Philosophy and Principles

Cherish every child as unique, beautiful, and irreplaceable – celebrating individuality and always encouraging kids to be themselves.

Provide every child with a “second family” – with strong and caring parental figures, and “big brothers and sisters” – who serve as mentors and role models.

Create a community that’s safe, caring and supportive – where in particular, kids come to care about and support each other, where every child feels a real sense of belonging and in which all are seen and treated as equally valued members.

Build a culture that’s centered around kindness – that’s based on our common humanity and on those universal values that address the most basic needs and wants that all children, across all cultures share: to be safe, to be loved, to laugh and to play, to be free of hurt, to matter.

Celebrate diversity – ensuring that every child’s own unique identity, history and background are honored and valued, and that no child is ever made to feel out of place.

Prioritize the needs and interests of kids above any personal, institutional, political, religious, or business agendas.

Elevate and enrich every child educationally, holding to the belief that learning occurs best through relationships – and in particular, place the singular power of “kids teaching kids” at the center of instruction.

Empower every child with the gift of mathematics, providing each with a grounding in the basics and the opportunity to explore well beyond – all while cultivating the attributes of critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent thought.

“Only the best for our kids” – always strive to make it so.

“Only the best from our kids” – high standards and high expectations for all.

Work every day to bring kids the gift of joy – and in particular, incorporate humor as an essential program component and a minimum daily requirement.

Regularly and publicly recognize and celebrate achievement – especially good acts in service to others.

See kids and adults as having equal status as human beings, all entitled to respect and consideration – ordering positions and lines of authority, but not people.

Present and treat failure as a natural and recurring part of life, and a critically important or even essential part of success. Provide kids with the space they need to risk failure and offer support and understanding when it happens.

Help every child develop his or her own courage – the courage to be themselves, the courage to do the right thing, the courage to face their fears, and the courage to fail.

See kids’ mistakes, particularly with regard to behavior, not as reasons to punish, but as opportunities to teach, to show you care and to demonstrate forgiveness as a cherished value of any community of kindness – at the same time, wherever appropriate, applying well-thought-out consequences as part of the lesson.

The Math Corps Fairness Doctrine: Rather than treating all children equally, care about all children equally – and then treat them as the individuals they are.

Hold logic and reason at the center of all policy and decision making – tempering all with wisdom and compassion.

Constantly speak to the preciousness of every life and tolerate no violence.

Provide a “lifetime membership” to every child who enters, guaranteeing a place in the program through every year of middle school and high school, and a place in the Math Corps family forever.

Every child has the ability to change the world. Inspire them to do so.