KIPP Houston

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch

"But one does not liberate people by alienating them. Authentic liberation –the process of humanization – is not another deposit to be made in men... They must abandon the educational goal of deposit-making and replace it with the posing of problems of human beings in their relations with the world." - Paulo Freire

The two quotes above emphasize a view of education as a catalyzing agent and a tool for liberation. They speak of education as transformational and humanizing, and they remind us that the ultimate purpose of education is not the collection of facts—the symbolic filling of a bucket or making of bank deposits—but rather something more profound. Education done correctly changes people and broadens their perspective on life.

This is not meant to diminish the importance of accumulating facts and skills. We recognize that in order to be successful our students must accumulate a certain amount of what Bourdieu calls "cultural capital." In order to have full access to power, our students must be equipped with the expected academic knowledge and skills. However, knowledge and skills alone are not sufficient. Our students must also be inspired to access their own talents and posses a strong sense of self-awareness and purpose. They are not simply empty vessels to be filled. Rather each student brings a unique set of abilities and interests to be fostered. Our task as a school is not merely to help students accumulate knowledge, but rather we must help our students use their knowledge to realize their full potential. As award-winning teacher Rafe Esquith writes, "I started the Hobart Shakespeareans because I fear something for these children, and it's not gangs, it's not drugs. What I fear is that they're ordinary. I don't want my students to be ordinary; I want them to be extraordinary because I know that they are."

Education at KIPP Sharpstown is ultimately about empowerment. Student must not only grow in knowledge; they must also grow in strength. As much as possible, students need to be involved as active agents in their education. They must have the critical thinking skills to make informed decisions in a complicated world. They must have confidence in their own abilities, and the desire to constantly grow as learners. While the learning of knowledge and skills is necessary, that learning must always be linked to a greater context; namely, how does my learning help to make me a better person and how can I use that information to create a better world?

Students at KIPP Sharpstown will be enrolled in school for an extended day, an extended week, and an extended year. As such, they will have the opportunity to explore subjects and be exposed to a wider array of topics than their peers at traditional public and private schools. During all four years at KIPP Sharpstown, students will engage in 85 minutes per day of English, math, science, and history instruction. Students who enroll in KIPP Houston schools often begin several years below grade level, and the additional time will be used to catch students up with and then propel them past their peers. By the time students leave KIPP Sharpstown at the end of their eighth grade year, they will have completed the equivalent of three high school classes – Integrated Physics and Chemistry, Algebra I, and Geometry.

Along with rigorous instruction in the core subject areas, students at KIPP Sharpstown also develop their skills in the performing and visual arts. As part of an extended school day, students have the opportunity to participate in fine arts classes such as theater, music, dance, and drawing. KIPP Sharpstown students participate in performing arts for three reasons: 

• As students learn the discipline required to be successful musicians, artists, and performers, they also learn the discipline to be successful students. Through their artistic endeavors, they learn the value of hard work, collaboration, and constant improvement.
• Students who participate in the arts score higher in academic classes. According to a recent Stanford University study, students who consistently participate in comprehensive and rigorous arts programs are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance.
• Classes in the arts enrich our students' lives. They allow students to explore new cultural experiences and increase their self-expression as they use their art to inspire others. Students learn to appreciate beauty and find ways to improve their surroundings.