The Oakland School

Received an e-mail from a parent last month out of the blue. It said, "the parent quote on the website is good but it is out of date so how about one from a parent, Class of 2008." The testimony follows:

I am very grateful that the Oakland School is educating my daughter and for her progress in the past year. Although my daughter's reading level is below grade level because of a learning disability, her visual-auditory learning is several years above grade level. The unique structure of the Oakland School and small class size allow her to build on her strengths while working on her weaknesses. The volunteer requirement helped her discover the Western Pa Humane Society, reinforced her love of animals and exposed her to a number of career paths. The many term and mid-term reports provide her with the feedback she needs to get quickly back on track. The possibility of independent study allows her to consider courses such as Russian that are not available at much larger schools. But most important, the staff members have patience and the time to nurture and appreciate the independent minded adolescent. The Oakland School is the ideal place for teenagers that are truly unique and don't fit neatly into large classes and standard curriculum.