Head’s Message

December 12, 2012

Of course, I love to read now, but one of my most unhappy memories from childhood had something to do with a conflict at home over reading. I remember struggling and being frustrated to tears. I’ve asked random teachers, students and a few parent volunteers over the last week to recall their earliest experiences of reading. Probably a quarter of those I talked to had no recollection at all. Two of the teachers I spoke to remembered bad experiences of learning to read. They both trace their determination to make learning to read a positive experience back to their own less than positive ones. I’ve always thought that a great many teachers go into teaching for one of two reasons: either to recreate a great experience they had as students, or to be the antidote to a bad experience – to get it right. 

And perhaps no single learning challenge is more fundamentally important than learning to read. It is the key to so much of what follows. It is that magical activity that the older children and adults in your young world can do and you can’t. It is the great separater. And when you cross that line from non-reader to reader, it can be like a lightning bolt. An “epiphany” as one adult I talked to called it. It “opened a whole new world,” said another.

Another revelation from this short video is the variety of ways that these former children actually learned how to read, from following along with hymns in church to trying to decipher comic books. The art and science of how we teach young children to read has evolved since the days of Dick and Jane, largely because good schools recognize that there are multiple pathways to learning to read.  

So…what do YOU remember about learning to read?

December 4, 2012

I have a cherished artifact from my son’s early teen years. In fact, for some reason, my wife decided to laminate it. It is a series of post-it notes on which my son had written a fairly cogent argument for why I should consider loosening some restrictions we had put on his behavior. It details recent improvements on his grades and implores us to allow him to attend a certain off-campus event that a number of his ninth grade friends would also be attending. I think that what surprised and pleased us was how well organized and thoughtful the case was. He’s growing up!

I thought of this artifact when learning about the exploits of two MPA ninth graders, Jenny Portis and Ingrid Dai (pictured here with their coaches, MPA faculty members Ms. Murr and Mr. Vergin), who also made compelling arguments this past weekend. In their case, the strength of their arguments got them past the preliminary rounds in the novice debate competitions. They advanced to the quarter-finals on a 2-1 decision, then to the semi-final round on a 2-1 decision, then on to the finals on a 2-1 decision. In the finals, they smoked the competition 3-0 to capture the top prize. Of course, they carry on an MPA tradition of excellent debate and speech performances over the years. MPA is the David of schools that keeps taking down the Goliaths in these events. It’s one of the reasons why MPA seniors in the Constitutional Law class shine so brightly when facing real judges at oral arguments at the courthouse each May. (For more on that, click here.)

Teachers will tell you that their understanding of the material they teach is far deeper after teaching it than before. The same can be said of a debater, whose grasp of an argument is strengthened immeasurably in the combat of debate, when they are challenged to support it in the heat of competition. So when your ninth grader develops a habit of challenging you on a decision you’ve made (and what ninth grader doesn’t?), encourage them to channel their energies in debate.

We asked some of our alumni what their MPA debate experience has meant to them since graduating. Here’s some of what they told us:

“Two weeks ago I found myself assigned to brief a group of eight including three four star admirals, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of Energy. When it came time for the brief, the Secretary of Energy was still in his car on the phone with the President discussing how to get gas supplies to New York and New Jersey after the hurricane. I gave my prepared brief, with visual aides, to the remainder of the group. When I finished, I was told that the Secretary of Energy would be waiting outside the ceremony, about a five minute walk away, and that I would need to back brief him without visual aides and in half the time. As I walked to the building thinking about the information I needed to present him, another thought crept into my head, ‘Extemporaneous Speaking – meaning to speak with limited preparation,’ Mike Vergin(MPA teacher) always said this would be a skill I would use throughout my life. Here it’s going to pay off again.” – Erik Sand, MPA ’03; Harvard, ’07; Aide to the Commandant Naval District Washington, United States Navy

“More important than how speech and debate have helped me academically is how they have helped me in real life.  I’m now out of college and work for a Fortune 500 Company managing a number of top customer portfolios. A major component of my job is giving presentations to customers, and I don’t think it would have been possible for me to get hired or succeed at my job without my speech and debate background.  I would never have the confidence in my ability to give a presentation to the CEO of a major company at only 26 without my history in speech and debate.  While many of my co-workers dread giving large presentations, it is my favorite part of my job.” – Liz Kraut, MPA ’04; Account Manager, Integrated Solutions Group, C.H. Robinson

