The Gailer School
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| The Gailer School | |
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Inspiring students to love learning and become insightful world citizens
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| Location | |
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| Middlebury, VT, United States | |
| Information | |
| Religion | None |
| Enrollment |
35 |
| Type | 7th-12th grades |
| Athletics | soccer, broom ball |
| Mascot | the goat or python |
| Established | 1989 |
| Homepage | http://www.gailer.org/ |
The Gailer School is a co-educational independent day school for grades 7–12, located in Middlebury, Vermont.
Founded in 1989 by Harry Chaucer, a former high school science teacher, and was based on his experiences with running the Chaucer house at the Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, Vermont. Dr. Chaucer followed the principles of the Coalition of Essential Schools as he designed the curriculum, placing a special emphasis on finding original sources, using it to develop a thesis, and then testing that thesis [1]. He decided to name the school's educational program for Leonardo da Vinci. The original curriculum wass history-based, beginning with the origin of the universe and extending to contemporary times. [2]
The "da Vinci" curriculum continues to stress interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to see the interconnectedness of science, history, mathematics, language and the written word in their learning. Classes include seminar-based discussions, lectures, student presentations, field work and group projects. Each student also takes a weekly "master class", allowing the in-depth study of a chosen subject. Students also are required to perform community service to encourage and understand their connectedness to their community. Gailer was one of the first schools in Vermont to introduce community service into its curriculum.
The school aims to foster the development of skills necessary for students to succeed in college and the world:
- Communication: written, artistic and oral communication skills essential for reasoning and expression of complex ideas.
- Mathematics: fundamental knowledge and skills; ability to imagine and solve complex problems; history of mathematics.
- Science: understanding the scientific process; history of science; scientific information, skills and theories.
- Technological Literacy: expertise in gathering and assessing information; proficiency in common computer operations.
- Cultural Fluency: understanding and appreciating a variety of cultural experiences, including geography, language, the arts, political and religious philosophies.
- Learning to Learn: ability to formulate questions, see connections among academic disciplines, solve problems and engage in lifelong learning.
- Ethics: sensitivity to ethical issues; understanding the importance of individual, institutional and corporate accountability; respect for self, others, the learning process and environment.
- Teamwork and Leadership: comfort with team situations, group problem-solving and decision-making in both supportive and leadership roles.
- Organization and Responsibility: effective organization of time and materials necessary for learning; habits of responsibility, punctuality and accountability for decisions and performance.
During its first year, the Gailer School operated out of the living room of its founder. From 1990 to 1998, it rented an unused school in Middlebury, Vermont, from the Catholic diocese and drew its student body from both Addison and Chittenden counties and hosted a number of international students, primarily from Indonesia. During the 1997-1998 school year, the school had its highest enrollment, with over 80 students participating in Gailer's unique curriculum [3]. That year, over 75% of the students were traveling from the Burlington area, which meant spending almost two hours in a car or bus each school day. The Board of Directors began looking for a school location that was more centrally located to the bulk of its student body.[4]
During the summer of 1998, Gailer moved from Middlebury to Shelburne, Vermont. From 1998 to 2006 the school was located in a rented space in Shelburne, and drew its student body from both Addison and Chittenden counties. In 2006, the Board of Trustees looked at student demographics, costs, and local competition from other progressive schools, and decided to move the school back to its original home in Middlebury. It settled in a transitional home at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury, Vermont, where the school was refounded and a capital campaign begun to buy a permanent building for the school.
[edit] External links
- Home page: http://www.gailer.org/
- Craig Bailey (July 2000). The Headmaster's Tale. Business People Vermont.
[edit] References
- ^ Position Statement, The Gailer School, February 9, 2001, page 3
- ^ The Gailer School Planning Committee Report & Recommendations, November 12, 2001, page 8
- ^ The Gailer School Planning Committee Report and Recommendations, November 12, 2001. page 3
- ^ Position Statement, The Gailer School, February 9, 2001, page 1
