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THE PRINCIPIA M IDDLE SCHOOL 1973-1974 St. Louis, Missouri THE PRINCIPIA Series 1, Vol. IL, No. 1 Winter, 1973 Published quarterly by The Principia 13201 Clayton Road St. Louis, Mo. 63131 Entered as second-class matter at St. Louis, Missouri Principia Middle School: Middle School Its Identity and Goals The Principia shall recognize that man as the child of The grammar school is not merely a place in which to God reflects the intelligence and strength of his Maker, prepare for high school, nor is the high school to be and that all men have equal opportunity and equal considered simply in the light of preparation for college. ability in the sight of God. Policy No. Three, The Purpose The training, from the very beginning, should be the and Policies of The Principia. fitting of the child for the experiences of life, whatever these experiences may be. Mary Kimball Morgan, in Education at The Principia. Principia’s Middle School (Grades Seven and Eight) warmly welcomes boys and girls from Christian Science homes. Attending Principia as a boarder begins on the Middle School has many specific aims, all wrapped up seventh-grade level, and one of the most interesting in one over-all goal: to provide the kind of enthusiastic, features of Middle School life is the opportunity to make stimulating atmosphere — one of recognition, lifelong friends, not only with St. Louis day students, appreciation, encouragement — which not only prepares but with resident students from many different states boys and girls to meet the strong demands of high school and — occasionally — foreign countries. but strengthens them for the challenges of life itself. With Principia’s Lower School (pre-school and Grades One of our greatest assets is our size. As a small One to Six) and Upper School (Grades Nine to Twelve), school, with better than average student-teacher ratio, Middle School occupies a 360-acre campus of woods we can work closely with students and parents. and fields in suburban St. Louis. Principia College is Individual attention is essential to our program In every located 40 miles away on the Mississippi bluffs outside way; for example, individualized instruction, independent Elsah, Illinois. projects, self-study, are basic to academic work. We Principia itself, founded in 1898, is today the oldest feel there is no better way to meet our over-all goal than and largest boarding school in the world for Christian to try to meet each student’s specific needs — spiritually, Scientists — and the only college. As in the beginning, morally, intellectually, physically, socially — as the our educational programs are based on founder Mary unique person he is. Kimball Morgan’s belief, as a Christian Scientist, that The early teens are generally recognized as difficult any theory of education must begin with the educator’s humanly; it’s a growing-up age, forever coping with new concept of the child he is to teach. emotions and feelings. But Middle School teachers are Because it is our aim at Principia to develop the unanimous in agreeing that it’s a fascinating age, whole man — spiritually, morally, intellectually, too — alert, energetic, unafraid, forthright, anything athletically, socially— it is expected that contacts but apathetic. All Middle School programs and between teacher and student be based on an under­ activities are geared to these early teen years. standing of Christian Science and that any problems One good example is the enriched social program that arise be worked out on this basis. planned by teachers and students. The wide variety of At the same time, we clearly recognize that we have activities — formal and informal, required and optional, no right to teach Christian Science through the some strictly for fun, others with fringe learning medium of classroom subjects. benefits — range from dances and sports nights to roller­ skating parties, dinners, picnics, drama, and field trips. There is no dating; all activities are group-oriented A major asset is that Middle School has its own social center designed for both casual stoppinq-bv and planned activities. Facilities Academic Courses The Principia shall seek continuously to improve its The Principia shall seek divine inspiration in the conduct educational facilities and business practices in order to of its work and shall therefore willingly depart from keep abreast of educational progress and in key with common practices whenever the fact becomes clear that changing world conditions. Policy No. Eleven, The there is a better way of doing things. Policy No. Eight, Purpose and Policies of The Principia. The Purpose and Policies of The Principia. Grade Seven Middle School classrooms, library, and science General Science Study of night sky, including in-depth laboratory are located In their own wing — with its own study of moon and TSM Investigation #9 (Worlds in entrance — of Prlnclpla’s main academic building. Space). Conservation: study of trees, soil, animals, Nearby are the audio-visual center, art and music pond life. Some physical science included through rooms, two gyms, pool, and playing fields. filmloops, experimentation. Some photography. Students All the academic facilities have been planned with a have opportunities to work with lower grades in the primary aim in mind: to encourage individualization, sciences. inquiry, and independent learning. Mathematics Review of fundamentals: decimals, The library, with its continually enriched collection percentage; metric, non-metric geometry; some topics of some 8,500 books, is always in use, for study, in algebra. Discovery approach, with emphasis on projects, research, free reading. Facilities and services individualization. offered by the newer audio-visual center and science French Oral and written expression, based on first-year laboratory enrich textbook and library materials, permit high-school text; lab work once a week. Emphasis on deeper exploration and experimentation in a world of listening and speaking. exploding knowledge and instant communication, are Language Arts Written and oral expression; English available for group and individual study and projects. mechanics; vocabulary study; dramatics; supplementary The audio-visual center, with 25 carrels, accom­ reading, often in correlation with social studies; modates 50 students, is equipped with a 12-channel developmental reading. broadcaster, record players, tape recorders, filmstrip Social Studies Major aspects of recent and cassette viewers and projectors, slide projector, TV contemporary history, including world affairs and camera. Learning experiences and services possible to developments in United States. students through the center include videotaping programs from television for classroom use; filming Grade Eight classroom and school activities; viewing educational General Science ISCS (Vol. 2) chemistry; study of materials independently or in groups; writing, filming, environmental science as group project, followed by and showing original skits and productions. individual in-depth study in area of interest; some Also available to Middle Schoolers: the resources, photography. Camping trip. Students have opportunities facilities, and staffs of Upper School’s library and to work with lower grades In the sciences. resource center. Mathematics Study of decimals, percentage, metric and Middle School’s science laboratory has 24 individual non-metric geometry continued; additional topics in stations — equipped for beginning chemists — as well algebra introduced. Advanced students have opportunity as centers for the study of animals and birds. to complete one year of high-school algebra, can Music and art rooms are spacious and well equipped. enroll in second-year math as high-school freshmen. In addition to the music room for group study, there are Discovery approach, with emphasis on individualization. separate facilities for individual work and practice. French Oral and written expression continued, based Not only do Middle Schoolers have their own gym on first-year high-school text; lab work once a week. facilities, but access as well to two Upper School Increased emphasis on reading. Satisfactory completion gyms. Included: Upper and Middle School playing fields, of first-year French (Grades Seven and Eight) equals their own playground area, use of Olympic-size pool. one high-school credit, entitles student to enroll in second-year French as high-school freshmen. Language Arts Written and oral expression; word and vocabulary study; English mechanics; supplementary reading, often in correlation with social studies; developmental reading. Social Studies Development of United States, from periods of exploration and discovery through nineteenth w century. Wide use of films, film cassettes, to enrich textbook materials. Grades Seven and Eight Music Elements of Kodaly and Orff systems of teaching included, with emphasis on encouraging a student not only to read music but to hear it, feel it, understand it. Sight-singing; singing in parts; some history, style, form. Group instruction in chorus; group instruction for beginners in band instruments; band open to all who play and own instruments. Art Instruction in wide variety of media, including painting, drawing, printing, posters, weaving, modeling, mosaics, ceramics, carving, collages, wire sculpture. Some appreciation. Independent projects by end of Grade Eight. Emphasis on creativity, imagination, Students are encouraged not just to play, but observation, aimed at bringing out each student’s to understand music. uniqueness

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