Delphian School New Head Speaks at Delphi Academy Back-to-School Breakfast

    SHERIDAN, OR, September 24, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Part start-of-the-year social and part parent orientation, a hot breakfast was served to parents of Delphi Academy of Campbell while Mr. Trevor Ott, new Head of School of the Delphian School in Sheridan, Oregon, gave a talk entitled, "Setting A New Standard In Education." Mr. Ott spoke about Delphian's rich history beginning with a small group of educators back in the 70's who were driven by the common purpose of helping society by improving the field of education.

Mr. Ott also spoke about the network of seven Delphi schools across the country, three offering high school programs, and nearly 1000 students enrolled.

Mr. Ott spoke about the current trend in education of "teaching to the test." The problem with this, he explained, is that the most commonly held standard in education is the standard of basic Duplication (memorization of facts in order to pass a test), rather than understanding the information with the intention of putting it to use.

"When a student duplicates the information provided by a course, when he or she can remember what was said or read and give it back, they are considered educated," said Mr. Ott. "The primary skill required for success under that standard is the ability to memorize and give back information."

However, he explained, there is a higher standard available to educators. It is a standard that the best educators often achieve with their students, and that standard is Understanding, which is why a test at Delphian School may combine oral, written and practical aspects.

Mr. Ott also referenced a newly released Gallup poll, sponsored by the Lumina Foundation. The poll revealed that 14 percent of Americans -- and only 11 percent of business leaders -- strongly agree that graduates have the necessary skills and competencies to succeed in the workplace. That's in contrast to another recent survey, conducted by Inside Higher Ed in conjunction with Gallup, indicating that 96 percent of academic officers believe that they're effectively preparing students for success in the workplace.

Ott pointed out that for knowledge to be applied to success in life, students need to go beyond duplication of the material, and get to a point where they really understand it and can then use judgment on how to use the information in real-life applications.

The Delphian School's goal is to have its students move beyond mere duplication to true understanding, eventually arriving at excellent judgment of the subject and the ability to use it with critical thinking.

Delphi Academy noted, "It was great to learn more about Delphi's history. We were honored to have Mr. Trevor visit our school!"

About:
The Delphian School is an independent, coeducational day and boarding school located in Sheridan, Oregon open to students from around the world. We offer a rigorous academic independent-study program with a strong emphasis on practical learning for primary through high school students. Delphian also offers a highly regarded international entry program and boasts a diverse, international student body representing over eighteen countries.

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