By Mia Munn
Pittsboro, NC – Responding to Mary Phyllis’s concerns about Thales School Curriculum in Chatham Chalist #5326
“I’m hearing that the Thales Schools do not have any creative arts in their curriculum and also no physical activity (as in PE classes). Is this true? If so, the creators of same have a myopic view of what is needed for true intellectual growth and health. ”
Here is the link to the curriculum page for Thales schools http://www.thalesacademy.org/
They offer arts at all levels and physical education at elementary and middle school. In k-5, Phys Ed, Art, and Music are “Specials”. At middle school, Phys Ed is required in each grade (along with Health and Technology), and there are electives for musical theater, band, Personal Fitness, and Chorus. At the high school level, a fine arts credit is required each year at Rolesville, but not at Apex. At both high schools, there are electives in Performing Arts, Band, and Studio Art.
*********** From Chatham Chatlist # 5326 **********
Date: Sun, 2 Aug 2015 16:06:51 -0400
From: Mary Phyllis Horn
Subject: Re Thales Schools
I’m hearing that the Thales Schools do not have any creative arts in their curriculum and also no physical activity (as in PE classes). Is this true? If so, the creators of same have a myopic view of what is needed for true intellectual growth and health.
The arts are not just for developing talent in music, fine arts, dance, acting. They are actually for developing the parts of the brain that allow a person to think creatively in ANY endeavor and line of work in life. Creative thinking allows a person to think of alternative means for achieving success in ANY area of life. It is the avenue for helping a person learn how to work cooperatively with others in a non-combative, non-coercive, humane way. It helps a person find solutions to disagreements, solutions that at times may be quite out of the ordinary yet highly helpful.
Everyone needs physical activity for maintaining good health. Studies have also shown that periodic “free time” such as in recess also helps a child be more alert at subsequent learning hours.
Many educational studies also have shown that there at least five learning styles. Lecture and reading are but two of those. What works for one person doesn’t work for another, and the variance in learning style has little to do with IQ. This is why a good teacher needs to be schooled in creative thinking of how best to get the subject matter across to a child.