“I got my dream job as an analyst in the American intelligence community right out of college. My boss told me that the reason he had hired me was my speech experience – not my outstanding GPA at an Ivy-league institution, nor the fact that I spoke two foreign languages.” – Anonymous

“Public speaking is a large component of success in college; I have had to do at least one oral presentation in almost every class I have had in college, and my professors (and classmates) have always been very impressed by my public speaking abilities. I am not nervous for oral presentations; in fact, I look forward to them, and I do extremely well grades-wise on presentations. I attribute this success entirely to Mounds Park Academy’s speech program.” Emily Colton, MPA ’10; Middlebury College

“I am a professional actor now, currently performing a piece of Dickensian literature adapted for the stage in front 1100 people every night. Did my speech coaches and the experience I gained in speech directly influence my ability to do what I do? Yes!” – Stuart Gates, MPA ’05; University of Minnesota, ’09; Actor

“I still remember (rather, I will never forget) waking up very early
in the morning to step onto an occasionally warm school bus with a bunch of my formally-dressed friends who nervously reviewed debate evidence, memorized speeches, and merrily complained how cold and tired (but excited!) they were for the upcoming tournament.” Soren Larson, MPA ’07; Swarthmore ’11; graduate student in Mathematics at Columbia University  

“Speech and debate taught me things I could never learn in a classroom: how to control my voice (its volume, inflection, and pace) during a speech, how to pick out key points in an argument while simultaneously thinking of ways to rebut them, how to incorporate humor effectively into a serious point, when to use emotion and when to use logic.” Eric Baudry, MPA ’10; Yale University

“One of the most important advantages the MPA speech program gave me and what I am extremely thankful for is the edge I had when interviewing while applying for jobs post college graduation. Competitive speech encourages you to sell yourself to your audience, whether emotionally in categories like Drama, Prose, or Poetry or in a comedic sense in Humorous or Duo. This ability translates extremely well to the interview setting, when you have to put your best foot forward and truly sell yourself as necessary addition to a company.” Karen West, Gustavus, MPA ’06

“What debate gave me more so than any other class was the knowledge and opportunity to analyze an issue critically, to develop that argument over an extended period of time (the length of the season), to present that argument to an opponent and judge, and to defend that argument against an opponent.” Adam Pabarcus, MPA ’03, President, MPA Alumni Association; Trustee, MPA Board of Trustees; Attorney, Faegre Baker Daniels

November 21, 2012

The Pre-K years are a time of rapid growth and development. At MPA, we believe that the environment for learning at this age is of critical importance. It must be both stimulating and well ordered, with a variety of “centers” for active learning. Come along on this video tour as we are led by a recent Pre-K “graduate” and current MPA kindergartner…with a little help from Mrs. Anderson.   

November 14, 2012

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m not a big let’s-get-dressed-up-in-crazy-costumes kind of person. Because of my background in theater, this usually comes as a surprise to people. Although, to be fair, my primary training and work in the theater was as a director, making sure that everyone else was costumed properly. Anyway, it was clear from the parade of 1980s outfits last Friday night at the Best of MPA Auction and Dinner that a lot of MPA folks do not share my reticence about showing some wardrobe imagination. Loni Anderson and Burt Reynolds were there Friday night, as was Tom Sellek for the “Awesone ’80s” celebration. Lots of rockers with really huge hair up, swept to the side, or teased to look like the after effects of an electric shock. One couple dazzled with matching Zubaz.

However they were dressed and coiffed, they generously opened their wallets at the annual affair, our biggest fundraiser and community party of the year. The support was “awesome” and on behalf of all of us at MPA, thank you!     

By the way, I did actually do some research and came to the party dressed in an exact copy of the suit (blue) and tie (red) worn by Ronald Reagan in June of 1987 when he stood in front of the Brandenberg Gate marking the border between East and West Berln. During my welcome remarks, I tried out my Reagan impression, proclaiming, “Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall!” (Interestingly, an early draft of the famous speech was recently found, featuring the words “Awesome gate, dude!” crossed out and replaced by “tear down this wall!”) Chief of costume police Ms. Dale was not impressed by my costume cop-out, but I was trying to bring some historic authenticity to the event, with a nod to one of the most significant events of the ’80s decade, one that still reverberates to this day.

