Message From Head of School - Jean Waller Brune
This year marks the 160th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in US history. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and a few others met “to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights” of women. They drafted a brief Declaration of Sentiments which appeared in The Seneca County Courier. Based on the Declaration of Independence their document read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.” The document demanded women’s suffrage - the right to vote. It took just over 70 years before women in the United States were granted the right to vote when the 19th Amendment to our Constitution was ratified in 1920.
Now, almost 90 years later our students, in all divisions, are discussing this year’s Presidential election. For almost 115 years RPCS has sought to teach our students not WHAT to think, but HOW to think. At the Upper School Assembly last week, our students showed that they fully understood each party’s platform during their division’s Mock Presidential debate. Not only were our “in-house” candidates articulate and quite accurate in their portrayal of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, but the questions from the audience centered on the topics that have been the issues in the forefront of this very historic presidential race.
Tomorrow, Middle and Upper School students will be holding a “mock” election in their respective divisions. In the Lower School, two Upper School students who are taking Advanced Placement US Government this semester will lead a mock debate for the Fifth grade and act as the two Presidential candidates, with two Fifth graders assisting in the roles of the Vice-Presidential candidates. Afterwards, the Fifth Graders will vote and also write a paragraph explaining their reasoning. In addition our students who are 18 will actually be exercising their right to vote for the very first time! RPCS students are learning that voting is a privilege and responsibility for all American citizens, and our students are engaged in informed and respectful debate among themselves.
Even though it is still early in this academic year, there are some changes in personnel of which I would like you to be aware. There is a new face at our Harris Center front desk. Fran Taylor has been covering the desk since October 27th. Previously, Fran had been working in the Development Office on a temporary basis since June, so she is already familiar with RPCS and is now looking forward to greeting you when you come into the School.
Rebecca Malone has been our Middle School Head for the past six years. Her understanding of Middle School girls and their developmental needs is outstanding, as is her understanding of Middle School faculty and pedagogy. She is a reflective leader and has been instrumental in instituting a very Middle School age appropriate schedule and encouraging the collaborative team approach in grades 6 – 8. She has, however, really missed being in the classroom and has made the decision to return to teaching at the end of this academic year. I will sadly miss her as we go forward. I am, now, already beginning the process of selecting a new Middle Head for the 2009-2010 academic year so that there will the smoothest of transitions.
As I probably say every year, November is one of my favorite months because Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Americans of all religious and ethnic backgrounds gather around their dining room tables to honor the harvest and give thanks for the fullness of their lives. It is a time to be thankful for religious and political freedom and for the opportunity to make a better life for ourselves and our families. It is the celebration of this country’s heritage and hope. I appreciate taking the time with family and friends to be thankful for the bounties in my life, and I wish for you and your family a Thanksgiving holiday filled with joy and love.
~J.W.B.