by Head of Lower School Dr. Bob Gillingham
Character education has never seemed so necessary.
A decade or so ago, we shifted our academic curriculum to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century, understanding that, in an increasingly complex world, they would need to know how to deal with the many and varied challenges they will face.
At the time, this was more of an academic question for us involving deeper understanding and analysis of literature, the ability to reason and communicate well, and flexible application of their academic skills in unique situations. The shift introduced a balanced approach to reading and writing, with teachers bringing greater focus to students’ needs. It also led to a move away from our previous math program in favor of one that would give students a much stronger conceptual understanding of math. The days of simply showing students how to do a given math algorithm then having them repeat it on a test gave way to a more realistic approach in which students were required to derive approaches (perhaps more than one) and to craft appropriate solutions to problems.
Fast forward to a recent flag raising where all of us were staring at the flag at half-mast once again. For whatever reason, this seems to be happening all too frequently, and from my perspective, literally as I stand on the steps, there’s a dissonance that’s very difficult to reconcile. My privileged view is that of beautiful, happy, innocent children, and the many adults who adore them. There’s always an air of eager anticipation as boys and girls think about the day and week ahead… and yet, right next to me hanging dolefully from a metal pole is a symbol of a nation in mourning.
It’s hard to know what to say in such a moment. How do you explain such senseless tragedies to children, most of whom have yet to reach their 10th birthday. How, given the rapid and widespread proliferation of news, do we shield these youngsters from such harsh reality when their eyes and hours should be filled with the wonders of being children?
There’s no easy answer, and we know that, despite our heroic efforts to protect these children, some degree of misfortune and disappointment, perhaps even tragedy, will inevitably be a part of their lives. Thus, we choose to work diligently and collaboratively as a community to develop in students not only solid academic skills but also strength of character. Helping students to feel secure as individuals, to become more aware of and respectful to those around them, and ultimately, to take empathic, responsible action that adds to the greater good may prove to be the best defense to the unconscionable and the best path to follow in supporting their growth into happy, healthy adult lives.
