Practical life education

Our mission is values-based, purpose-focused practical life education through the lifespan.

Education should bring out a person's best.  

Too often, the skills focused on in school are very narrow, favoring the few, leaving behind the many. This happens in school today and it happened in schooling in the past. This problem leaves most people with memories of mediocre or bad experiences of the learning itself, even if they enjoyed their friends or after school activities.

Our approach is practical, not overly academic or mystical. We seek to tie learning to people's real lives and needs, such as good communication skills, health, movement, enjoyment of the outdoors, good relationships, decision-making, and financial abundance. Learning life skills and maintaining healthy inquisitiveness about life usually have to have some practical dimension for effective lifespan learning. 

Most of us do not need to know such abstract notions as what iambic pentameter is or the definition of an isosceles triangle. That kind of learning should not be imposed on people because such mind-numbing concepts often get in the way of becoming a lover of poetry and drama, for example, turning many people off to learning because it feels like a useless, barren endeavor. Their experience in school leads many people to think: "this place (school) is not for me." Rarefied academics and hyper-competitive behavior do not bring a good quality of life or learning to most people.

Therefore, going beyond restricted views of logical thinking, abstract language use as a sign and coin of intelligence, and classroom teaching shutting down the wonderful movement of the body through excessive silence, sitting still, social conformity, and rigid turn-taking requirements, the Essex Center embraces learning that supports the needs people having varied learning skills and interests.

We can support those who are gifted academically or who are highly competitive as long as they are willing to act in a manner that respects and supports other people as gifted in their own ways, equally deserving of respect, engagement, and support. At the Essex Center, excellence in any field, whether that be the sciences, engineering, artificial intelligence, the arts, or liberal arts can be celebrated, supporting participants to find those outside resources to fulfill their talents, but here we specifically strive to assure a balanced life by acquiring and valuing other learning skills for living well.

Areas of practical life education, and some accompanying learning and practice of the skills necessary in those areas include:

Communicating clearly, correctly, and effectively in spoken and written English, with supports in place for individuals to concurrently achieve skills in family or chosen languages.

Learning how to learn in light of one's unique talents and interests.

Healthy diet, including ingredients selection and preparation for good food, comfort food, and fun food.

Healthy movement, not just boring exercises, but actually learning about one's body, embodying that knowledge to carry us through a long, flexible, strong life, whether one is an athlete, a dancer, or a person who wants to move pain free and safely in every day activities.

Social skills such as social problem solving, conflict resolution, individual responsibility, ability to work on teams, assertiveness, friendships through the lifespan, and resilience.

Advocating for what is right, respectfully and skillfully 

Optimism, including inner peace, personal and professional authenticity, and centeredness as an experience and goal in all areas of life: livelihood, financial abundance, friends and family, health, and appearance. Joy and happiness are wonderful to have, when possible, but at times righteous anger at injustice, mourning losses, or feeling distant from others, self, or our life's purpose are normal life experiences. Our goals are to be ourselves and to follow our true destiny, while at the same time seeking to minimize distress to the extent we can so as to not be thrown off of our sense of self or stability any longer than necessary.