What Empathy is Worth

Dear Middle School Families,

Last week, Middle School psychologist Andrew Weiss and I enjoyed spirited discussions with fifth-seventh grade parents as part of our annual Adolescent Issues Parent Evenings (click here for an overview of topics being explored in Adolescent Issues classes).

In these discussions, we spent much time talking about the many ways in which adolescents seek to test boundaries and that this can invariably lead to a certain level of conflict. As Andrew astutely observed, the goal for parents and teachers is not to find ways to avoid this conflict, but rather to work through it. For it is precisely these moments of conflict that define where the boundaries are and how they connect to the values that serve as a foundation for your family and for us at LREI. Navigating through these waters is certainly difficult for both kids, parents and teachers, but is is essential. We also acknowledged that these values may differ from family to family and with the school and that this can create additional challenges.

In both conversations, there were frequent comments about the various ways that technology has embedded itself in the landscape of adolescence. There was much speculation about how technology may be influencing not only how our children interact with each other and with us, but how they actually think.  One of the pressures that we discussed comes from the subtle and not so subtle ways that technology is changing our conception of space and time. As we move online, distances decrease, the pace of individual and group interactions picks up, information flow increases and time for thoughtful contemplation and reflection decreases. This can impose significant challenges on adolescents as they move from the comfort of concrete thinking to more abstract modes of engaging with the world. To get some sense of where we are and where we are going in this increasingly “technologized” world, consider the most recent version of the “Shift Happens” presentation:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8

In and of themselves, I’m not sure that these trends are a bad thing. They do however require us to think deeply about how we want our children to work, play and live in these technology mediated spaces. One idea that seemed to resonate with a number of parents at our meetings was the sentiment that “I feel at a loss to help and protect my child online because I don’t really understand what my child is doing .” While I think it is important for a whole host of reasons for parents to acquire a certain level of comfort with these technology tools, it is far more important to connect your child’s online and technology influenced experience to the core set of values that are significant for your family in all the other domains in which you interact with your child. As we do in Adolescent Issues classes, engaging in these conversations provides important opportunities to slow the pace down a bit, to think and reflect together and to arrive at a clearer sense of what is important. As the following two videos (Jeremy Rifkin on the “Empathic Civilization” and Matthew Taylor on “21st Century Enlightenment”) produced by RSA Animate suggest, our ability to empathize, seek connections with others and to belong has never been more important.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC7ANGMy0yo

On other connection fronts, the seventh grade was in Philadelphia today exploring Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center as part of their on-going inquiry into the birth of our nation and the drafting of the Constitution. Click here to view some photos.

Of General Interest . . .

1) BIG THANK YOU to all who participated in last weekend’s coffeehouse fundraiser for Japan!  So far, LREI with the previous bake sale and coffehouse combined has collected over $5000 for Japan’s Red Cross Society.   Donations will still be accepted until May 6.  Donation boxes are at reception at both Sixth Avenue and Charlton Street buildings.

2) From the Parents Association: Spring is here, so it is time to start planning for the next school year. The Parents Association would like to let you know the many ways you can participate. Becoming a parent rep is a great way to get involved. If you have not been a parent rep before but would like to try it or find out more about it, please let us know. We would be happy to talk to you more about what the job entails. You can also refer to the Family Handbook (accessible through our website www.LREI.org) for the Parent Rep Guidelines. We will be matching parent reps to classes in mid-August or so, when the class lists are finalized. If you’re looking for other ways to get involved, you could consider volunteering for any of our PA committees; please click here [http://lrei.org/ParentsAssociation/index.html] for the list. Please email us at PA-Presidents@lrei.org if you have any questions or suggestions. All parents are cordially invited to the Volunteer Thank You and Welcome Breakfast on Friday, May 20th, from 8 to 9:30 AM in the courtyard at 40 Charlton St. This event is for all present and future parent volunteers, and will be a time to learn more about what the PA does. Representatives of all PA committees will be present, so it will be a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

3) A message from Chap, Director of Diversity and Community: please join us for the screening of Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up during Part 3 of 3 of How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice at LREI, Friday, April 29, 8:45 – 10:45 am in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria. Click here for the flyer.

