The Thomas Jefferson Institute
In May of 1978, Thomas Jefferson Institute officially opened its doors. Until that time our children had attended the American School in Observatorio, a long distance from our home. While we were very pleased with the school, but as parents, we didn't like the traffic or the time it took to get to and from school daily. That was when we made a list of the priorities we considered the most important to give our children an excellent education. We took that list and started looking for a school near our home.
We wanted a school that had a human touch, where the owners, the Principals and the school philosophy placed the students first and a school where quality and excellence were more important than profits. We had visited many schools where we felt that the students and the parents were treated indifferently, where they were considered secondary, and where the needs of the school dominated the decisions and treatment of those who attended and supported it.
We wanted a school with an excellent academic level, focused not only on teaching facts and concepts but, more importantly, on developing the desire to learn more, to practice and to investigate. We also wanted a school where the students learned to question and to make decisions, where the teachers motivated their students to enjoy learning, and to appreciate each moment of discovery.
We wanted to find a school that taught English, not just as grammar and vocabulary, but where the second language was learned as naturally as the first, through practice, use and motivation. We knew that in the future our children were going to work and compete with the most intelligent and well prepared citizens of other countries, such as Japan, Germany, and the United States. We were convinced that English was and would remain the world's main international language, and that our children would need to dominate this language with fluency far beyond simple knowledge of the words and rules.
We wanted a school with a global perspective embracing different cultures, traditions and ways of thinking. Our children need the exposure and experience to interact and communicate with others around the world. As frontiers fall our children need to rid themselves of any inhibitions or fear to cooperate, understand and ethically compete with the best from all countries. Tolerance and acceptance must be one of our priorities. In this aspect, growth and interaction are synonymous.
We wanted a school that maintained a rational and logical approach to discipline that would permit our children to learn self-discipline, and not just blindly obey authority figures because they fear punishment. We knew that they would need self discipline later in life to enjoy success in their work, marriage, eating habits and relationships with others, etc. We felt that a school should be a small laboratory for real life, giving children the experiences they needed to develop the emotional tools necessary to confidently meet the challenges we all face as adults.
We wanted a school with vision, that wouldn't base its curriculum, programs and activities on obsolete models, a flexible place that would change in response to our society and community. This school needed people that would look forward, measure the changes around us and predict what kind of abilities our students would need as adults. This meant finding a school that would be willing to invest in renewing itself, that would constantly strive for improvement, and would continually build technology resources so the students could practice their skills with the best equipment possible.
We also wanted a school with strong moral values, that weren't based on religion or any set doctrine. Although the world is constantly changing, when our values are stable, strong and permanent they give us the confidence and skills necessary to adapt to new conditions and demands. While basic moral values are taught at home, I strongly believe that the school must complement and promote these values through the example and motivation of all its members.
We took our list of priorities and visited several schools in our area. Some had an excellent academic level, others had wonderful English programs, but none of them had a clear and healthy balance that satisfied my desires. That was when my husband and I decided to build the Thomas Jefferson Institute. To achieve our vision we needed to find directors and teachers with self-confidence, high academic standards, and the courage to accept that the only constant in the future is going to be change. We needed to be alert, using our vision to anticipate the needs of our students in the future. Many parents must have shared our vision and priorities because we completely filled our school as soon as we opened registrations. The following year we doubled our school population, and the next year it happened again. Now we are proud to have additional schools both in Guadalajara and Querétaro with the same philosophy and vision, and the same level of success.
Today our children have evolved into successful adults, and our total commitment, our vision and the school it produced remains the same. The whole process has been an incredible adventure, filled with challenges and rich in satisfaction. We have had the privilege to meet and work with some of the best teachers and directors in Mexico and throughout the world. We have enjoyed the confidence and support of the parents from our school. We have learned from our students who, in the end, are the real reason we exist in education. We hope and intend that the Thomas Jefferson Institute will continue to offer the best education in Mexico for many more years to come.
Happy 30th Anniversary to the entire Thomas Jefferson family!