Our core curriculum clubs and classes are designed to develop the
student’s mind in ways that cannot be accomplished by the state required
curriculum alone. Over the past century the needs of the marketplace
have driven the state curriculum, which has caused it to become more
pragmatic. Of course, Newman International Academy recognizes the
necessity and utility of a curriculum focused on preparation for higher
education and vocation. It is needed and extremely important. However,
this endeavor to narrow the curriculum’s focus has forced many public
schools to eliminate some disciplines that, not only serve as the
foundation for better student performance in the basic, state required
curriculum, but also allow the student to become a better thinker— to be
more strategic in making decisions that will affect all aspects of his
or her life. At Newman we have implemented Core Curriculum Clubs and
Classes to ensure that our students are fully prepared to engage
education, vocation and life, strategically.
Chess: A growing body of research shows that chess
improves students' thinking and problem-solving skills as well as their
math and reading test scores. Chess also helps the student's visual
memory, attention span, and spatial-reasoning ability. Players actually
begin to develop new neural pathways in the brain which help them to
reason more effectively, and even overcome mental disabilities. And
because chess requires players to make a series of decisions, each move
helps the student learn to plan ahead, evaluate alternatives, use logic
to make sound choices. This is more than a game. It is a catalyst for
thinking strategically about life’s many choices. What’s more, students
generally love playing chess.
The Newman chess program is supported by Dr. Ebenezer Joseph, one of the
best chess players in the world! He is the chess champion of India and
has beaten the world champion three times. He has spent much of his
adult life training young people to play chess, specifically for the
purposes of helping them achieve greater cognitive capacity and
realizing greater opportunity. We are thankful to have his regular and
intimate involvement with our program such that we may help our students
become better, more strategic chess players, and thinkers.
Please click here for a video of Ebenezer Joseph giving a chess workshop.
Debate: Debate is a long-valued method of education,
traditionally called rhetoric. It aids a student in developing numerous
skillsets, some of which are not immediately obvious. First, debate
helps a student develop self-confidence, as he or she regularly stands
before an audience explaining and declaring propositions. Second, debate
teaches a student how to analyze propositions. In a world where
social-media appears always to have the last word, this skill is of
paramount importance. Third, the ability to stand against a proposition
held persuasively by others, empowers the student to be an individual
among his or her peers; it helps him or her to be a leader rather than a
follower. Fourth, debate demands discipline: discipline of the mind,
and of behavior. This teaches the student to think and act in accordance
with reason, rather than emotion. Fifth, debate teaches a student to
speak persuasively, which is, of course, integral to any relationship
and vocation. Maybe the most important skill learned in debate, is
strategic thinking, i.e.: “If I say this, he will say that, which will
allow me to close this way.” This translates well into all academic
endeavors, (test preparation for example) and a profitable life.
Latin: Latin helps students to understand English
language more deeply. Indeed, half of our English language is Latin
words or roots, and, all of the root words in modern science are
provided by Latin. Latin is also the language of law, government,
philosophy and theology. As such, the mastery of Latin prepares a
student for higher education, especially an education in one of the
aforementioned fields, or in an Ivy League school. Learning Latin may
also be the most efficient method of learning grammar, (even English
grammar) and as such, one of the best ways to learn any new language.