Child Development State Preschool - Freedom

Sparthenian Philosophy As we move into the challenges of the twenty-first century and the information age it is necessary to broaden our focus so that the Clovis Unified School District meets the needs of the total development of the student. Development of an efficient human being who can adapt to a changing society is essential.

In the past this has been accomplished by setting broad educational goals in the area of academics and providing a wide range of co-curricular activities. Our past goals have provided students with many opportunities for success and growth. The philosophy of education of the Clovis Unified School District is based upon the principle that each student shall be given an opportunity to maximize his/her potential in the area of mind body and spirit and become a productive contributing member of our society. In order to give this final product identity we coined the term “Clovis Sparthenian.” The definition of the word “Sparthenian” comes from the two words Spartan and Athenian. In ancient Greece the Spartans were noted for being courageous and for having physically sound and disciplined bodies. The Athenians valued intellectual and artistic pursuits. The Clovis Sparthenian combines the better of these two philosophies so the final result is a well-rounded individual who exemplifies our “mind-body-spirit” approach. Mind The Sparthenian concept of fully developed mind includes factual knowledge (understanding) and the ability to use this knowledge to meet the demands of new situations (problem solving). Simple recall or memorization by itself is of limited value but problem solving cannot be accomplished without the ideas methods and procedures previously learned. In these rapidly changing times schools face the difficult task of preparing young people to succeed in careers that do not yet exist and to use technology that has not been invented. Therefore citizens of the twenty-first century must possess skills and knowledge that will enable them to adapt to the new technology and to add to the development of civilization and the betterment of mankind. Body The wellness concept reaches the needs of society’s demands for a strong firm and well-nourished body. To become an effective contributor to society students will be able to take responsibility for their own health. The student will learn to stay healthy through good health practices and will understand the importance of self-discipline in establishing a life-style that produces maximum lifelong health and wellness. Spirit The Sparthenian “spirit” goal purposefully direct educational strategies to produce human beings of ethical character with positive feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence that will take risks and deal with success and failure in mature and acceptable ways. The competitive spirit will provide them the ability to strive towards excellence whether in the educational system or in a profession out of school. They will be able to respond with greater awareness and appreciation to the beauty in the world. The person with the Sparthenian spirit will value the rights of others and make a positive contribution towards bettering our social and physical environment. Regardless of where their ambitions lie Sparthenians will value the education they are given and understand how to use those skills to communicate with others in the social realms of their families their peers their school and their community.