Denise Fawcett Facey

It’s not easy being a five-year-old nowadays. Blocks, paints and songs have given way to such serious scholastic endeavors as math, reading and the ubiquitous test taking. And the children had better meet the standard lest they be labeled “not proficient” and then forced to repeat kindergarten. Somehow, kindergarten was a lot more fun in the “olden days.” (more…)

Once upon a time SAT scores and grade point averages were the sole determinants of college admission. That notion may become as antiquated as a fairytale now that some colleges have added students’ personalities as an additional determining factor for admission. (more…)

When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his plan to make passing fourth and sixth grades more difficult for students (and to retain those who fail standardized tests), it once again raised the issue of social promotion versus grade retention for struggling students. (more…)

This is not camp as we recall it from our own childhoods; too bad for us! Dance as a conduit for self-discipline, self-esteem, creativity and critical thinking is the basis for Ailey Camp. Developed twenty years ago by the venerable Alvin Ailey, this scholarship-based program continues under the auspices of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, providing an artistic outlet along with a big boost to self-awareness and interpersonal skills for at-risk urban youth in grades six through eight, in ten cities. (more…)

Everything old really is new again. In keeping with the trend in recent years toward returning to schools of only one gender, four schools in different parts of the country are working together to put a new twist on this idea. Beginning next month, these schools (Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland; Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee; Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut; and Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio) will now offer online courses for girls only. (more…)