School makes life part of its curriculum

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-vistamar2jan02,1,5159048.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
In her 2007 LA Times article, Carla Rivera discusses how one private school in El Segundo is not only teaching their students about college and its importance, but also the life beyond. Rivera explains how the newly built private El Segundo Vistamar School started this curriculum and how they plan to continue it. Former professor at Wheaton College, Dan Golden came up the idea while he was the founding director of Filene Work and Learning Center at Wheaton. He then took his ideas to the Vistamar School and was immediately hired for their new position of director of life planning and experiential learning. Rivera goes on to explain that "the immediate goal is to encourage students to find a college that is a natural fit rather than succumb to pressure to get into the "best" school, and, ultimately, to cultivate a habit of reflection that will last a lifetime."

The private El Segundo school continues this new found curriculum by adding "community service like programs". Some students at Vistamar go to the nearby Cabrillo Elementary School to read to the little kids from all ethnicities and income backgrounds. Others are creating what Golden calls "e-portfolios" which will reflect on their experiences with the program. Golden still advises the students on their college search and has actually given them an assignment over this years winter break.

In the end, this new found curriculum attempts to create more well-rounded students by translating "nonacademic skills, habits and perspectives into academic achievement".

Dan Golden says he would like to expand the curriculum to Vistamar's Summer exchange and service program to"ensure that all students have a chance to participate, which would include establishing scholarships for global study." The director of publications for the Assn. for Experiential Education, Natalie Kurylko says that "This is a hands-on approach that can create more active and engaged students across social, cultural and economic boundaries."

Tone: Informative/ Optimistic
Question: If this curriculum is doing so well in the El Segundo private school, should other schools adopt it.