the right type of teaching style for your children. I have friends who send their kids there and were on the waiting list for a year or so. They love it. Lots of homework and very focused on reading. They have the best test scores in the district I believe. Good Luck.

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C.T.

answers from Phoenix on

I am a teacher in the Scottsdale District and we do have traditional schools. I teach at a regular school but from what I have heard the traditional school is a bit more structured or "traditional" in the teaching style. Children tend to have desks in rows rather than groups and do less of the interactive/group learning like in other schools. I have heard great things about traditional schools but it is not for every child. The children seem to be have less social learning time doing things such as centers and group work and it is more of a teacher in front teaches and children do the practice at their seats. If it suits your child it is a great route! Good luck

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C.H.

answers from Phoenix on

My son attends Chandler Traditional Academy, two locations in Gilbert. As far as I know we are one the same school schedule and the still considered a public school. The differences are they learn at an accelerated rate, (they are learning 5th grade curriculumn during 4th grade), they are more exclusive (they can cap off their class sizes like a charter school)and Our school teaches the Spalding Method for reading, phonograms and spelling and the Saxon Math Method.

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T.B.

answers from Phoenix on

Hello M.,

It's nice to meet you. I am the PTSO co-president at Gilbert El. My daughter is in second grade there. I also considered sending my child to a traditional school, but obviously opted for Gilbert El instead. I really love that school. The principal and most of the staff are wonderful. I feel like my child is getting a great education there. If you are wondering about the traditional schools, maybe you could go and sit in at a class. I know they do allow it. There is Benjamin Franklin @ Gilbert and Warner. It wasn't for my child, but it might be for yours. If you have any other questions about the Gilbert El, feel free to email me at ____@____.com I don't know the answer, I can point you in the right direction.

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K.M.

answers from Phoenix on

It included no art and not many extra activities. It 100% pertains to what you believe is best for your childs needs. I do not like this type of school for my children because I am a psychologist and I found a study that suggested children that are exposed to music etc, from kindergarten on up, score higher on test scores later...

Our three kids go to a charter school in gilbert that believes in implementing all values. We have tried 2 other public school and they were horrible compated to this concept.

However remember, it is what you believe in... is imortant in life. I believe music and extra activities are as valued as learning from a book.

Good luck,
K.

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K.E.

answers from Phoenix on

Here is Wikipedia answer to Traditional Education. If I was looking at a school for my child first entering I would make sure they do not use only whole language. Whole language was initially invented for the purpose of deaf children who can not hear. I believe there should be a strong phonics based system of learning how to read. It is fine in incorporate whole language, but not use it entirely. I believe that learning to sound out the words are very important - not to just guess. I remember my son came home and was told to skip a word, I said no we are going to sound it out. His teacher had told him to skip it, and try to figure out what the word is in the sentence. I really believe in phonics! It is so important when they are initially learning, but the reading, writing together is best.

Here is the definition. I hope you find the school that's best for your boys.

Traditional education refers to long-established customs found in schools that society has traditionally deemed appropriate. Advocates of education reform want to promote the adoption of progressive education practices, a more holistic approach which focusses on individual students' needs and self-expression. In the eyes of reformers, traditional teacher-centered methods focussed on rote learning and memorization must be abandoned in favor of student-centered and task-based approaches to learning. However, many parents and conservative citizens are concerned with the maintenance of objective educational standards based on testing, which favors a more traditional approach.
The definition of traditional education varies greatly with geography and by historical period. In the past it has had much stronger elements of coercion than seems acceptable now in most cultures.[citation needed] It has sometimes included: the use of corporal punishment to maintain classroom discipline or punish errors; inculcating the dominant religion and language; separating students according to gender, race, and class, as well as teaching different subjects to girls and boys. In terms of curriculum there was and still is a high level of attention paid to time-honoured academic knowledge.
In the present it varies enormously from culture to culture, but still tends to be characterised by a much higher level of coercion than alternative education. Traditional schooling in Britain and its possessions and former colonies tends to follow the English Public School style of strictly enforced uniforms and a militaristic style of discipline. This can be contrasted with USA and Australian schools, which can have a much higher tolerance for student to teacher communication.[citation needed]

K.

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M.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi,
If you are taking about Neely Elem, let me first start off by saying its not for everyone. I work for GPS and my kids are also in Gilbert schools. Both my kids went to Neely at some point. My son went 1-6th grade. This was a 15 mile drive each way...but man was it worth it. I say its not for everyone cause its very fast paced. My kids loved it and did very well. Its a back to basics approach to learning. When my son got to the 7th grade it took him the first semester to finally do work he had not done in the 6th grade. Now gilbert also has the classic academy for 7-12th. I say send your kids there if they are smart and quick learners. I would not put my kids in any other school district other than Gilbert..hehe and thats not just cause I work here.
Hope this helps
M.

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