Some lessons from history, and strategies for the days ahead

Dear Families, Faculty and Staff,

I think we all knew these past two weeks would be difficult, but they have been stunning nonetheless.

Yesterday, I met with the faculty and staff to acknowledge the moment that we are in and shared the one piece of counsel I felt qualified to provide, which is how I am choosing to navigate this moment: to focus on the things I can control and lean into my values.

In that same spirit, I would like to offer up some basic information that may help to answer open questions about how the news of the past few weeks impacts our school and our community, and draw on a few lessons of history to propose some strategies for the months ahead.

First, I want to remind you that Gordon is an independent school. The White House has limited power over public schools in the US, and even less over independent schools. We are not funded by the federal government, nor are we obligated to follow policy set by the White House. We will resist efforts to change what we do, especially those that impact our ability to fulfill our mission as a joyful, inclusive school where every community member can be their full, authentic self.

Secondly, as I've promised you repeatedly in these letters over the years, our first priority is taking care of Gordon's children. We are tending to their wellbeing today and this week, we will be watching their growth over the years, and we graduate them with the hope that they will find ways to make the world a better place.

Today, Nursery students were roaming the halls with paper lanterns they decorated themselves. Faculty and staff volunteers were reading novels written by seventh graders and meeting with them to offer feedback. Lower School students were advocating, unsuccessfully, for their right to sled on what is now just a sheet of ice.

And, students know there’s been hard news, and that the adults in their lives are worried. 

Our children’s ability to hold hope and joy alongside concern and confusion is one of their great gifts, and we work to support it every day. Your child's classroom teachers are listening to your children carefully, and we have a school counselor, a full-time nurse, and a student support team, all of whom are dedicated to responding to your child's emotional needs. This is not a team we’ve put together as a crisis strategy. This is a team we’ve built, deliberately, permanently, over the past decade.

I’d also like to offer some commitments. 

In the news from Washington over the past two weeks, we have seen a thoughtful, well-planned strategy that draws on a playbook many of us—as well as our parents and grandparents—have unfortunately seen before, both here and abroad. 

In response, I can promise you that Gordon will be using these strategies of our own.

We will not surrender
In an atmosphere of manufactured fear, leaders flex their power through force and through legislation, but they also rely on institutions and individuals to voluntarily, preemptively comply. Unlike Facebook, we will not be giving up on fact checking. Unlike many corporations, we will not be backing off of practices that promote diversity and equity. Unlike Google Maps, we will not be relabeling the Gulf of Mexico. We will continue to teach children the truth, in age-appropriate ways, and help them discover the joy of participating in an intentionally inclusive environment.

We will not be distracted
This flurry of executive orders could have us so worried about everything that we focus on nothing. We are blessed with many resources, both nationally and locally, and this nation still has a rich network of people who are aligned in our commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. We each know our strengths and we each have a role to play. At Gordon, that means following the headlines carefully (but not obsessively), watching for orders that may interfere with our work or harm our community, and preparing for the worst while continually looking for ways that Gordon and its graduates can be forces for positive change.

We will not be divided
Gordon is a diverse community, and this barrage of executive orders is intended to pull a community like ours in multiple directions. We need to share our concerns with each other, we need to listen with compassion, and we need to support each other as best we can, with the understanding that each one of us has multiple priorities tugging at our sleeves. Gordon is a powerful community with a tremendous capacity for advocacy. Let’s keep that intact.

Finally, I want to remind you of the structures that Gordon has already in place to support connection among the adults in our community. We are currently finishing up a busy round of Ages and Stages. POSOC had their bowling party Saturday. Facing Whiteness had a guest speaker this morning. Hallie Riggs and Erin Moffett will be hosting an evening for caregivers dedicated to children’s mental health next week. There are Coffees in the Commons throughout February. And so on. These are ongoing, and each offer different on-ramps to community. I hope you are able to make use of these and other opportunities to connect in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you for reading this letter carefully, and thank you for the trust you place in us every day. These are strange and painful times, but they are not without precedent in world history. I cannot imagine a community better equipped to navigate this era with courage and compassion, with integrity and joy.

With determination and resolve,

Noni