Testimonials
My son, who is 17 years old, started attending the Murphy-Cates Learning Center (for tutoring) about one year ago. Upon entry he read very slowly and had no interest in reading at all. As for spelling, it was almost lower elementary level.
Due to Mrs. Murphy’s grace and God-given talent as an educator, things have changed and there is a more positive outlook for my son.
He has interest in his spelling and reading as well as general learning now. He came from looking at pictures in magazines to reading articles and understanding what they’re about.
Chris has changed from reading 3 or 4 letter words to reading 8 to 10 letter words. His grades in school have gone from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s. He just received his first Academic Award in English.
I would take this opportunity to thank the Murphy-Cates Learning Center for opening a door to a better education and a more promising future for Christopher.
Thank you,
Mike Carpenter
Student Letters
I came to Murphy-Cates halfway through my tenth grade year. On my first day at Murphy-Cates I was placed in the eleventh grade because that is where I am supposed to be. Murphy-Cates is a lot different than a public school. The curriculum here is a lot different, too. We are able to work at our own pace. It’s much more relaxed than public school. I feel like I can get done with my work without feeling discouraged. Since classes are small, it is a lot easier to get one-on-one time with a teacher. In public school I was always failing and getting in trouble. Murphy-Cates has helped me understand that I am able to do something with my life. I like Murphy-Cates because it has helped me put my life in order.
Ricky K.
I have been going to Murphy-Cates Academy ever since I was old enough to start school. I have enjoyed every bit of it, even when it was in the bottom half of my house. The best part of the school is the personal instruction that I receive. The curriculum is set up specifically for me, which is good because I easily get frustrated with curriculum I do not understand. I think I am more prepared for college than a lot of my friends who attend public schools. I am very happy to be a student at Murphy-Cates.
Bo M.
I have only attended Murphy-Cates for a short three weeks, but in that time I have noticed several fundamental differences between the curriculum and teaching style use by my public school system and the one used here at Murphy-Cates. Every one of these differences, beyond a shadow of a doubt, is a great improvement. What Murphy-Cates has done is revolutionize the modern concept of learning. Unlike my old school, Murphy-Cates has smaller, more interactive classes that allow the students to participate while learning at their own level. This is no small achievement; the work that is done here at Murphy-Cates is decades ahead of its time.
Public education, while an undeniably great thing, is flawed in that it takes a large number of very diverse young minds, from individual backgrounds, and forces them all through the same curriculum. While some excel in this environment, many fall through the cracks simply because they learn differently from others. Murphy-Cates personalizes its learning system to prevent this from happening and provides a truly unique and effective learning experience for each student.
Kane L.
I started at Murphy-Cates Learning Center & Academy almost three summers ago. At first I only came for tutoring, but when my public school became so boring that I didn’t care if I went or not, I started coming to Murphy-Cates full-time. I loved it at once because they have such a relaxed environment and great teachers. I was supposed to be in the eighth grade, but Dr. Cates recommended that I skip a grade because my cognitive ability was higher than the norm. I’m in the tenth grade now and I still love this school.
Grace C.
I came to Murphy-Cates Academy at the beginning of my ninth grade year. I wasn’t learning what I needed to pass in a public school. The reason I like this school is because they have a better way of teaching. Each class has only four to five students so there is a lot of one-on-one teaching time and that helps. I learn more at Murphy-Cates that I did at my old school. I understand things that they teach me here that I did not understand there. The teachers at Murphy-Cates enjoy their jobs and just love to teach. They do not expect me to do things they know I can’t do, but they want me to learn it and take the time to teach it to me. This school has changed my life. When I went to public school I did not care about my future. All I cared about was what my friends thought of me. I had no goals for my life. Now, I have a new perspective and have set a goal. My goal is to graduate from high school and go to college. That’s something that I never thought I would do.
James P.
My name is Rob and I am in the eleventh grade. I like Murphy-Cates Academy. I love to spell. I’m in Spelling Workout level F and Connections level F. It really makes me think hard. Sail Away (Language Arts Learning System) helps my handwriting to improve. I make mostly A’s and B’s. At Murphy-Cates, the teachers let you look at statistics on the computer and they even let you read the dictionary. I get a lot of appreciation at Murphy-Cates, all the teachers give really good feedback. What I like the most is that I get to spend time with younger children. Sometimes they even let me mow the lawn.
Rob O.
My name is Chase and I like Murphy-Cates Academy. The books are easier and that helps me. We get to take walks with our teacher. I don’t get made fun of. We have an art class every other Friday. After we read a story from our EdCon book we are allowed to watch the movie of it. We also have smaller classes.
Chase M.
I started going to Murphy-Cates Learning Center & Academy five years ago after moving to Harriman from Knoxville. I was attending a public school where I was frustrated and falling behind. I began tutoring at MCLC in the summer of 2001 and started full-time at the Academy in September of 2001. By the end of the year I had improved considerably in all my core subjects and by the end of the next year I was caught up. At Murphy-Cates I learn at my own pace and follow a curriculum designed specifically for me. I really feel like I'm going to go to college after attending Murphy-Cates. I didn't used to feel that way.
Sam R.