Dear LREI Community,
Today, in their classrooms or as part of a divisional gathering, every student participated in a reading of I Am Jazz, “the story of a transgender child based on the real-life experience of Jazz Jennings, who has become a spokesperson for transkids everywhere,” in order to do just that, to, “show support for transkids everywhere,” according to the Human Rights Campaign. I was fortunate enough to be asked to read to the eighth graders, which was both fun and quite moving, as I am sure it was throughout the school. Moving because members of our community shared a meaningful experience with each other and with many other communities around the country. Moving because for many this reading signaled that LREI is a safe place. Moving because this action was a continuation of LREI’s participation in social justice efforts.
As I write this note, my thoughts drift back a few years, maybe as long ago as my first days as director. Way back then, I couldn’t imagine having had the conversation I did today, reading I Am Jazz with students of any age, or thinking about gender as we as a community are doing now. While there is still much work to do, it is just amazing how far we have come. The world has changed, both for better and, unfortunately, for worse. That’s the way of things. Not perfect, by any means, but in many instances so much more than it was. In our own little corner of the globe, when I put on my 1985 glasses, those that I looked through on my first days at LREI, I can’t believe what I see now. The conversations that we have now about orientation, gender, race, class, and other topics that we once avoided, would have been completely unthinkable then.
I wonder, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, where we will be? What progress will have been made? What “unthinkable” conversations will we be having? How will we have grown and progressed as a nation? What will the hard work that so many do every day have brought to us as a people? A few thoughts:
- I would like to see, in the near term, that the current wave of allegations, revelations, and conversations regarding sexual harassment and assault will lead to changes in behavior and to greater safety and parity for all. While we have begun important policy work at the Board and employee level and dialog is ongoing with students, our community remains committed to examining our policies and practices as we strive to live our mission and create more equitable spaces. I am inspired by the work that a group of high school students has done on this issue and look forward to working with them, the staff, and the trustees to achieve greater clarity and safety for all community members and for the institution.
- I am hopeful, as Elisabeth Irwin was, that her experiment, among others, will inspire educational improvement for all.
- I trust that in the decades ahead the U.S. will rejoin global efforts to address climate change.
- I hope that there will be some advance on gun control. However, if recent tragedies have not propelled these changes I am not sure what will.
- I hope that when I arrive at this point down the road, I will look around and see the government and the worlds of politics and journalism filled with LREI alumni, a group defined by their compassion, honesty, and decency.
What changes and growth do you hope for? What will you find surprising? Let me know. I would love to hear from you.