Each educational program that you explore for your child will have an overarching view of education that informs the design of the classroom, curriculum, and enrichment opportunities. It is essential to consider the view of education that programs support before you decide which is best for your child. can influence how a program approaches education, but the main question you need to ask is if the program takes a long-term view of education. A long-term view of education means that the program will be designed with your child’s future success in mind and not focused solely on short-term wins.

Teaching is approached differently when the focus is long-term

Teaching is approached differently when the focus is long-term. Think about the difference between teaching a child to recognize a word versus teaching that same child to read. Recognizing the word is about memorization and only works for the one word. Reading, on the other hand, provides the child with the strategies she needs to figure out any word she encounters. Memorizing one word is faster in the short-term, but learning to read is more beneficial over time. A program with a long-term view of education focuses on learning that will be the most helpful over time and prepare your child for success in life.

Your child will have learning opportunities that build upon one another

An educational program with a long-term view of education will provide your child with learning opportunities that build upon one another. An excellent example of this concept is learning a second language. It takes time, dedication, and years of practice to become fluent in a second language. One or two courses will not do the trick. Programs with a short-term view of education will provide students with a limited amount of language courses to meet the minimum requirements. A program with a long-term view of education, however, will offer language classes and immersion opportunities to provide students with the opportunity to gain fluency in a second language. Learning opportunities that build upon one another will help your child gain deeper comprehension and retain what he or she learns for the long-term.

Your child will be an adult one day

Another important reason to choose an educational program with a long-term view of education is the fact that your child will be an adult one day. Ultimately, the purpose of education is to prepare your child for success in life. If the program you choose focuses on that goal, your child will leave school with the tools he or she needs for success in work and life.

If you are taking the time to explore different educational options for your child, ask each program you consider its view of education. A program with a long-term view of education will, ultimately, provide your child with an education that is relevant in the present and will be applicable in the future.