by Dave Genger
The faculty and administration in the Upper School collectively feel that the 2008-2009 school year is off to a terrific start and that the many changes that greeted the students will soon become routine. Last year, I introduced the concept of “freedom with responsibility” to the Upper School students. As I noted in several missives in the past, the motto, borrowed from Pembroke Hill School, seemed to resonate with the students and faculty in the Upper School. This year we plan to expand the motto to include the concept of community; a community of learners. To enhance the sense of community, we have begun to integrate many of the philosophical constructs and activities from Development Designs (http://www.originsonline.org/dd_index.php) into our Advisory Program and throughout our curriculum. We now have eight faculty members trained in Development Design, with three having completed both D.D. 1 and D.D. 2 training. In short, we are becoming more intentional in addressing the social/emotional needs of our charges.
Social Contract
In Developmental Design, the main purpose of a Social Contract is to move from “coercion to community.” It is a mutual agreement or statement of beliefs within a community that represent the core values of the group and governs our interactions with each other. Last year I defined community as “unity based on a common purpose.” The primary purpose of a community of learners is to learn from each other in an environment that is conducive to that core endeavor. Each Advisory is going to initiate the process by creating a Social Contract within the Advisory. The Advisory will then select two individuals to represent the group (Representative Assembly) at a grade level meeting where the group of students will sort, consolidate and ultimately reach consensus on a Social Contract for the grade. Finally, two representatives from each grade will meet with me, engage in a similar process, and create the Social Contract for the entire Upper School. The final stage in the process will involve all students in the Upper School gathering (General Assembly) to hear the final product. It is my hope that the process of creating a Middle School Social Contract will be every bit as enlightening and useful as the final product. It will also set the tone for a more inclusive form of student government that we hope to initiate this year with the Representative Assembly and General Assembly processes
Student Government
After a great deal of discussion we have decided to create a more inclusive (multiple grade levels) student government and to change the focus of the group away from activities and towards service and improving our school community. The new configuration will include representatives from each grade level, instead of just 8th grade students. We will have four representatives from each grade level, who will cycle in and out during the school year, and four permanent members (leadership) who will be selected from the 8th grade class. Matt Ohnemus, Bob Bullard, Andy Sperling and I will all be involved in helping to run/coordinate student government with Matt taking the lead. Andy and Matt will still work with 8th graders on student activities (dances, spirit week, fund raisers, etc.) but it will not be the focus of the newly formed student government. It is our hope that the endeavors run by and through this group will be largely student-driven and provide an opportunity for student participation in a fairly structured program that will foster the leadership skills we try to cultivate in our graduates.
I am pleased that we are off to such a meaningful start to the school year!
