Wood-Gormley Elementary

Strong principal, great teachers, very active parent-teacher organization that raises money to support music (band, chorus), the arts, PE, library and more! I have two children (2nd and 4th graders) that have had very good experiences since Kindergarten. Great teacher communication with parents. Only complaint is pressure to be on time (3 tardies = detention) and focus on testing that you find at every public school these days.

Ask most anyone in Santa Fe which elementary school is the best, and resoundingly you’ll hear “Wood-Gormley.” WG is located in an affluent part of Santa Fe and even educates some celebrity children. When I moved into that part of town, I was naturally giddy. How awesome my child would be schooled at the best.

Best. Best based on which qualifications? The answer depends on your awareness of public education and how children learn.

By WG’s own admission on the SFPS website, its strong parent involvement is what makes it special and based on what I’ve seen, that’s true. Parents are always happily contributing. So, what else makes it special or even the best?

Here is where educational points-of-view may vary. Let me ask:

Is student achievement, rigorous core academics, high test scores, Nationally Certified teachers, uniformity, high levels of homework, and an overall serious demeanor important aspects of a good education in your reality?

OR

Is student empowerment, hands-on learning, experiential classes, creative expression, joy in learning, relaxed teachers, and encouragement for independent thinking aspects that fit your ideal?

If the former is your target, Wood-Gormley may be a good fit for you. If the latter describes your idea of good learning, keep looking.

GW’s principal, Dr. Linda Bassett, seems to be a finely tuned yes-man for federal regulation and district pressure. She aligns and agrees with rigorous core academic programming, places heavy significance on student performance with standardized tests, pushes strict adherence to uniform policy, and she demands perfect attendance.

Perfect attendance? Most of these children come from the well-educated, successful elite faction of Santa Fe. Rather than learning about places in a book, they take their children to these places. Rather than acquiring Spanish in a classroom, they take their children to Chile and enroll them in schools there for a few months. Does Dr. Bassett know her population? Many of these kids miss school because they’re traveling the world. She’d rather they stay put in a classroom with over-worked, agitated teachers handling more kids than the room can hold?

Uniforms. Euphemistically called “dress code.” All Santa Fe Public School children must follow clothing regulation. Think about this: Where through history and up to present time are uniforms worn? With what population of people? Well, people who need to be behaviorally stripped down and put into place. People who need to have their individuality removed and who need to be programmed to be, act, speak, and think in a predetermined manner. Is that what you desire for your child?

SFPS trains students to be just the same as everyone around them. Don’t be different, don’t step out of line, don’t grow too big. Think about the most successful people in the world ~ Donald Trump, Oprah, Richard Branson. Would they have gotten to where they are today remaining small like everyone else? In my home, middle management is not the communicated status quo. Entrepreneurship & running the show is our target. What makes a great education is a school who empowers my child to think big, to create, to generate, and to institute change, success, and confidence. A know-how to find out more when necessary. Wood-Gormley is training for middle management robots. Yes-men who do what they’re told.

From what I can see, WG is getting by on its outdated reputation and those afore mentioned parents. It’s not focused on its own population & demographics, but rather a one-size-fits all educational structure. One size does not and will never fit all.

Since when did education become such a serious job that our children needed to begin at age five? What’s the value in over-testing, grinding teacher knuckles to the bone, and being so ridiculously serious? Is this structure working?

It surprises me a place known for its creative thinking and artistic values would behold an education system such as SFPS. And it surprises me WG wouldn't have a little leeway within the confines of SFPS considering it's doing just fine score-wise.

My child will be attending a private Montessori school soonish. Hopefully before too much mediocrity sets in.