The first few weeks of a school year are often marked by great energy and excitement. Most students enjoy the opportunity to greet old friends and make new ones before the drudgery of school work sets in. Arguably the most important characteristic of the first few weeks is the way they set the tone for the rest of the year. Notwithstanding this past weekend’s football victory, however, the beginning of the year here at Choate has been marked by some disappointment. As in the past, it’s apparent that transforming decisions affecting the entire Choate community have been made by only a select few. In addition, Headmaster Shanahan’s convocation speech proved superficial and, for many, uninspiring.
Ideally, student and faculty opinion would hold significant weight at Choate. At a school where learning and open-mindedness are supposedly important, meaningful discussion of issues affecting our campus is rare. During the times in which students move to voice their discontent, their cries often fall on deaf ears. When student council representatives mobilized to protest sit down (forced?) lunches, they “marched to Arch” only to be treated to a speech from the Headmaster concerning the removal of investments in Darfur. Their confusion was certainly warranted.
The 07-08 school year has been no different. Last fall, when students arrived on campus in late August and early September, they learned that the remaining open space adjacent to the eastern edges of campus—some 200 acres—were that much closer to becoming a “destination” golf course. And a golf course wasn’t the only physical transformation would undergo. Fences have sprung up around the entire school grounds unannounced, substantially changing the aesthetic of the school. One might expect cattle to arrive any day now. Why were the fences necessary? The administration did not bother to discuss these plans with faculty and students before the fact.
Last year Headmaster Shanahan roused community thought with a powerful Convocation speech, titled “Military Alone Can’t Deliver Us Peace.” In his speech, the headmaster warned the school of the perils that would ensue without a sustained effort to establish world peace. He firmly stated that “We must begin thinking about how best to prepare ourselves to solve the real problems confronting people around our shrinking world.” This speech helped set a noble theme of raised global awareness for the 2006-2007 school year.
Rather than addressing any real problems this year, Mr. Shanahan instead chose to praise the school’s many varied yet random accomplishments in his 2007 Convocation speech. Each time he listed something unique to Choate, he urged the crowd to answer “Choate…of course!” in ritualized chorus chanting. Ultimately t-shirts bearing the new slogan were tossed into the crowd in a style reminiscent of a minor-league baseball game.
While The News certainly appreciates free giveaways and a fun atmosphere, couldn’t these frivolities have been saved for a school meeting? Also, the whole premise of “Choate…of course!” is flawed. One person gaining a personal accolade, while impressive, does not reflect upon the whole school. Going back to the larger goal of achieving global peace, how can this occur if we promote such hubristic sentiments? How many Wallingford residents are going to appreciate seeing a Choate student or faculty member in his/her new t-shirt? Instead of the smugness implied by the phrase on the shirts, the Choate community should instead be trying to break the stigma of exclusivity and arrogance that accompanies boarding schools.
The opening of the 2007-2008 school year underscores problems that stem back into previous years. Students and faculty have once again been reminded of their lack of influence over Choate policies, and equally important, the year has begun without a clear sense of community purpose.
