Yes, there is a better way...

With over 55 years of teaching experience on 2 continents at the primary, secondary and college levels, which includes 23 years of running a private elementary school and 6 years of running a private high school, Headmaster Francesco Perrulli, who holds 3 Masters Degrees of Education in Theology, English/Linguistics and Spanish Literature -- encompassing over 200 post-graduate credits from the Maryknoll Theologate and New York University -- plus 4 teaching certifications in Latin, Spanish, English and History in the states of New Jersey and New York, knows something about educating children, i.e. pedagogy. Aware of the present-day crisis in American Education due to a lack of a sound philosophy in both the public and private sectors, stemming from the 1960’s, Mr. Perrulli established Princeton Latin and Science Academies to combat the negative influences inherent in political correctness by returning to a classical model of educating. As a student of theology and history, he honors the sacred territories of the will and the intellect of the child, i.e. the former not be tampered with and the latter not to be brainwashed. This pedagogy, respecting the development of the child, affords the child the opportunity of learning to think and feel for himself, thereby allowing him to become a happy, confident individual. Below, five issues raised by many educational reformers are addressed.

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… to do homework,

At Princeton Latin and Science Academies, homework is a supplement to work done in the classroom, not a substitute for instruction. Time spent at home should be time spent with family, not struggling with assignments. Students at our school study ten subjects a day and are continually reading, writing and participating in class throughout the school day. Therefore, our homework assignments are short and designed to reinforce lessons learned in the classroom. Seven hours of a child’s day is spent in school; therefore, a child should be spending time after school pursuing extra-curricular or family activities. Having spent so much time away from their parents, other family members and friends, a child needs time set aside for furthering these important relationships.

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… to be an effective writer,

Good writing is the ultimate form of expression and the greatest language skill. It requires knowledge of a language’s logic and a command of a subject’s content. There is no better way to gain proficiency in the English language than to study Latin, Greek and English syntax. Latin and Greek provide a paradigm of grammatical analysis, morphemic constructs and the discovery of semantics. Both offer etymological clues to the meaning of words and inspire reflection of word choices—the true method of creative writing. Writing a novel or research paper, requires knowing how to write a paragraph, and writing a paragraph presupposes a skill in writing a sentence. And to write a sentence requires knowledge of a language’s syntax, or internal logic. All of this is taught at Princeton Latin and Science Academies. Of course, a child can only express what he knows; therefore, a child should have a content rich curriculum. He should be exposed to a broad range of subjects. At Princeton Latin and Science Academies, a child is required to study ten subjects a day, many of which are not offered or required by public or private schools, including music, art and philosophy.

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… to excel in math and science,

At Princeton Latin Academy, and especially at Princeton Science Academy, children are taught that math is the language of science, and that science is a specific way of explaining the natural world through a strict set of rules. Unfortunately, the focus of math and science has been on technology, a tool, the form of which constantly changes, for aiding mathematicians and scientists, and not on the basic principles of these two subjects. The mastery of such tools can be achieved at any time in a person’s life; the master and interest in math and science begin at the elementary school level. It is also where it usually ends. Many schools focus on flashy labs and high speed computer networks, or use math and science to convey political and social agendas, never delving into the laws and theories underpinning these two subjects. The study of math should begin, like any approach to a language, with the study of its alphabet and syntax—arithmetic, algebra and geometry. The study of arithmetic should follow a logical progression: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percents and ratios. The study of science should be broad and introduce children to the various ways the scientific method has been used. Then, as children become proficient in math and reading, they are ready to focus on the three divisions of science: physics, chemistry and biology. They should spend their high school years going in depth in all three subjects, across all four years. Only then will they have an adequate mathematical and scientific background.

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… to grow in respect for one another,

Respect means “to look back” and is something that can only be learned through experience; therefore, a child’s environment will greatly influence how he “looks back” at another human being. Princeton Latin and Science Academies have created a place of positive opportunities for learning respect. First, a child learns that teachers are special adults who must be approached in a certain way. Using specific titles, such as Magister and Magistra, reinforces this relationship. Second, a child learns how to interact with children older than him, with his peers and with children younger than him. Placing all grade levels, Kindergarten through twelfth grade, in the same building exposes a child to children of all ages. Third, a child learns to be part of a community. Participating in school events, such as the Halloween parade, Saturnalia and the Opera, allows the child to be part of something greater than himself. Finally, fundamental to the experience of respect, and something that is lacking in modern society, is the emphasis on honesty. The motto of Princeton Latin Academy is “esse quam videri”, which means “to be rather than to appear”. In other words, be honest: one cannot look back at another person without first being honest.

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… to become a happy, confident individual.

Diffidence in the child must yield to confidence. Most problems in learning stem from a lack of confidence and a false assessment of self, the causes of which, whether physical or moral, may be manifold. It is the task of the educator to meet the child wherever he may be, to bring him to a level of performance, helping him see his strengths and use them in a productive way. Nothing succeeds like success. Achievement makes for a happy child.

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