While we cannot always claim success, we can at least say that we stand for certain ways of being with other people and in society. In this case, we are not pluralistic. We hold that specific forms of behavior are definitely preferred over others. Our standards and those of a public school or even a Christian academy might sound similar, but the permission to implement is held differently. We can intervene and even train the expected behavior.
Relatedness is part of the education.
As for intellectual aspirations, from the start we have been committed to creating a vital relationship with those practices of rational discourse, broad interests, and discerning thought that constitute an examined life. While relationships move the heart deeply, our minds serve as the navigators through the rough waters of reaction, judgment, and resignation. The most exciting school I have seen in years is a public charter school. It has all of the qualities described here. However, the changes it has made do not validate an unwieldy and state-driven system that fails to serve the nation.