Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
I agree that there is not a simple answer to my question.
However, I believe it is very important that independent schools engage,
explore, and wrestle with this question.
Since I want all of us to enjoy the remainder of this Labor Day weekend I'll
leave it at that for now.
Thanks again,
Fred
On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 11:33 AM, Bill Ivey <bivey01370@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I think this is fundamentally a question of human nature - when altruism
> and self-interest are placed in opposition, which wins out?
>
> It connects to a similar question I asked in a blog on ISEnet about whether
> or not we in the independent school community have an obligation to speak
> out on national education policy given that we are free of the strictures
> that are being placed on public schools, and are benefitting from
> the situation. My school is definitely attracting smart, creative kids who
> just want to learn, explore and think deeply, and who aren't getting what
> they want in their public schools. So that's good for us but bad for the
> country (in my opinion). While I rejoice in every minute spent in the
> classroom with these wonderful kids, when I'm alone and feeling reflective,
> I'm deeply troubled by the overall situation.
>
> But someone else might legitimately view the situation differently. I'm
> sure we have widely varying socio-political
> and economic views here and in our schools. I'll stick up for what I
> believe, but have to at least concede the possibility that someone who
> disagrees with me still has the best of intentions.
>
> Maybe we can unite around the idea of working simply to alleviate poverty.
> I feel trying to solve our nation's education problems is a task that must
> coexist with anti-poverty work (which means social justice work in general),
> so that might be a good starting point. I'm trying to put those ideas out
> here and there for others to chew on, and thinking through any reactions I
> may get.
>
> Meanwhile, I cultivate my own garden. I try to work with my students so
> that they believe all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,
> and to live my own life (however imperfectly at times) by those same
> principles. That's at least a step in the right direction.
>
> So Fred, I'm not sure I've answered your question. By now, I'm not sure
> that it can even be answered (probably my own question is also
> unanswerable). What each of us thinks about human nature, and about social,
> political and economic ideals, will produce different opinions and shape
> different perspectives on what the right course of action should be in the
> first place. As any given school wrestles with these questions (if they so
> choose), the interface between various opinions and the school's mission
> will shape its response.
>
> Take care,
> Bill Ivey
> Stoneleigh-Burnham School
>
>
> [ For info on ISED-L see https://www.gds.org/podium/default.aspx?t=128874]
> Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution,
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>
--
Fred Bartels
Dir. of Info. Tech.
Rye Country Day School
[ For info on ISED-L see https://www.gds.org/podium/default.aspx?t=128874 ]
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