How do the guiding principles of the First Amendment Schools vision statement fit with the academic mission of schools?
First Amendment Schools assert that First Amendment principles frame “the highest standard” as they work to complement the national focus on standards, accountability, and student achievement. Explicit alignment can be made with both content standards and process standards across and beyond the core disciplines. By focusing on critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving, a democratic learning community can align the instructional program with curriculum frameworks that flow from national, state, and local standards. By paying attention to the whole student, First Amendment Schools build communities of active learners who share a commitment to the common good. The quality of relationships within a role group (for example, student-to-student, teacher-to-teacher, and parent-to-parent interactions) and respectful relationships across role groups provide the context in which teaching, learning, and collaborative inquiry can thrive.
