A World of an Education

Sitting in my hotel room in Budapest, Hungary, my husband on his computer, the kids in the next room, I replay the events of the day in my head.  Today, they learned about history.  Not only the traditional information of dates of events, but they also saw sights that help them to visualize how the culture lived then, and how it is now. 

Thinking about this, I am reminded of their education.  I'm not talking about the typical kind in the classroom.  I am talking about one on the road.  We spent the last two days walking in the snow in the castle district, walking in Hero Square, and seeing buildings, some still with bullet holes from World War II.  We took a break from the cold and popped into the modern shopping mall, and then walked back through the park, just drinking in the architecture with cannons lining the castle walls.  We saw the terror museum dedicated to telling the story of the Nazi occupation sitting among stores like Louis Viutton, and Gucci, displaying how the country has recovered from that era.

The days here have reminded me of our two years on the road learning from guides and museums the sites histories.  Actually being told at the pyramids, the area's history does more than teach them history, it puts a reality to it.  They can not only picture it better, it creates a curiosity around it.  The kids can picture life by the Colosseum in Italy, or in Machu Pichu in Peru.  Then the curiosity spreads to other areas.  Learning became not just interesting, but real and fun.

Returning from our travel years meant finding a school that would continue that philosophy.  We wanted a school that would create an environment where the kids could not only learn, but have fun and enjoy the lesson.  We found a school that not only fit the dream, it exceeded our expectations.  We found a school where the kids can play, enjoy a beautiful setting and not just learn, but be inspired to learn.  The Pathfinder school creates this atmosphere of creativity, responsiblity, and exploration. 

 The kids not only want to come to school, not only don't want to leave at the end of the day, but they are more curious about the world.  After a few years at Pathfinder, I still see the wonder and curiosity in the kids eyes during our week in Budapest.  I see the spirit and fun as they throw snowballs and run in the park.  Back in the hotel they are working on homework from school, I see the same zeal for learning is even stronger than before.  Pathfinder not only kept the curiosity alive, it allowed it to flourish.

- Cathy Colburn, parent

- Eric (Pathfinder alumnus)
- Rebeca (7th grade)
- Alex (5th grade)

“You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.”  ~Clay P. Bedford