I have a favorite quote that I have shared with the teachers at Franklin School. The quote was written by William Butler Yeats. He said, "Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire." What does that quote mean? It means that school is not about filling minds with information, facts, and figures. It is far more important in education that we create in our students a burning desire to learn, not only while they are in school but for the rest of their lives. We create this desire when the curriculum is meaningful and stimulating.

The teachers at Franklin School make learning exciting everyday. We pride ourselves in promoting high expectations for academic success coupled with the development of good character. To that end, our primary goal is to support and encourage our students as they grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. We accomplish this goal by providing the resources that students need to succeed:

1) teachers who are current in research-proven methods of instruction, 2) textbooks, workbooks, and materials that reflect and support the district’s curriculum as well as the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, and 3) a safe comfortable environment for learning.

The importance of a safe learning environment cannot be underestimated. We know from recent brain research that when a person does not feel safe, the brain is "hijacked," meaning that its attention becomes focused solely on preserving the individual’s safety and well-being. Young minds that are worried about being teased, bullied, or made to feel anxious and uncomfortable, are not ready to learn. At Franklin School, I talk with the students about the 3 R’s of a Safe School every September and throughout the year. The 3 R’s are RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, and RESPONSIBLE REPORTING. Each "R" word is defined in terms that the children can understand and many examples of each are discussed. To RESPECT is to "treat others the way you want to be treated." RESPONSIBILITY means to "Do the right thing." RESPONSIBLE REPORTING is explained as "Share real concerns. Is someone’s safety at risk?" The children grasp these concepts fairly well. We rely on the 3 R’s throughout the year to teach children how to make better choices and improve their behavior. It is all about learning to live cooperatively in the world with others, developing problem-solving skills, and taking responsibility for one’s words and actions. When children feel safe in school, their minds are ready to accept the demands of a challenging curriculum, and they are prepared to do their personal best. The students at Franklin School are learning the 3R’s along with their academic lessons and they make us proud every day!