Appreciating Different Perspectives
Source/Author: Nancy L. Spencer, Head of School
October 30, 2020
Much has been written about the relationship between the late Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These two towering figures of huge intellect shared a deep friendship and enjoyed time together, as they bonded over opera, travel, family, food and their roots in New York City. Yet at the same time, they disagreed vigorously on many of the most important issues in American society.
No less a source than Scalia’s own son Eugene noted that, “what we can learn from the justices, beyond how to be a friend, is how to welcome debate and differences. The two justices had central roles in addressing some of the most divisive issues of the day… Not for a moment did one think the other should be condemned or ostracized. More than that, they believed what they were doing – arriving at their own opinions thoughtfully and advancing them vigorously – was essential to the national good. With less debate, their friendship would have been diminished, and so, they believe, would our democracy.”
At Shorecrest, what binds us together is our commitment to our students. Our Mission is to provide children with an education that enables them to become lifelong learners in the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and the development of a commitment to social responsibility. On this, we must all agree.
Yet Shorecrest is also a place where there are complex individual and group differences. Because Shorecrest embraces a wide variety of cultures, religions, languages, backgrounds, identities and perspectives, it is inevitable that there will be a range of opinions on many things. This diversity of perspectives is a strength of the Shorecrest community and we are committed to being an inclusive environment where differences are met with respect and compassion.
Unfortunately, in our world today, there are many places where this is not the approach to differences. Our goal at Shorecrest is to partner with families to teach our students to respect the differences in our community and in the world, and be compassionate lifelong learners. Respect and compassion mean being willing to listen to different perspectives, while not always agreeing with other peoples’ points of view.
The ability to invest in honest conversations respectfully and to understand differing perspectives are tenets of lifelong learning that we value deeply and teach to our students. It is a differentiating skill which enriches the lives of Shorecrest students, equips our graduates to excel in college and prepares our students to become the next generation of global leaders. It is why we believe that our diverse culture enhances the school’s environment.
Our community strives to model our Core Values every day - Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion. With a particularly divisive election upon us, the friendship between Scalia and Ginsburg is an example of how we can appreciate different viewpoints, yet come together as a Shorecrest community to live our Core Values.
All the best,
Nancy
No less a source than Scalia’s own son Eugene noted that, “what we can learn from the justices, beyond how to be a friend, is how to welcome debate and differences. The two justices had central roles in addressing some of the most divisive issues of the day… Not for a moment did one think the other should be condemned or ostracized. More than that, they believed what they were doing – arriving at their own opinions thoughtfully and advancing them vigorously – was essential to the national good. With less debate, their friendship would have been diminished, and so, they believe, would our democracy.”
At Shorecrest, what binds us together is our commitment to our students. Our Mission is to provide children with an education that enables them to become lifelong learners in the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and the development of a commitment to social responsibility. On this, we must all agree.
Yet Shorecrest is also a place where there are complex individual and group differences. Because Shorecrest embraces a wide variety of cultures, religions, languages, backgrounds, identities and perspectives, it is inevitable that there will be a range of opinions on many things. This diversity of perspectives is a strength of the Shorecrest community and we are committed to being an inclusive environment where differences are met with respect and compassion.
Unfortunately, in our world today, there are many places where this is not the approach to differences. Our goal at Shorecrest is to partner with families to teach our students to respect the differences in our community and in the world, and be compassionate lifelong learners. Respect and compassion mean being willing to listen to different perspectives, while not always agreeing with other peoples’ points of view.
The ability to invest in honest conversations respectfully and to understand differing perspectives are tenets of lifelong learning that we value deeply and teach to our students. It is a differentiating skill which enriches the lives of Shorecrest students, equips our graduates to excel in college and prepares our students to become the next generation of global leaders. It is why we believe that our diverse culture enhances the school’s environment.
Our community strives to model our Core Values every day - Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion. With a particularly divisive election upon us, the friendship between Scalia and Ginsburg is an example of how we can appreciate different viewpoints, yet come together as a Shorecrest community to live our Core Values.
All the best,
Nancy
