DIGNITY AS A CORE VALUE
It was natural that our first magazine in this four-part values series promoted curiosity. What could be easier than describing a school— any school— as a place where curiosity thrives? Purpose( also not a heavy lift for a mission-driven institution) was next on the docket, followed by honesty. But as the spring 2025 issue approached, the time had come to confront our fear— explaining dignity in a way that could be easily understood by readers. How could we best explain how dignity permeates our culture, particularly at a time when US societal norms were shifting and role models aren’ t always so easy to find? Could dignity even be taught in a time of hot takes, uncivil discourse, and debates that sometimes seem more like cage matches than an advertisement for the marketplace of ideas?
Spoiler alert: Dignity can be taught, and it must be taught. Starting this article mere days before it was due was intentional, because I knew that the longer I waited to write, the more real-world proof I would see for why this value must be learned, reinforced,
“ A shared existence, planet, or community doesn’ t seem to be enough to promote dignity when connection is missing— or mediated through a screen.” and lived within our school’ s walls— particularly when dignity seems so countercultural and misunderstood.
What is dignity anyway?
The author, professor, and conflict resolution specialist Dr. Donna Hicks has noted that people understand dignity intuitively, but struggle to define it. And, when they try, they often miss the mark: What people usually say is that dignity is respect. But dignity is not the same as respect. Dignity, I argue, is an attribute that we are born with— it is our inherent value and self-worth.... Respect is different. Although everyone has dignity, not everyone deserves respect. Respect must be earned.... Dignity is something we all deserve no matter what we do.( Hicks)
Understanding that everyone is deserving of dignity just by virtue of existing or having existed, whether you know them, like them, or agree with them, can be challenging simply because of this confusion. And many of the actions that we take to recognize the dignity of another— looking someone in the eye, active listening, showing empathy or care— are not so readily accessible to us when we blind to another’ s humanity. A shared existence, planet, or community doesn’ t seem to be enough to promote dignity when connection is missing— or mediated through a screen.
Dignity and Belonging
Every independent school, though different, is a world unto itself. As much as we value
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CSEE Connections Winter 2025 Page 13