I’m helping run the school tours this week. It’s something that happens in my town because we have seven elementary schools to choose from and prospective parents get to tour each one to figure out which is right for their child. They send their list in order of preference to the town registrar and hope for the best.

Naturally, since I’m running the tours at my son’s school, I believe in the program. It’s based on an integrated curriculum (there are thematic units that incorporate all subjects) and the responsive classroom (an approach to learning that makes children feel proud about their work for themselves, rather than look for external reinforcement, be it grades or praise from teachers or parents.)

Here are some of things parents have asked me so far:

“Do you guys raise millions of dollars at your fundraisers? Don’t some schools really raise a million dollars?”

“I’m hearing a lot about learning, I need to hear about fun. What’s fun about this school?”

I overheard this:

“My daughter is really exceptional and I just can tell that this place its not going to be enough for her.”

And while touring two a mom’s they asked a a second grade boy what he liked about school and he said, unprompted:

“It’s like a family and everyone cares about each other here.“