GENERATIONS
The Importance of Civil Discourse
GENERATIONS
“ I ’ m passionate about American democracy ,” guest speaker Margaret Hoover told the eighth graders , alumni , and alumni parents gathered in our theatre on Wednesday , May 22 , 2024 for the Frederic Whitney Wu ’ 14 Annual Lecture . Ms . Hoover is host of PBS ’ Firing Line with Margaret Hoover , a public affairs , multi-platform program that engages in long-form interviews and a rigorous exchange of ideas , with the guiding principle that civil discourse is a civic responsibility . She is also the greatgranddaughter of President Herbert Hoover .
Ms . Hoover ’ s remarks to the boys centered on the essential role that journalism plays in a democracy . After noting the news media ’ s shift from a longstanding model of objectivity to one that is now overwhelmingly opinion-based , she pointed out that bias itself can have its proper place : “ I think we should have two biases in journalism ,” she said . “ One is a bias for the truth , and the other is a bias for democracy .” Through a “ contest of ideas ” even people with differing , strongly held points of view can arrive at the truth , so long as they engage openly with the ideas of others and debate them respectfully .
Ms . Hoover also encouraged the boys to “ think critically about everything ” they see online and in social media , and to employ media literacy skills to disentangle fact from fiction so that they can accurately identify disinformation .
In their Sophrosyne classes , Socratic Seminars and throughout the program , Saint David ’ s boys are guided to do just what Ms . Hoover advocates . This is what we teach our boys in the Classical tradition : to be open to ideas , to question , probe , and analyze , and to use data and a moral compass when considering an issue . Above all , we teach them to engage in civil discourse , to treat all people with kindness and respect . As Aristotle wrote , “ It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it .”
We thank Ms . Hoover for sharing her thoughts and expertise on such an important topic with our boys and alumni community . Appreciation also to our Alumni Parents Council Co-Chairs Winnie Feng and Annie Haddad , Alum Parent Tricia Vulliez , and the Saint David ’ s Development team for bringing such a stimulating evening of conversation to our school .
The family of alumnus Eric Wu ’ 14 , established the Frederic Whitney ( Eric ) Wu ’ 14 Memorial Fund to celebrate Eric ’ s short but meaningful life . This endowed fund supports all aspects related to the Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series , as it was an experience Eric treasured when he was in eighth grade .
70 • Saint David ’ s Magazine