Jason Fisher is the Director of Youth & Family Ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Champaign. He met wife Samantha while studying at Greenville College, and the pair moved back to Champaign a few years later. Fisher is working with several families to assess the need and desire for an all-boys middle school in Champaign-Urbana. Fisher and his wife Samantha live in the Champaign house in which he was raised with their two boys, Silas and Zechariah.
See why we think Jason Fisher is a Chambana Dad to Know.
Q: You and other families are exploring the idea of starting an all boys middle school in C-U. How did this effort get underway and why are you spearheading it?
There has been lots of research on the differences in brain development between adolescent boys and girls. The differences are so huge during those adolescent years that more than a few families are seeing benefits to educating our kids at an all boys school. I have gotten involved because I have two boys of my own and my work with adolescent boys over the last 13 years has shown me that not only do boys learn differently, but they are not wired to be sitting for eight hours every day.
Q: What do you think are the benefits of this kind of education, especially for boys?
In general boys learn best during adolescence by seeing and doing, which means that not only do they need to be up and moving in a classroom, they also need to be using their hands. The other consideration is how much focus is put into sports in our city. At an all boys school studies have shown that young boys are more likely to try activities they wouldn’t normally try because of peer pressure perceived, or real, by the opposite sex. Playing the flute, ballet, or drawing could be lifted up more in a school such as this. I have known many young boys who were amazing artists but no one ever encouraged it because of their involvement in sports.
Q: Is there a timeline, and what is it?
If something were to get started this fall we would need at least 10 families to commit as soon as possible. We continue to receive amazing support from the Campus Middle School for Girls (CMS), and they are willing to provide guidance through the logistics of starting such a school. But right now we are simply collecting names of families who might be interested in this kind of alternative education.
Q: How can others get involved?
By contacting me at Jasperfishead@gmail.com or Susan Layton at setlayton@gmail.com this will get you on our email list for future brainstorming sessions and times for dreaming up how amazing this could be for our boys.
Q: What is your favorite summer activity with your family?
Our youngest son just learned to ride his bike so family bike rides to pick mulberries is up there right now. Playing Legos and swimming at the pool are a close second. Playing Legos in the pool is even better.
Q: I understand that you are quite the Blackhawks fan. How are you feeling about this week?
I’ve been a Hawks fan for 20 years and have never enjoyed watching two teams play as much as I have with them and Boston going for the Stanley Cup (won by Chicago on Monday night). These two teams are so amazing on the ice, I wish I was that good when the neighborhood kids and I play street hockey this summer.
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