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| From the Editor: Worthy Notions |
Edifying Aspirations
Dwight Cass
05/03/2004
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Here again,
we may find ourselves returning to the concept of the family mission for
guidance, plotting the course of our child’s academic destiny. When we ask:
‘What sort of person do we want our child to be?’ it is our family mission that
provides the answer.
Each family has its own unique mix of interests and
goals, and for those who choose a private education, the nation’s 27,000
independent schools provide a variety of options. In many cases, these tailored
programs may be more closely aligned with our goals and values than the
prêt-à-porter education offered by public schools.
For example, those of us
who see philanthropy as a core part of our family mission may choose a private
school that has a community service requirement. Some have formal philanthropy
programs, in which students work to support a specific charitable organization.
Those who cherish conservancy, and who wish to pass on their love of the land to
their children, will find schools that emphasize this value both in the
curriculum and the extra-curricular programs. Of course, for those who believe
their children will be best served by a traditional mix of academics and
athletics, no shortage of options exists.
Our children will eventually have
to make their ways in the real world, and will not be best prepared to do so if
they are schooled in homogeneous and exclusive communities. Many good private
schools recognize this, and have worked to create student bodies that are
economically, geographically and racially diverse. This healthy, eclectic mix
serves to broadens our children’s perspective on the world, and forging
successful relationships with people from different backgrounds will give them
the insights needed to succeed beyond the school environment. Perhaps as
important, they will become part of a larger community, and will be less
threatened by the motivation-robbing elitism that threatens the self-esteem and
work ethic of many children of affluence. Dwight Cass
Editor-in-Chief
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