ALUMNI:
PARENTS:
Although many people may be quick to criticize NCCL’s non-traditional ways, the nine years I spent there were probably the most useful and educational years of my life. The school lived by its motto. Students were never lectured or told to simply read and take notes. Instead, we explored, tried, and discussed. A science project to teach about physics involved building contraptions to hold eggs and then dropping the contraption, with an egg inside, off a bridge and on to the pavement below. The goal was to create a container to prevent the egg from breaking. We were given the assignment, but no other help. We were sent to discuss the merits of cushioning versus parachutes and discover how surface area to volume ratios and air resistance could be used to our advantage on our own. A lesson on the environment involved field trips to the local park, a Delaware Solid Waste Authority conference, and the local landfill. We learned about human’s impact on the environment while standing in freezing wind and staring at a pit of trash. When learning about literature, we were rarely lectured on the characteristics of a particular style of writing. We read, and then, instead of listening, we wrote: sestinas, sonnets, vignettes, essays, complaint letters, short stories, one act plays, and anything else we wanted to write.
The relaxed atmosphere and the fact that the schedule was merely a suggestion allowed subjects to blend together. Every student at NCCL completed a quilt project before graduating. We chose our own fabric, designed a small quilt, cut pieces, and sewed everything together. The quilts were both an art project and a geometry lesson. Spanish class often involved cooking. We whipped up recipes from Spain and Mexico and got a taste of the culture, practice speaking in Spanish as we puttered around the kitchen and a cooking lesson as well.
NCCL was a unique experience. By the time I entered high school, I had received much more than I would have with a ‘normal’ education. As well as having a solid base in math, science, English, and art, I knew how to communicate with adults. I knew how to make lasagna, operate a sewing machine, and drop eggs from bridges without cracking them. I learned to be curious. I learned to love learning. I learned to ask questions, and to not stop asking questions until I understood what was happening. NCCL shaped me into an eccentric, determined teenager. Throughout high school, I did learn to hate school a bit. My alarm clock is the bane of my existence. I firmly believe that standardized tests are cruel and unusual punishment. Despite high school, the spirit and the unique perspective that NCCL gave me is still alive. Because of NCCL, I am able to communicate easily with both my peers and teachers. Because of NCCL, I am self- motivated and curious. Because of NCCL, I strive not to simply learn about, but to understand the world around me.
In response to the question, "What inspired you to do well?" at the Delaware Secretary of Education Scholars Dinner, Emily wrote:
My middle school teachers at the Newark Center for Creative Learning inspired my success. In additon to teaching math, science, and history, they showed me how to have a positive outlook on life. They taught me the importance of understanding subjects, not just memorizing facts. They showed me that for many problems, the traditional or obvious is not necessarily the best solution. My teachers encouraged me to think and work independently. Throughout my experience at NCCL, the teachers kept students motivated and genuinely excited about learning. Their excitement and effort has inspired me to do well.