On September 26th, Pao School welcomed two leading figures in the character education movement from New York - Dominic Randolph, Head of Riverdale School and Kevin Mattingly, Director of Co-Curriculum for Riverdale School and a specialist at Teachers College of Columbia University.
Riverdale Country School
Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Led by Mr Dominic Randolph, Riverdale has been at the forefront of a movement that is examining the importance of character strengths to academic and personal success. Along with Angela Duckworth, a psychologist and 2013 MacArthur Fellow known for her research on grit, and Dave Levin, a Riverdale alumnus and co-founder of the KIPP public schools, Randolph co-founded Character Lab to promote research-based approaches to character development and support innovative work in schools.
Riverdale's curricular and co-curricular programs are designed to strengthen character skills through challenging and engaging academic work, mentoring relationships that build self-awareness and respect for the ideas and needs of others, and opportunities for exploration and community service to help students find how they can make a difference in the world.
| |
 |  |
Since the beginning of establishment, the Founders of Pao School also believe that cultivating the character of students is important. Pao School has always focused on whole-person education, of which character education is a foundation. Character education can help students build skills and be successful in the future. Students need to learn to face success and failures correctly. Thanks to the efforts of Pao parents, teachers, the Story Team and the Characters, Pao School is now a pioneer of character education in China.
During the visit, Pao School’s management and moral education team discussed with the two Riverdale guests various topics on the theme of character education. They shared their experiences and thoughts on the approaches of integrating character lessons in the everyday teaching of the classroom. They also exchanged ideas on the role of technology in education, with a focus on developing tools for the teachers and students to manage better outcomes.
It was a joy to meet Dominic Randolph and Kevin Mattingly from Riverdale School in NYC. They are some of the leading exponents of Character Education globally and it will be a privilege for Pao School to work closely with them in the future. Also, Pao School is keen to build on its already strong reputation for Character Education. Working with Riverdale will be part of that process.
David Mansfield, Executive Headmaster
