Philosophy

 Bixby encourages and fosters the natural curiosity
and intrinsic joy of learning in children.

The founders of Bixby School remain committed to a philosophical principle that inspired the creation of the school in 1970:  

It is more important for educators to encourage and  cultivate children's critical thinking skills than it is to impart academic content.

At Bixby, an environment has been created in which the naturally inquisitive, open mind of a child is not restricted by exercises that set a predetermined path to success. The focus, rather, is on embracing the intrinsic way children learn by providing them the freedom to venture out, explore, and experiment in an unimpeded journey to knowledge. The merit in this approach reveals itself in children who are confident, creative, less likely to give up on challenges and who, generally, have a deep understanding of concepts. 

The world of Bixby is a small but compelling one, where teachers view and respond to children as individuals, where children are expected to respect their teachers and fellow students, and where interested parents are involved in many of the school's activities. Most importantly, Bixby is a school where children can experience joy in something that is already in their nature, learning.