4) Come check out the Afterschool blog at: http://blog.lrei.org/afterschoolphotos/. We have just posted The Afterschool Music Video!

5) The Big Auction will be at Capitale on May 11th. We are planning a great party and look forward to seeing you all there.

6) For additional school news, you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

7) LREI is a member of NYC-Parents in Action (NYC-PIA – http://www.parentsinaction.org/). NYC-PIA provides parenting education, information and a communications network to help parents prepare their children and teenagers to cope with social pressures and to make sound choices towards a future free of alcohol and drug abuse. Click here to view upcoming events and/or to download their calendar.

For All Grades . . .

msart_final1) Please click here to read high school principal Ruth Jurgensen’s blog to learn more about important advocacy work being done by LREI high school students and its connection to the high school curriculum.

1) Mark your calendars: Just a heads up that our annual MS Arts Festival will open on Thursday, April 28th at 6:00PM for seventh and eighth grade families and at 6:30PM for fifth and sixth grade families. The evening will feature studio art work from students in all grades, digital art created by the eighth graders and performances by the seventh and eighth grade performing arts major classes (instrumental music, vocal music, dance and drama). The entire Sixth Avenue building will come alive with the arts. We hope to see you all there. In addition, the art displays in the auditorium will also be up on Friday, April 29th.

2) Afterschool Recitals:

  • Tuesday, May 3rd at 5:30 – Early Concert for students ages 4s-1st grade. (This concert includes Piano, Voice and Instrumental (guitar/bass, drums, brass and flute) students, PAPAS
  • Tuesday, May 31st at 5:30 – Piano & Voice Recital for 2nd grade – Middle School, PAPAS
  • Tuesday, May 31st at 6:30 – Instrumental Concert for 2nd grade – Middle School, 6th ave auditorium

3) Lost and Found-The Sixth Avenue Lost and Found, located in the first stairwell in the Bleecker Street hallway, is overflowing with winter clothing.  If your child has lost something in the past few months please take a look.  All items in the Lost and Found will be donated at the end of the day on Tuesday, April 26th.

For Eighth Grade Families . . .

1) Some important dates :

  • Wed, May 4, 2010, 8:00am — 8th Gr. DC trip Parent Mtg.
  • Tue, May 10, 2010, — 8th Grade trip to DC (return on Friday)
  • Tue, Jun 7, 2010, 6:00pm — 8th Grade Science Exploratorium
  • Fri, Jun 10, 2010, 6:00pm — 8th Grade Moving Up Party
  • Tue, Jun 14, 2010, 9:00am — 8th Grade Moving Up

2) On Friday, May 6th, the eighth grade will travel to Lincoln Center for a Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola performance of “Blues is the Roots.” This performance is part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center series.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .

1) Click here to read the new math unit letter from math teacher Michelle Boehm.

2) On Friday, May 6th, the seventh graders will participate in our annual High School Arts Festival. The Arts Festival is an intensive one-day arts elective experience. Each student will participate in a workshop led by a practicing artist.

For Sixth and Fifth Grade Families . . .

1) Spend the evening with Director Phil Kassen & fellow Fourth–Sixth Grade Families on Tuesday April 26, 2011 at 6:30PM at 40 Charlton Street. Join Phil for a discussion of the future of LREI and how your children will continue to benefit from our progressive 14-year program. Learn how you can be part of this exciting vision and help make it happen! RSVP to Liza Sacks at lsacks@lrei.org, (212) 477-5316 ext.291

2) Intramural Softball: Next week, starting on Tuesday, April 26th, we will move to JJ Walker (located on the corner of Hudson and Clarkson).  The coaches will meet the kids at JJ Walker.  Practice starts at 7:00AM. This is a turf field, so sneakers are fine.  We will walk the kids back to school after each practice. Click here to download a permission form. If you have questions, email Athletic Director Peter Fisher at pfisher@lrei.org.

============= For additional information, follow these links: =============

A reminder that the individual homework blog and the “feeds” for every class can be accessed from the Digital Classroom link on the sidebar (you may want to bookmark this page for easy access). These feeds provide an easy “one-click” solution to find out what has been assigned for homework. Keep in mind that a feed will only show what has been posted as of the time you check it.

Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and other interesting school-related information.

Be well,
Mark

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