HOS Blog: No Day at the Beach

If you keep up with trends in education, you have likely heard of the 21st Century Skills movement. Those who champion this movement make a compelling argument that exponential advancements in technology and the resulting changes necessitate a reevaluation of what and how we teach. With limitless content, just a few clicks away, and an ever-changing economy, the traditional "sage on the stage" teacher, who curates personalized technology-infused learning experiences, seems better equipped to guide our young people into the future. Doesn't tomorrow demand a curriculum that emphasizes both technological know-how and softer skills such as creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration?

The answer is undoubtedly yes, but framing the question as a choice between the past and the future requires greater accuracy. While there are certainly valuable technical skills unique to our time, the reality is that the world has always demanded higher-order thinking skills from Falmouth Academy graduates, and Falmouth Academy has consistently delivered.

Last Thursday, I, along with several curious seals, bore witness to a "class" that even the most ardent 21st Century Skills enthusiast would cite as an exemplar. This occurred in a technology-free classroom that extended for miles. I am referring to our cherished Marconi Beach Day, a day so revered in the calendar of FA students past and present that a student once wrote and performed a song about it. Every year, students are divided into multi-grade groups of twelve or so. Under the guidance of their seniors, each group collaborates on the design and construction of an elaborate sand sculpture that reflects a topical and theme-based concept. Among this year's creations were:

And many other imaginative and contemporary designs.

This project is no "day at the beach"; it demands essential skills in project management, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity—hallmarks of a progressive education. Students even earn extra points for collecting and creatively using the numerous "unconventional materials" that can be found on the beach on any given day.

In this morning's all-school meeting, one of the groups received the "golden shovel," an annual trophy awarded to the sculpture that best meets the criteria outlined in the rubric. It's a highly sought-after prize and a source of pride among the students, but ultimately, no one truly remembers the winner, nor do they particularly care. What endures are the memories created and perhaps the fleeting feeling of returning to nature and experiencing the parallel play moments of early childhood. These will persist long after this year's sculptures have been washed away.