On the evening of September 23, Tabor Academy welcomed Dr. Michael Kimmel, Director of the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities, Stony Brook University and author of Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men, to speak with students and faculty. The faculty from Old Rochester Regional High School was also invited to join the event at Tabor.
With all schools, day/boarding, public/private, being so influenced by student culture, instilling empathy and habits of inclusive thought and behaviors are critical to creating a safe and healthy learning living community for all our students.
Dr. Kimmel spoke about how communities can establish and uphold cultural norms that encourage all members to be responsible for both themselves and for others, and which actively struggle against the tacit approval occasionally signaled by bystanders not confronting destructive behaviors. This kind of community, suggested Kimmel, upholds its values in its day-to-day interactions and creates a strong, supportive culture.
As Tabor seeks to explore the value of empathy with students this year, Dr. Kimmel’s lecture provided a strong starting point. To continue the dialogue, motivational speaker Alexis Jones will join students and faculty in October on the topic of community respect and gender empowerment. Next, the third annual Graboys Leadership Symposium will focus on empathy and social entrepreneurship with a host of outside and alumni speakers on this topic including Alan Harlam, the Director of Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship at Brown University’s Swearer Center for Public Service; Jim Deters of Galvanize; Candy Brush, Vice Provost of Global Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College; and Heather Neurwith, Associate Director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Middlebury College.
“Empathy is a key 21st century learning disposition, and our efforts to focus on understanding how best to see through the perspective lens of others carries such power and opportunity,” says Dean of Students Mel Bride, who is responsible for much of this programming.
To engage Tabor and Tri-Town parents in this dialogue, Tabor will welcome Dr. Frances Jensen, author of The Teenage Brain, on October 30 at 7:00 pm in Hoyt Hall (235 Front Street, Marion) for a discussion about teenage cognitive development and decision-making. This talk is open to the public and will be a centerpiece of the school’s Parents’ Weekend programming. It is Tabor’s hope that this opportunity will facilitate continued dialogue among students and parents around the important topic of personal responsibility and what it means to care for others as a committed citizen in our communities.