Philosophy

Puget Sound Community School is founded upon the belief that people are intrinsically compelled to learn and will do so eagerly when provided a positive environment and support in their self-selected pursuits. We believe the best education requires students to think for themselves and to know they control their own destinies. Equal status is given to all pursuits so our students learn how to structure their time and activities in a way that matches their interests to their goals. We nourish healthy human development while respecting all aspects of our students’ lives -- emotional, social, intellectual, interpersonal, moral, spiritual, artistic, and physical -- in a safe, collaborative, and encouraging community. We maintain a school structure free to adhere to valid traditional forms and free to create new ones.

Some of Our Beliefs About the World

• The general educational system in our country was designed for and based on the now antiquated assembly line, factory floor model of the industrial age.  Effective post-industrial educational models need to be constructed that help people develop high level thinking and problem-solving skills.

• The amount of information in the world is expanding at an astonishing rate.  As a result, no one is able to accurately predict what information every person should possess.  Young people, then, should no longer be made to store information for future use.  Instead, they will be best served by becoming skilled at gathering, interpreting, and selecting information from the vast resources which are available to them.

• In order to solve increasingly complex human problems, people must have opportunities to think critically, work in teams, learn to compromise, and learn to communicate effectively.

• If current trends continue, today's youth will change jobs several times during their lifetimes and, to best succeed, will need to be life-long learners able to adapt to changes.

Some of Our Educational Ideals

• Learning is an activity of life, not a preparation for life.

• An approach to learning that emphasizes how to think rather than what to think is essential in helping young people become true learners.

• An educational environment should be safe, nurturing, trusting, loving, and respectful.  It should support people in becoming self-directed learners who develop at their own pace.  It should be cooperative, not competitive, a place where the interchange of ideas and the willingness to take chances and try new things are encouraged.

• People should not be segregated into groups according to their ages.

• Self-discipline and intrinsic motivation challenge individuals from within.  Working for grades or material incentives tends to stifle rather than liberate the desire to become deeply involved in an area of study or work.

• Enthusiastic and caring adults who are life-long learners are important role models for young people as they grow.

• Family participation is an essential part of a young person's learning.

Some of Our School Goals

• To provide a learning environment that is safe, supportive, nurturing, trusting, loving, and respectful, and that reflects and celebrates human diversity, and a school that exemplifies integrity, moral and ethical values, and enhances the development of character.

• To support our students in the pursuit of their interests and passions while enabling them to make intelligent choices, think critically, use knowledge freely and creatively, and adapt flexibly and intelligently to change.

• To provide opportunities for real-life experiences and community participation.

• To enable our students to become individuals who can take action, be responsible for their actions, and who will seek their own goals and not just the approval of others.

• To develop young people who are able to work and learn independently as well as cooperatively.

• For the school to become an integral part of the community and for our students to develop a deeply felt sense of connection to both the human community and the natural world.

Some of the Characteristics PSCS Aims to Nurture in Our Students

• Responsibility, including independence, reliability/dependability, accountability, and trustworthiness.

• Honesty, including truthfulness, fairness, and sincerity.

• Charity, including kindness, caring, good will, tolerance, and compassion/mercy.

• Integrity, including exercising good judgment and adherence to ethical principles.

• Self-Discipline, including acting with reasonable restraint and not indulging in excessive behavior.