Another, certainly less talked about, story out of CBS this past weekend highlighted a 55-mile, 5-day mountain hike one secondary school’s freshman must complete in order to become sophomores.
Students at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark are required to make the trek with minimal supervision in teams of five. Each team has designated positions – cook, captain, navigator – and together they must manage resources, pace, camp, etc.
In case you’re ancient like me and need reminding: Most of these kids are only 15 years old.
CBS’s entire feature package is worth a watch, even though it only scratches the surface.
Benedict’s, which is Catholic, has two mottos: “Whatever hurts my brother or sister hurts me” and “Benedict’s hates a quitter.” The education kids receive there is both multifaceted and simple. Students learn through “experiential” training blocs, through traditional education blocs, and they also share in the responsibility of basic school operations.
The goal, as outlined by Benedict’s itself, is for students to become mathematically, linguistically, and religiously literate, of course, but also civically literate. To emerge with a sense of duty and promptly become functioning and contributing members of their communities.
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