Reagan gave that speech within days of MPA’s second annual commencement ceremony, featuring the graduation of, among others, the inestimable Wade Petersen, ’87. There are few areas of the school’s operation that Wade is not involved in, but the one I’m most looking forward to is his role as host of the annual Quiz Bowl Smackdown between the students’ top team and the Administration. Wade coaches, among other things, the MPA Upper and Middle School Quiz Bowl Teams, perennial participants in national competitions. He’ll read the questions and judge at our event on December 7 at 8:30 am in the Gallery – immediately following the annual FREE Pancake Breakfast.

With support from the Parents Association, the Pancake Breakfast for all families is another one of our great community builders and comes at a time when the shock of short, cold winter days is settling in and a hot breakfast among friends is most welcome. Make sure to put it on your calendar and, if you can, stay to watch Mr. Peeler, Mr. Reimers, Ms. Dale, Ms. Kunze, and Mr. Downs endure a pasting by our Quiz Bowl students at the Smackdown.

By the way, the Smackdown occurs this year on another historic date – December 7. “A date which will live in infamy,” said another American President at the time. If a question on the significance of December 7 appears at the Smackdown, at least we oldies may have a slight edge. (I wish I could take an instant pole of the readers of this message to find out how many of you, without the assistance of Google, know the answer.)

Events like the Best of MPA and the Pancake Breakfast always remind me what a committed, joyful, generous, and spirited community we have. Truly awesome!

Mike Downs, Head   

November 6, 2012

What does it mean to “see” with your ears? To read with your fingers? What does it mean to depend on someone else for basic needs? Or to be depended on? Fourth graders learned this week from direct experience what it is like to be blind. The capacity to empathize, to be able to see the world through the eyes of someone else, is central to the development of character. This is true even if (perhaps especially if) those eyes see only darkness. That sense which we take for granted, which informs every waking hour for those of us who are sighted, is fundamental to our conception of the world around us. Fourth graders have been “seeing without eyes” with Connie David’s help for the last decade. As you watch this video, savor the gift of sight.

October 24, 2012

I happen to be composing this note with the window open and temps in the mid-60s, but that’s all about to change. Over the next 12 hours, the temperature drops off the table and snow is likely to fly. And by the way, if you haven’t noticed, the days are getting shorter.

Families who move here from warmer climates are always non-plussed when we tell them that the minimum temperature for outdoor recess is 10 degrees below zero. We consider anything below that to actually be cold. But eight below? Toasty. By that standard, the coming dip into the 30s is a piece of cake. Or at least, it will seem so by the time March rolls around. It’s all relative.

As for snow days, don’t hold your breath. In 10 previous winters here at MPA, I can remember only one. And unlike the public schools, who will close for pure cold if the temperature drops low enough, we don’t. Not that we’re gluttons for punishment, but because the geographic reach of our families is quite broad across the Twin Cities metro, and a majority of students do not come by bus. It is, after all, the danger of waiting for a school bus on the street corner at 20 below that has districts cancelling school on otherwise sunny days. Of course, we do not penalize any student whose family decides that travel is unsafe, even if we are open.    

While the temps drop on the outside, things start to warm up on the inside. Ahead on the calendar are colorful dress-up days, concerts, pancake breakfasts, art shows, the annual Quiz Bowl Smackdown – a real sizzler. (For the uninitiated, the Smackdown pits MPA’s perennially stellar student team agains the administration. We get the smackdown!)

And especially for parents, the hot hot Best of MPA annual party and auction. This year’s theme is the 80s, the location – Prom Center, the date – Friday, November 9. It’s a great way to warm your hands by the MPA fire and help out at the same time.

Winter….it’s what’s for breakfast.

October 17, 2012

Middle School showcase has become a wonderful new tradition here at MPA, and the most recent event was focused on science. Physics teacher Marc Shapiro and chemistry teacher Jane Anderson gave a “chilling” performance. Check out the video and see students volunteer to be experimented on!

October 9, 2012

On a summer evening forty years ago, my grandfather asked me a question and it changed something in me. I think of that summer moment every year when MPA Grandparents and Special Friends Day rolls around (next Wednesday, October 17).  

Roberts Rugh was a biologist. His specialty was vertebrate embryology and he had authored a number of college textbooks with catchy titles like “The Frog” and “The Mouse”. He lost an eye in his youth and wore an eye patch his entire adult life, which was amazing to my wife when I first met her because her grandfather had an eye patch, having lost an eye fighting in the first world war. But that’s another story.

When my grandparents retired, they moved to DC, where my grandfather took a “retirement” assignment with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Around that time, he co-authored his only book designed for a general audience. Called “From Conception to Birth” it was a primer for young couples who wanted to know more about their baby’s growth cycle.

