philosophy/purpose

The Suzuki Philosophy is based on many well-established principles of learning and child development and is often referred to as the "Mother Tongue" method. This method was developed by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, who is internationally known as the founder of the Talent Education Institute in Japan. After many years of teaching thousands of very young children to play classical violin, Dr. Suzuki developed a philosophy of education based upon the following observations:

Children everywhere develop fluency and proficiency in the oral use of their native tongue at a very early age.

The ability to speak is mastered through a natural process of replication.

Talent is developed more spontaneously in the early years of a child’s life than after a child has matured.

The first educational experience most children have with learning is in the home. The parents’ abilities to motivate an eagerness to learn are major factors in how quickly a child sees learning as an enjoyable experience.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SUZUKI PHILOSOPHY, then, began with Dr. Suzuki's analysis of his observations, considered over many years, which resulted in three principles for developing a child's potential:

Good teachers at home and at school, who are able to apply a consistent message and method, provide a superior environment for learning.

The sense of satisfaction derived from the development of basic skills through reinforcement and consistent practice instills enthusiasm for learning in the young child.

Children should be provided, at the earliest possible age, with enriching
educational experiences.

Dr. Suzuki contends that the main function of education is to develop an attitude of self-worth and independence in each human being. He calls this attitude a "Noble Heart".

THE SUZUKI SCHOOL offers an atmosphere in which the characteristics of a "Noble Heart" are developed and reinforced in every child, every day. By providing stimulation, encouragement and guidance in a setting charged with discovery and wonder, the creative potential of each child is consistently developed during the critical early years. The essence of the Suzuki philosophy is the belief that natural talent and ability can be fostered in every child through training and nurturing the natural growth processes and by acknowledging the natural curiosity extant in each one. It then follows that true learning and skill development are best accomplished when a child's thoughts and ideas are consistently stimulated and reinforced by parents and teachers working together.

At The Suzuki School, OUR MISSION is thus defined:

THE SUZUKI MISSION: To develop in young children a lifelong love of learning through nurturing each child’s natural talent and ability in partnership with parents.

We believe that this mission statement summarizes the key elements of the Suzuki philosophy and recognizes that importance of the partnership with the parents. As an outgrowth of the philosophy, we operate the school with SIX PRINCIPLES driving our decisions on academic programming, teaching methodology and classroom design:

KEY PRINCIPLES

1  Our program and our teaching is based on the close observation of each child;     only by developing an awareness through watching and listening to the needs     and interests of each are we able to tailor our programming to their specific     needs.

2  All children are born with natural talent and ability which can be developed at     a very young age.

3  Good teachers at home and at school provide the very best learning     environment for small children.

4  The majority of brain development occurs in the first years of life and     requires much nurturing and stimulating experiences.

5  An environment filled with opportunities for discovery and belonging to the     child is necessary to develop talent through repetition, praise, and     reinforcement which accelerate the mastery of new skills in the young child.

6  We must develop in children a NOBLE HEART; only in doing so may we     provide an educational experience that develops self-esteem and     independence while capitalizing on natural talent and ability.

The Suzuki Philosophy also defines our SUZUKI VALUES. This is emphasized in the hiring, training, evaluation and retention of our teachers.

The Suzuki School Purpose

The purpose of The Suzuki School is four fold:

• Provide an educational environment of excellence based on the principles of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki within a 12-month program for children from birth to 5 years of age.
   
• Offer a classroom environment that welcomes each child so that he may develop strong bonds of affection and empathy with his classmates and teachers.
   
• Prepare children to be successful in their next school environment and to assist them in life by developing in each the foundations of a Noble Heart.
   
• To provide a safe and supportive community for our families as they embark on the enormous undertaking of parenthood.