Thriving in Community While Living in Disagreement
By Rev . Katie O ’ Dunne Woodward Academy • Atlanta , GA
The world is composed of diverse individuals with varying perspectives and experiences . And while these strands can come together into a beautiful fabric , it seems like we unfortunately live in a society filled with constant disagreement . Opposing perspectives exist when it comes to every issue imaginable , so it makes sense that the polarizing views in society drip over into our experience in schools . As a school chaplain starting my 7th year , I ’ ve found that there is constant tension between different constituencies , such as faculty , students , parents , and administrators , due to their different perspectives and experiences on the most important aspects of the educational experience . In fact , this tension even continues within these groups , as you can witness in faculty meetings when educators voice varying approaches to teaching students .
In preparation for this article , I sent many leaders from independent schools a form asking the following :
I ’ m currently working on an article for the CSEE back-to-school edition . The article focuses on how we navigate disagreements in school communities , particularly in the current polarizing climate . How do you think we can move forward , even in the midst of that tension ? What are some of your thoughts on tangible ways to approach this issue ?
I was surprised at the very few responses I received from educators and administrators , despite immediate responses to other projects . And while this might be a result of summer , I ’ m more convinced that this topic simply seemed too daunting to address and easier to avoid .
Page 16 Fall 2021 CSEE Connections