The Pathfinder School

I initially thought the Pathfinder School Middle School would be an ideal place to send my children, based on information I read on their website and a few mothers I spoke with at the school. I toured the school, and although a little run-down, I still thought this would be a unique experience for my children.   However, after experiencing a year of the middle school,  I pulled my children, and then later found out, that their turn-over rate in Middle School is extremely high.  I did meet a few parents who seemed overall happy with the school - but most of them were on reduced tuition due to their financial situation.  The more people I spoke with at restaurants, shops, etc. in Traverse City all had a negative story to tell me about the school - either from personal experience or someone they know.  I was quite surprised to say the least because the negative/horror stories I heard, were all similar to situations that are currently happening at the school.  
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The Middle School teachers are stale and weak.  All have taught at the school for over 20 years and are still using the same teaching methodologies from 20 years ago.  They tend to believe they are cutting-edge, but they are anything but.  I strongly feel they are poor role models for our children due to their narrow-mindedness, lack of manners and inappropriate behavior (... a MS teacher discusses the bullying that is occurring at the school with a parent she is friendly with, yet never reports the bullying or notifies the parents of the child who is being bullied.  Children have been punched in the stomach, repeatedly hit in the head, stabbed with pencils, money stolen, etc., yet no actions are taken on part of the administration.  Another MS teacher, a throw-back from 1970, has quite a "mean streak" in her psychologically disturbed personality. Her arrogance is so bizarre that you realize it stems from her inability to distinguish fact from fantasy.  With students, she is inconsistent, hurtful and she tends to miss more school days than she is present.
I could go on about the rest of the teachers, but the point here is to really research this school before deciding to put your children here.  I wish someone would have told me this information.  If I would have known then, what I know now, I would have never entrusted the Pathfinder Middle School with my children.  Be sure to talk to parents that have pulled their children from the school.  Don't just talk to the parents who's children attend.  I am sure at one time this was a good school, but I think they are surviving on a past reputation.  

**Please note that this opinion is based on the Middle School (grades 6-8) only.