Philosophy

Carlbrook School operates under the assumption that both negative and positive behaviors are a function of learned experience, reinforcement, modeling and imitation, and an individual's value and expectations of success. As such, effectively challenging thoughts and self-concepts that retard personal development is a core obligation of the Advisor Program. The school believes that consistent examination of a child's behavior and development necessitates incremental adjustments that, over time, allow the individual to develop healthier methods of interaction. Advisor intervention and construction of new achievement-oriented methods of relation eventually facilitate the extinction of past dysfunctional behavior and the restoration of self-worth, respect for others, and belief in the power of personal conviction.

Consistent with Carlbrook's general philosophy, values incorporation and emphasis on character also form a cornerstone for all advising at the school. To encourage the incorporation of personal responsibility and character in the lives of its students, the school avoids reliance on rules to establish acceptable standards of student conduct and instead requires that all students adhere to the school's Honor Code, refined and monitored by an Honor Council consisting of both students and faculty. Strict adherence to the school's Honor Code is expected of all students, with the school's culture and systems encouraging a significant measure of student accountability and self-governance.