Pursuit of Excellence Institute

Where Did We Come From?

~ West Reading, Pennsylvania ~ Jacksonville, Florida ~

~ Easley, South Carolina ~ Blue Springs, Missouri ~

??  ??

Perhaps a bit more explanation is in order. Let's step back in time to May 1973.

The place? - the living room of 235 Chestnut Street, West Reading, Pennsylvania.

It was two years ~ almost to the month ~ after my high school graduation; I was lazing on the living room sofa, reviewing my transcript, when I realized how well most of my teachers had not known me. The grades on my transcript were ok ~ what I had earned ~ but the evaluations teachers had made of me ~ the student ~ and me ~ the person ~ could not have been farther from correct. I wondered how they could have known me so long, and yet not known me! As I gave more and more thought to that perplexity, a plan began to formulate.

(1 : 1)  + X  =  SUCCESS

Somewhere between my ninth grade German class and my eleventh grade World Cultures class it had become apparent to me that not eveyone learns best by the same means, and not every teacher instructs as well, or in the same ways. It was easily noted that when a student was paired with an amiable teacher who instructed in a manner complimentary to their learning abilities, he/she academically excelled.

Ergo, the root of my plan: teach each student with methods appropriate to his/her learning style through one-to-one, or "1 : 1" instruction with a teacher  - note: a, as in singular or one - who could take a genuine interest in the long term success of the student.

But, do not stop there!!

Surely social/emotional development is equally important. This requires interaction with other students and teachers in extra-curricular groups which are small enough to afford acknowldegement and achievement to all involved students - the "x" in the formula! These groups should be led by a broader spectrum of instructors whose real life experiences and working knowledge  of the discipline would add dimension to the endeavor.

So, there I was with a good idea, but where was I to go from there?

Let's step forward to August 7, 1984; the place? - the living room of 1478 Domas Drive, Jacksonville, Florida.