4 minute read
OPENING REMARKS
KIT OPENING REMARKS
George Roeper told us, in this school …
Students find teachers who respect them as individuals, where students are able to make mistakes and learn from them, and where they search for the unknown and the unseen.
To my colleagues — thank you for your deep dedication, your love of teaching and learning, and your thoughtful commitment to our students This has been a year like no other, and you have shepherded our graduates through incredible national challenges that have stretched you personally and professionally Our gratitude and respect for you is profound and our thanks immeasurable
Family members, you are your child’s first teachers … and perhaps discovered some new teaching skills yourself this year as you hosted school in your homes You were there for their first steps, their first words, and the first day of school A milestone like today is only possible because of the care and nurture you provide Today as we celebrate their journey to this milestone moment, it’s only natural to think about all the people who helped map their path I invite you to take a moment and remember those people who made this day possible for our graduates and for you …
On days like today I think a lot about our founders While we think of George and Annemarie Roeper with reverence, they were not mythical beings; they were human, with human frailties, successes, and dreams They experienced the hardship of prejudice, what it meant to be a religious refugee, and the challenge that comes with learning from the difficult times that come from war and hatred They had a love for children, a respect for thinking and learning, and a commitment to inclusion The 1981 Philosophy that we have become so deeply connected to is a document written as George and Annemarie were completing their tenure at the school As they prepared for retirement and their move to California, they wrote this version as guidance for when they would not be present While there were many earlier versions of the philosophy, the 1981 edition has been embraced as the aspirational summary of their thoughts and ideas
As I think about the document, I am always drawn to their tenet of “preparing students for an unknown future ” This year of pandemic has taught us a great deal about how unknown the future can be At the same time, it has reminded us of the importance of valuing what we have today The pandemic forced us to slow down, consider the importance of the moment we are in, and to care for the people closest to us The future may be unknown, but the people in our lives whom we love and hold close provide us clarity and comfort to persevere
George once described our work by sharing what he hoped our outcomes might be, he said, “Let us talk about our tasks We prepare our youngsters for college This is a matter of course But I consider preparation for college as half of our job We also want to help our students to be amply prepared for this world in a social and human sense We want our youth to have values, to understand their values, and to help them uphold their values …” The future may be unknown, but the people in our lives whom we love and hold close provide us clarity and comfort to persevere
World events continue to reshape our lives, refocusing priorities, and you now find yourself, like the Roepers in a shifting tide You have spent your days at our School immersed in a humanistic community; you have developed certain habits of the heart that ground you and provide you with a moral compass Words like community, compassion, and service are not empty terms, but rather life lessons you have experienced as you’ve worked with younger children, peers, and individuals outside the walls of our buildings
I have often thought that my generation was fortunate to have inherited the Roeper Philosophy We did not have to suffer the experiences of a World War or a genocide to learn the importance of justice rather than power or the essential value of equal human rights
Today, however, I believe that we are being called upon to reaffirm these philosophical tenets and that you as the newest members of the Roeper alumni will be called upon to provide leadership and guidance to a world in desperate need of healing I believe that the antidote to the fear and tribalism that is growing pervasively around us is engagement and hope Class of 2021, you are a group made up of scientists, writers, mathematicians, historians, artists, athletes, and gifted problem solvers You are deeply caring, highly complex, and profoundly curious — it is your turn to engage
Within each of you is a fire that burns with intensity to bring compassion, hope, and change to this world I am so proud of all that you have accomplished, and so excited to see all that you will do You are amazing individuals and an inspiring group of leaders
Now is the time for your moral engagement; now is the time to reaffirm the teachings of the Roeper Philosophy and bring its core values of responsibility, compassion, and hope to a world in desperate need of healing
Now is your time to lead us forward!
Congratulations! F
