February 2003

Talking about Iraq

With the end of the bone chilling weather of recent weeks, I find my natural
optimism rekindled. I know the snow will fall again, but the warm sunshine with
which February tiptoed in makes me forget that for the moment. Warmth, spring, new life…they can’t be far away!

That optimism embraces our life at school. It seems to me that the kids are bouncing along with renewed energy and purpose. They are engaged in a myriad of projects and papers. Some are also increasingly engaged in the political situation in which our nation finds itself. Particularly in the middle and upper divisions, our kids are taking positions on the issue of whether or not war with Iraq is inevitable and right or whether the actions of our president are hasty and ill-founded. We encourage this dialogue. We encourage them to become well-informed, to develop a point of view based on the best evidence available and to argue that perspective clearly and reasonably. We also encourage them to recognize that not all will feel as they do, that some will interpret the data differently than they do and reach different conclusions about what is right and what is wrong. When that happens, we must talk together in civil discourse.

Ahh! That’s the hard part. If the strength of youth is its certainty, its weakness may be its unwillingness to take the perspective of another. That’s something they have to learn, something we have to teach them. So, in the weeks to come, you will see evidence of students urging participation in anti-war marches and demonstrations. You will see posters advocating peace and urging U.S. leaders to allow the United Nations more time to pursue the fact-finding mission it has initiated. You will also see posters advocating more active engagement in Iraq. What you may not see, but that will most certainly happen, are a series of discussions and debates about the issues involved. These discussions will take place in classes, advisories and informally among students. The teachers and I will encourage them, and from time to time, participate, not necessarily in an official capacity, but as engaged citizens with our own concerns and viewpoints. I encourage you to do the same and to support the process.

The critical factor is, however, that these discussions will be respectful and well-informed. As always, we will encourage students to voice their own opinions while hearing and valuing the opinions of others.We will not allow advocacy of personal violence or violence directed at a specific individual or group. We will ask the kids to be clear in their thinking and open to the thinking of others. These standards are similar to those we ask them to maintain in their dress, and they are there for a purpose. To expand upon our school motto, we are a community of learners where everyone matters, where well grounded opinions are respected, and where the argument is never confused with its advocate. We ask your help in sustaining these values.

Enjoy the winter break. I’ll see you when you return.

Mary Jane Yurchak