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Rossman School’s Traveling Zoo event gives students a chance to speak before an audience.
cover story
rossman school
by tony di martino
There is a pivotal moment in The King’s Speech when a stammering King George VI, portrayed by Colin Firth, has a heated exchange with his speech therapist, Lionel Logue, played by Geoffrey Rush. “Listen to me,” the king insists. “Listen to me!” “Listen to you?” Logue says. “By what right?” “Because I have a right to be heard!” the king yells. “I have a voice!” After a long pause, Logue says quietly, “Yes, you do.”
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Since 1917, Rossman School has been helping each student find his or her unique voice. “We’re committed to helping them reach their full intellectual, physical, social, emotional and creative potential, and public speaking is an important part of what we do,” says head of school Pat Shipley. “These children are tomorrow’s leaders. As responsible citizens, they’ll need to communicate effectively, connect with others, and express their thoughts and ideas articulately.” The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a national organization of educators and business leaders, considers strong communications skills essential for meaningful participation in an increasingly global economy, she adds. To make sure students are ready for the future, Rossman emphasizes public speaking across the curriculum, measuring progress with specific benchmarks at each grade level, from junior kindergarten through sixth grade. “By the end of first grade, students are expected to enunciate clearly, speak at the proper speed and give clear oral directions,” Shipley explains. “By sixth grade, they’re able to organize their thoughts, express ideas fluently and customize presentations for different audiences.” Public speaking doesn’t come naturally to most people. “The best way to learn is by doing it as often as possible in a secure, nurturing environment, with plenty of support from teachers and peers,” Shipley says. “The more children speak before an audience, the more confidence they gain.” Rossman students get plenty of opportunities to overcome their shyness. Children of all ages are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences at Monday morning gatherings. First graders present an annual Poetry Bash, videotaped so students can critique themselves and learn from their mistakes. Fourth graders, during a special assembly known as the Traveling Zoo, give a memorized speech about their favorite animal while wearing masks they’ve created for the occasion. “Our junior kindergarteners and first graders ‘activate’ the speech by touching the mask’s nose,” Shipley explains. “The children enjoy it—and they’re learning!” Often, the difference between success and failure in life isn’t intelligence or talent, but self-confidence, Shipley observes. “On graduation day, each sixth-grader gives a three-minute speech for parents and other guests,” she says. “Believe me, few experiences are more moving than seeing a child who came to us shy, awkward and unsure, transformed into a confident young man or woman who speaks straight from the heart in a strong, true voice.”