December 3, 2015
The acts of terrorism and violence in Paris, around the world, and even locally in the 4th Ward of Minneapolis have had many of us on edge. As I write, the news has just broken of the terrible shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. As parents and educators, we struggle for the right words and the right way to help our children understand and make sense of such violence. It becomes even more complicated when violence is linked to race or political ideology, or when terrorism is linked to the refugee crisis. Fears about a particular nationality or religion have been projected onto immigrants who themselves are fleeing from violence.
My son Mateo and I have had a number of very meaningful conversations over the last several weeks about violence, terrorism, and war. I’ve worked hard to help him understand that there are more “good” people than “bad” and that violence is not born of a particular faith tradition. We’ve also talked about the need to be compassionate and that all people have dignity and are deserving of respect.
Mounds Park Academy is committed to building an inclusive community where students and adults feel safe, have a voice, and are empowered to be who they are. We firmly believe that in an increasingly complex world, students need the skills and mindset to understand the perspectives of others as well as their own.
We also believe that by providing opportunities for contact with various perspectives and cultural practices on an institutional level, diversity and multiculturalism become increasingly visible and accessible. Over 30% of our school community self-identifies as other than Caucasian. We have been incredibly enriched by the presence of students from Germany, China, Afghanistan, Korea, Egypt, and Syria. Our international travel opportunities have opened windows into other cultures and traditions that have also broadened the perspectives of our students. As Mark Twain put it, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Our faculty members intentionally design curriculum that challenges students to analyze information from various viewpoints.
Since its inception, MPA has been a school of innovative thinking, creativity, and collaboration. It was founded on principles of inclusion, academic rigor, lifelong and joyful learning, and a student-centered education that encompasses a wide range of disciplines and learning experiences. That essence, still thriving, is more important today than ever before. In an era when the world is increasingly small and anyone with an internet connection can opine on the events of the day, students need—more than ever—to learn how, not what, to think.
As a community, our thoughts are with all victims of violence. Together, we commit ourselves to respect the integrity and worth of every individual and building a safe, nurturing community.
For more information about how to talk to children about violence, the website of the National Association of School Psychologists is a great resource. Dr. Todd Savage, an MPA parent, serves as president of the NASP.