On one of our visits to their summer place, I found myself sitting alone with my grandfather on the screened porch facing the setting sun. That’s when he asked me the question. “There is a group that wants my professional opinion on the question of when life begins,” he told me. It was the summer of 1972 and the Supreme Court had not yet decided the Roe V. Wade case.

“When do you think life begins?” my grandfather asked me. I could tell that he really wanted to know what I thought. That simple fact changed something in me and made me think I might actually have something of value to say. I thought about it for a few seconds – more than enough for a teenager, who has, by nature, a superficial confidence in his ability to crack any really tough question.

“I think life begins at conception,” I answered. It wasn’t a political, philosophical or spiritual answer, it was just what I thought at that moment. It made sense to me. In the brief silence that followed, I could hear the waves of the small bay near their house lapping against the beach. The sun had slipped below the horizon. “Is the egg alive before the sperm reaches it?” he asked me. Another easy one, “Yes,” I said. “And the sperm before reaching the egg, is it alive?” he went on. “Yes,” I said, with just a little more hesitation.

Sometime later, perhaps a half hour, maybe more, and after dozens of questions, each one peeling another layer back, tracing a path back in time, we reached the ultimate point. Together we pondered that moment in the distant past when earth went from being a lifeless planet to one with life. It was an extraordinary moment at the end of a fascinating search for answers.

Darkness had fallen and neither of us had bothered to get up and switch on the porch light. My grandfather had become just a voice coming out of the darkness, as he still is for me to this day. I felt small in the presence of this profound idea – the dawn of life on earth, yet large in my grandfather’s intellectual embrace.

Four decades later, that summer evening on the porch is still very much with me. His genuine interest in what I had to say, what I thought, how I worked my way through a tough question made a deep and lasting impression. A single question on a summer evening helped define who I would become.

So thank you, grandparents, for the gift of your time, attention, love and support – gifts that last a lifetime. We’ll see you next week!

MIke Downs, Head

October 3, 2012

She’s wearing a white Oxford button-down dress shirt, collar flipped up, and she’s strutting down the hall towards me, this wisp of a fifth grade girl. All style, all attitude, she stops in front of me, takes a beat, and announces,”I’m bringin’ back the look.” She’s half my height and maybe a quarter my weight, but she’s in charge. I’m just along for the ride.

That’s character of an MPA sort. You can be a fifth grade girl and still rule the hallway. You can be gloriously eccentric and be at home here. And if you arrive on our shores with your special light hidden, we’ll tease it out of you. We’ll invite you to let it shine. Not that this one has ever needed any teasing out for her light to shine. But here, we celebrate her and the hundreds of other ones, large and small, who bring it every day.

I can see her 20 years from now, sure of herself, making her way in the world, bringing people along with her, ruling the hallways of her future with style. It’s what I love about MPA. In my 11th year, beginning to think about MPA more in the rear view mirror than up ahead, it’s one of the things I’ll miss most. 

We’ve talked and written a lot about character education the last few years, though we’ve been doing character education since 1982. This hallway encounter puts me in mind of a different view of character – that special essence that is particular to each child. MPA is an incubator for character. It’s a slow cook process with the occasional hallway flourish.

Sometimes, we’re lucky enough to be present for the flourish. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade teachers wrestle with the soul of one boy, and the seventh grade teacher is there for the payoff – Eureka! He’s a thinker! A middle school volleyball coach encourages, cajoles, and guides her team through a season of losses, and three years later, cheers those same kids from the sidelines in their winning varsity season. The shy introvert who hugged the hallway walls all through middle school, ninth and tenth grade, goes on to medal in state speech competition in his junior year. After her senior year at college, the former MPA fourth grade conflict manager travels to distant lands and helps resolve tribal conflicts, saving lives and spreading the beacon of democracy.  

The day-in and day-out of teacher-student contact adds up to something incredible here. Eventually. Patience is key. You can’t rush these things. Character isn’t revealed on demand. It takes time, dedication and a willingness to wait for the light to brighten.

A thousand points of MPA light brighten the world. Thousands more will be turned on in coming decades. Believe in it. I do.

Mike Downs, Head 

September 26, 2012

Can a piece of cardboard inspire creativity and innovation? You bet! The Global Cardboard Challenge is proof, and thanks to MPA technology teacher Nicole Koen, MPA will be the only school in Minnesota hosting this exciting event next week. Find out details about the Global Cardboard Challenge at MPA