DECEMBER 2011
FROM THE HEAD of SCHOOL M O N T H LY U P D AT E S F R O M D AV E F A R A C E
Educating Students for Character I heard the following last month at an independent school conference in Atlanta: “Sometimes an independent school education is about more than the right answer. It’s knowing what is right.” This is certainly true of an MA education. While we have built a well-deserved reputation for developing academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, we know that character development trumps all in our school culture. At the same conference, I was fortunate enough to attend a session led by Dr. Rushworth Kidder, founder of The Institute for Global Ethics. Kidder argued, based on his many years of research, that there are five shared moral values that are common to all cultures around the world: honesty, responsibility, respect, fairness, and compassion. He implored the educational leaders in the room to build “ethical fitness” in their students. Kidder believes that ethical fitness, like physical fitness, is a process that requires daily attention and effort. While it can be learned and developed over time, he cautioned that, “if left unpracticed, it can atrophy, wither and vanish.” Kidder also spent time discussing the role of moral courage on our campuses. He defined moral courage as “the willing
endurance of significant danger for the sake of principle” and offered several attributes of a morally courageous person: • A greater confidence in values than in personalities • A higher tolerance for ambiguity, public exposure, and personal risk • A willingness to accept deferred gratification and simple rewards • A notable independence of thought • A formidable persistence and determination Presenting these remarks to independent school leaders was, in many ways, preaching to the choir. We are all deeply committed to not just developing smart students, but good kids. At MA, our mission to educate and inspire leaders of character has been clearly defined since our inception and will continue to guide us in the years to come.
Dave Farace
Head of School