Spotlight on: Civic Engagement at The Berkeley School
Spotlight: Civic Engagment at TBS
Civic Engagement – developing the understanding, skills and awareness needed to identify and solve complex challenges in ways that make things better for all members of a community – has been embedded in student and adult learning at The Berkeley School since our founding in 1963. Our beginnings as a Montessori school laid the foundation for Peace Education – the belief that fostering peace for the individual leads to a peaceful society. Over the subsequent years, TBS has expanded this philosophy to create transformative, real-word learning experiences that help students develop both agency and a sense of interdependence: they learn that what they do as individuals matters for others.
“The Berkeley School prioritizes civic engagement as an authentic way to ignite students’ curious minds, awaken their generous hearts, and prepare them to engage a changing world as good humans and better ancestors.”
Mitch Bostian, Head of School
TBS middle school students volunteering at the Alameda County Food Bank
At The Berkeley School, our focus on civic engagement…
- encourages students to evaluate information sources critically. As they explore complex civic challenges with no obvious solution, students learn how to distinguish among facts and opinions, identify bias, and seek reliable sources.
- demands that students move beyond talking about ideas and develop solutions that can be implemented effectively
- requires students to weigh options and distinguish between intention and impact before making decisions, and accept responsibility for the outcomes of those decisions.
“Civic engagement education helps students understand that all humans—even children—have a responsibility to shape the world for the better. At TBS, advocacy projects, community partnerships, and service work aren’t just enrichment—they are a core part of the curriculum. I am grateful to be part of a school that prioritizes this work, making civic engagement more than just a discussion, but something we do. This approach cultivates a changemaker mindset. Students graduate equipped with the skills and confidence to take action for a better world, both now and beyond their time at TBS.”
