Superintendent's Letter

Winter 2010

Dear Parent or Guardian:

During a recent walk through our lower school hallway, I noticed some colorful postings prepared by our elementary students that were entitled “Gratitude.”  The posters, which coincided with the Thanksgiving holiday, offered reasons to be thankful and included family, friends, health, and teachers as examples of why a child might feel grateful. The making of such posters is part of  our school’s character education program and serves as a way to concretize the importance of the habit of being thankful. We teach our children to say thank you and remind them of what they may take for granted.  Even as adults we continue to be aware of the importance of  this essential virtue. “Many times a day I realize how much my own life is built on the labors of my fellowmen, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give as much as I have received,” remarked the great scientist Albert Einstein.  We are mindful that we can grow to be ungrateful just as we can grow to be the opposite; all character traits are the result of repeated actions that we adults more or less consciously choose to emphasize or ignore.

The element of growth that is inherent in human character is perhaps not always sufficiently considered.  We move through our formative years under the influence of parents and teachers who provide us with opportunities to grow in good habits that relate to thought as well as action.  Habits of thought are sometimes referred to as intellectual virtues, powers of the mind that may only be acquired through effort  and persistence.

An example of such persistence is found in the work needed to master the set of symbols that is the alphabet.  Repetition and attention to detail are rewarded with a key that opens the world of reading and books; a world that in turn brings further challenges and rewards. Having learned to read, the child may now read to learn.  The common pattern to all intellectual growth is that effort is the price of advancement.  “Before excellence,” says the Greek poet Hesiod, “the immortal gods have placed sweat.”

But what is the goal of all this striving?  And what happens when the effort becomes burdensome?  I think that the word “ideals”, which appears prominently in our school’s mission statement, provides a possible answer.  An ideal is a goal that is so captivating, so appealing, that it motivates us to pursue it even at the cost of great effort.  We not infrequently see this dynamic at work in the world of sports.  Anyone, for example, who has followed the fortunes of the Red Sox and who is above a certain age will readily acknowledge that for many years the ideal of a world championship had been a motivation to strive for excellence.  When Ted Williams was a young man, he said that his ideal was to be known as “the greatest hitter who ever lived.”  By the end of his career, through endless work he had achieved that goal.  Many young people (and even some not so young) happily make great sacrifices to discipline the body so that speed and coordination might increase to the level necessary to compete and win.  Some would say that the reason sports heroes are admired is because they have toiled for decades in order to reach athletic heights that few can match.

An ideal in the world of schooling is the cultivation of the human mind.  This cultivation has as its goal a retentive memory, the capacity to make clear distinctions, the acquisition of knowledge in various arts and sciences, and an appreciation for the heritage of learning and achievement that precedes every student of any age.  The attainment of this ideal is difficult but rewarding. Like the goal of becoming a great baseball player or hockey goalie, the cultivation of the mind requires long and sustained effort.  Because the ideal to be acquired is a difficult and even arduous one, it requires the continuous encouragement of parents and teachers for its realization, as well as the indispensable commitment of the student.  But unlike an athletic goal, the ideal of intellectual cultivation is something ultimately even more important and essential for our children.  It touches the person more deeply and will resonate more profoundly throughout the course of one’s life.

The much-needed holiday vacation that we all enjoy in December is an opportunity to celebrate with our friends and family while resting from the efforts of school.  The rhythm of the school year is one of sustained effort followed by relaxation and recreation. Your children, whose sports and activities you support, whose studies you encourage, whose very lives you nurture, have much to be grateful for when they pause to spend more time at home.  Our school would not be successful in furthering the ideal of an educated citizenry without the ongoing help of you, the primary educators of your children. During this joyful season, please accept the school’s best wishes for a happy and fruitful holiday as we continue our efforts to support the ideal of a cultivated mind for all of our children.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. McCleary, Ph.D.
Superintendent/Director