Comments on: Will Smith’s private school is accepting applications for Fall (update)

By: Foundations school

Foundations school — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:47:50 +0000

I think this school is non secular everyone is aware what he believes but it does not seem to be tied to the school – perhaps the way the students will learn but I do not see a mention of scientology in the school lesson plan

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Gena

Gena — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:46:16 +0000

I would like to know why history is NOT important!! He was cool for awhile. I think he lost his mind when he befriended Tom Cruise….who was cool once, too!

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: james dickson

james dickson — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:40:14 +0000

how do you join “Will Smith’s private school is accepting applications for Fall

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: vdantev

vdantev — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:36:43 +0000

I was wondering when the clams were going to rise up and defend their little buddy.

I’m an SP, write it down.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Jonny B

Jonny B — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:28:10 +0000

The Hubbard study technology is totally nonreligious. Looks like more and more people like Smith are finding it useful and it doesn’t mean they are Scientologists. But scientologists will be attracted to the school because they agree with it’s methods. That’s all that’s happening. Sorry if it’s less exciting that the media spins it.

The exact DATE of the boston tea party is worthless! The idea should of course be taught, and I agree with Smith.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Marinda Ferrell

Marinda Ferrell — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:19:25 +0000

I have a M.Ed and the fact Mr. Smith’s school is based on individualized instructions give me a reason to applaud his endeavor. Every student learn differently. Understanding “how” a student learn and teaching to his/her learning style is not a consideration in traditional classrooms.

Individualize instructions is a specific step for enhancing a student potential and increasing academic success. A student given an opportunity to progress at their pace is important for confidence and self-esteem development.

Sue can’t learn math as well as Tom, but with her learning math at her pace, she can perform adequately to pass a Standardized Math Exam.

Educators often teach to the test not to the student’s ability and Mr. Smith need to given gratitude for bridging the gap on the learning curve.

Marinda Ferell

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: JM

JM — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:59:22 +0000

From which accredited school does Smith have his Master’s in education? It says on IMDB that he did not attend M.I.T. where he was accepted.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: nick

nick — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:58:04 +0000

It’s so easy to jump to conclusions. While I don’t completely agree with Will, I do understand where he’s coming from. Most people seeking education beyond high school are not doing it for personal enrichment; they’re doing it so that they can specialize in a particular field. The large majority of the growth that you see after a person has gone off to college or grad school is due to other factors, not sitting in a classroom five days a week being lectured to.
I learned a long time ago that it’s so much easier to learn when I can apply what I’m doing to real life. Sure, it sounds good to say, “You need to know the date of the Boston Tea Party,” but how is that going to be applied to life as the person experiences it today? While history is important, it tends to hold more value when the person can understand (individualistically) how that history applies to the person that they are today. For instance, I’m Black. The Boston Tea Party did not bring about any new, positive changes for Africans at the time, so I couldn’t possibly care less. British or American rule, Africans were still slaves. It all has to be put into context.
I do agree with Will when he states that children really aren’t learning anything these days. Though I don’t teach, I do tutor grades 3-College, and it is appalling how few of them are able to add fractions or write complete sentences. Children are being taught how to pass tests; they are memorizing instead of learning. It makes no sense to me that almost child that I work with has to be retaught information from the previous year/semester/quarter instead of just being given a refresher in the subject.
If his school is going to combat these flaws and not push religion of any sort on these kids, then I’m all for it. Not sure about Plato and whatnot; that is not something children need to try to grapple with in elementary school. But if his school means that more children are going to learn, then I’m all for it.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: michael

michael — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:00:56 +0000

Will Smith is a great actor. His personal believes do not matter in what I think he can do, act. I think the school may be good, if he decides to put his own kids in his own school. The DATE of the Boston Tea Party doesn’t matter. The acts of those at the Boston Tea Party matter. I agree and disagree with Will Smith.

Report this comment as spam or abuse

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:10:50 +0000

It’s a little scary to see how some posts latch onto a phrase in an interview and take it to mean that memorizing dates means Smith does not value history. Quite the opposite, it seems. He values the underpinnings of what formed the opinions of our founding fathers. (Even our early public buildings were modeled after the Greeks, you know.) To know that Smith has read what these men read to understand them better…well, like Peter Jennings and Barry Diller, also non-college-goers but supremely intelligent, he is more truly educated for diving into the information himself. School has its plusses, but to take only what most schooling offers and call yourself “done” is not very, well, smart. To consult with the level of educators he has listed, to hold roundtables and really think things through – WOW. Are any of you naysayers doing anything close?

He is a pioneer, as is his wife – doing so much more with their lives than sitting on movie sets and next to pools. I was completely impressed.

And btw, it is called “homeschooling” if your kids are learning in your home – and it is even smarter that they hired teachers they scrutinized and believed in. Those kids are going to be amazing adults, I bet. I can’t wait to see how they emerge!

I hope that his school in some way affects our educational system. There are some teachers who do make their studens think more broadly. I think they’d love it if the system supported that more.

And the food, too. I wish my son were not too old for this place.
My son’s school is $27,000 a year – so Smith’s school is about right around here…and as is true with so many private schools, MANY kids do get financial help, and diversity (financial and racial) is a focus at every school I ever toured. It’s far better than it looks at first glance.

Report this comment as spam or abuse