Key Differences

The Mandala School vs Public School

12 Key Differences

1 - Emphasis on the Whole Student: TMS takes a holistic approach to education by nurturing students' emotional, social, and academic growth. This helps students develop essential life skills alongside academic knowledge, creating a more balanced learning environment. Conversely, public schools often emphasize academic achievement as the primary measure of success, which can result in overlooking the emotional and social needs of students.

2 - Curriculum Focus: TMS emphasizes project-based learning in STEAM subjects. Our curriculum centers on individual achievements and skill development rather than standardized test scores. Public schools, unfortunately, often prioritize test results as key performance indicators. This focus on standardized testing can detract from the cultivation of a diverse skill set and personal growth.

3 - Individualized Education: TMS is committed to providing a personalized educational experience tailored to each student's needs, strengths, and learning styles. In contrast, public schools are likely to have larger class sizes and less flexibility for individualization, therefore limiting student engagement and comprehension.

4 - Enrichment and Life Skills: TMS includes enrichment and life skills programs as part of its curriculum, whereas public schools may not have the resources or time to offer these additional opportunities.

5 - Project-Based Learning: TMS emphasizes project-based learning, fostering hands-on experiences and collaboration among students. In contrast, public school systems rely heavily on traditional teaching methods, such as lectures, worksheets, and standardized testing. This conventional approach can limit students' opportunities for active engagement, experiential learning, and teamwork.

6 - Smaller Class Sizes: TMS has smaller class sizes, allowing for individualized attention, stronger teacher-student relationships, and a greater opportunity for personalized learning. In contrast, public schools often have larger class sizes due to budget constraints.

7 - No Homework (Busy Work): Instead of homework, TMS asks students to conduct thought experiments on an assignment or project. Some notable figures throughout history have engaged in thought experiments as a way to explore new ideas, solve problems, or gain a deeper understanding. They include Albert Einstein, Galileo, Isaac Newton, and Erwin Schrödinger.

8 - Portfolios, Not Letter Grades: Portfolios allow students to showcase their progress, skills, and learning experiences over time. They offer a comprehensive view of a student's abilities and encourage reflection on their growth and development. On the other hand, traditional letter grades are a standardized method of evaluating a student's performance based on numerical scores or percentages, typically assigned for individual assignments, tests, or projects. Letter grades do not fully capture the depth and breadth of a student's learning experience.

9 - Mixed-Age Group: Public schools typically separate students by age, while TMS embraces a mixed-age learning environment. Mixed-age learning promotes peer mentorship and social skill development. Children learn from each other, while also reinforcing their knowledge; similar to siblings.

10 - Yoga Activities: At TMS, the inner science of yoga is practiced using the Three Jewels Method (Motion, Mindfulness, and Meditation). Incorporating daily yoga and/or meditation in a school setting promotes mental and physical well-being, improves focus, and helps students manage stress, enhancing their overall learning experience. In contrast, the public school system often lacks a consistent, comprehensive program to address this aspect of well-being.

11 - Democratic Discipline: Public schools typically follow a top-down approach to discipline, with administrators and teachers imposing predetermined consequences, often with little or no input from the students themselves. In contrast, TMS empowers students by involving them in the decision-making process for consequences that result from breaching our Community Rules.

12 - School Jobs: At TMS, students participate in rotating in-school jobs. They learn new skills, and responsibilities, and gain a sense of ownership. In contrast, public schools generally do not assign such tasks to students, missing the opportunity to instill these valuable qualities and a sense of community involvement.

The Mandala School offers an engaging and innovative alternative to traditional public education. By prioritizing well-rounded skill development, creativity, and community involvement, we create a nurturing and empowering environment for students. If you're interested in exploring alternative approaches to public education, consider schools like ours and other innovative models that challenge the status quo and foster lifelong learning and personal growth.

Please view the videos below and visit our Resources page for more information.