Philosophy

We, the faculty of Zwolle High School, feel that the school is the unifying agent within our community. The school must accept the challenges of preparing the student to be a well-rounded, productive member of the community, but the community, in return, must provide the financial and moral support for a successful school system. Thus, we believe that positive interaction between school and community is necessary to sustain a desirable educational program.

We believe that each student should have the opportunity to reach his full potential in the academic, athletic, and social areas. We recognize the fact that individual differences in ability in all these areas do exist, and through our educational program we adjust our techniques of teaching and the learning situation to meet these differences in an effort to encourage the best possible use of the capacity that each student possesses.

We stress discipline as a key principle in developing a sound educational environment. We feel that discipline enhances both teaching and learning and creates an atmosphere of respect and cooperation among students, faculty, and administrators. We, therefore, encourage the development of self-discipline so as to make a student more receptive to his responsibilities as he becomes a member of our democratic society.

We recognize the cultural backgrounds that exist in our local school system and the community. The faculty seeks to encourage an understanding of and an appreciation for these various cultural influences so as to prepare the student to be able to interact, as an adult, with the multi-cultures that are present in the American society.

We, the faculty and administration, seek to instill within the student body an appreciation for the sacrifices and efforts that have been made by all segments of society in establishing the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy. We realize that continually-changing forces shape these United States and attempt to prepare the student to confront these challenges awaiting him as a worker and a citizen as he leaves the formal educational environment. We believe, most importantly, that a student must appreciate his own self-worth and his identity as an individual in preparation for constructive participation in our American system.