Kevin and I are beginning a new era of holidaying without our kids. After a few amazing days together in New York City, both kids flew home to Ottawa for New Year’s Eve. We hoped they would ring in the new year with us by joining us at the Cathedral of St John the Divine for the New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, just like we had done in the past. To put it mildly, they had zero interest. As they were leaving for the airport, their last words were not “Happy new year”; they were this: “Have fun at church tonight”.
And it was their loss. We loved joining thousands of people (including Tony Goldwyn!), enjoying outstanding music, in the world’s largest cathedral. (As is always my interest, it is also home to the largest rose window in the US and fifth largest in the world, made out of 10,000 pieces of stained glass). In addition to the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra, performers included Paul Winter, Jason Robert Brown, and Judy Collins; I could have listened to any of them for the entire program. The evening was narrated by Harry Smith, who read the Prayer of St Francis (one of my all-time favourites), and the choir performed a beautiful version of Oseh Shalom, a song for peace by Nurit Hirsh, in honour of the recent anti-Semitic attacks. The concert ended as it has in the past – everyone lights candles and Jamet Pittman leads the group in singing This little light of mine. I include a photo below so you can try to imagine how that would feel. The whole evening was moving, and I wished my kids were there.
This night got me thinking – how can more people experience this kind of deeply moving music and the powerful energy that only comes from a large group gathering? And of course, as Head of a high school, I always think about how teens in particular can have this kind of profound experience?
When I read about education trends and calls for improvements to our school systems, the focus is often on one of three areas: Emerging technology (Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, gamification); Personalized or do-it-yourself (DIY) learning, which also requires technology; and skills, competencies, and attributes required to address the environmental, economic and social challenges of the world (Wellness, positive psychology and strength-based learning would fall in this category). To be clear, I believe in all of this and work hard to ensure my school is preparing students for the future. I also believe that educators are passionate consumers of research on best practice and all schools strive to do their best for students. But my night at the cathedral makes me wonder if something is missing, and that something is connection.
I believe that students need experiences when they feel the beauty of the arts, when they are confronted by challenges, including how to strive for a more peaceful world, and when they feel joy from being part of a gathering of like-minded people. None of this requires technology and all of it requires community. These kinds of experiences are not easy to organize nor are they inherently appealing to students (just ask my 18 and 20 year-old children). But here’s the thing – we need to force it. Today’s teens spend more time alone than past generations, and even when they are with others, they tend to be on their screens.
So my hope for 2020 is this: that educators will get the best training in how to have courageous conversations so they connect on topics that matter; and that today’s school leaders will figure out how to gather their communities and provide opportunities to challenge and inspire, engage in the arts, and create moments of humour and joy.
KeeNote 