To: David, Chuck, Fred, Phyllis, Onnie, Adair, Hank and Wes
From: Buz
Re: Board Recognition of individuals and groups
Date: July 12, 2000
More than a year ago I sent everyone a memo on my thoughts
about the message the board of education sends by its example. Specifically, I commented on the nature of
the individuals and groups we had chosen to honor at board meetings. Who they are and why we honor them says a
lot about our values. It says what we
really care about.
I think Wes and Hank have tried to expand the kinds of groups
we honor. I applaud them for asking the
groundskeepers and the Booster's Club leaders to appear, for example. They are two groups who certainly deserve
our thanks for their service to New Trier.
But what about service by New Trier? I take as the standard our motto: To commit minds to inquiry, hearts to compassion, and lives to
the service of mankind. How does who we
honor match what we believe?
I went through the board meeting binders for the last year to
see who we have honored. The first
listing below is chronological by month.
The second listing is by the parts of the New Trier motto.
Sports and the arts do not fall easily into a motto
category. In a sense both, along with
academics, are efforts by an individual or a group to perfect different aspects
of the person: athletic in one; artistic in another; and academic in the third. A review of who we have recognized
demonstrates that we have chosen to focus on personal or group
achievement. Consequently I choose to
put sports, arts and academics in the "inquiry" category.
Only the AALS Award donated by our librarians to Heffernan
School seems to me to span all three parts of the New Trier motto. The award was for achievement by the
librarians specifically and New Trier generally; the library staff chose to
share the award with those whose need is greater; and the purpose of the gift
was to allow greater access to good libraries.
RECOGNITION BY MONTH
July 1999
Boys Baseball - Second in
State
Julia Wilhelm - scholar
athlete award
August 1999
None
September 1999
Lynn Duenow as Art Educator
of the Year
Foreign Exchange Students
National Merit Semifinalists
October 1999
Lagniappe/Potpourri
November 1999
Boys Golf Team
1st place individual in golf
- Michael Slaven
Girls Golf Team
2nd place individual Alexis
Wooster
Girls Tennis
3rd place tennis doubles
Elizabeth Snell and Lisa Spinney
4th place tennis doubles
Erica Quandt and Lauren Stone
December 1999
Chris Chiaverina Elected
President of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
Supervisor and Members of New
Trier Grounds Crew - 1999 Field of the Year
3rd Place Boys Soccer Team
2nd Place Girls Swim Team
January 2000
Steve Malliaris -
Siemens/Westinghouse Prize
February 2000
Mike Cantania's Advisory -
canned food drive
Adopt a Family program - 89
families received gifts and meals
Gale Academy Book Drive -
sophomore book collection project
March 2000
Grammy Award to Music
Department
April 2000
Leaders of Booster Club
May 2000
Debate Team
June 2000
Grammy Award to Music
Department
Girls Lacrosse Team State Championship
Boys Tennis Team State
Champions
Lauren Matic - 800 meter run
at ISHA state championship meet
AASL Library Award donated to
Hefferan School
RECOGNITION BY TYPE
Minds to Inquiry
Boys Baseball - Second in
State
Julia Wilhelm - scholar
athlete award
Boys Golf Team
1st place individual in golf
- Michael Slaven
Girls Golf Team
2nd place individual Alexis
Wooster
Girls Tennis
3rd place tennis doubles
Elizabeth Snell and Lisa Spinney
4th place tennis doubles
Erica Quandt and Lauren Stone
3rd Place Boys Soccer Team
2nd Place Girls Swim Team
Girls Lacrosse Team State Championship
Boys Tennis Team State
Champions
Lauren Matic - 800 meter run
at ISHA state championship meet
Grammy Award to Music
Department
Grammy Award to Music
Department another month
Lynn Duenow as Art Educator
of the Year
Lagniappe/Potpourri
National Merit Semifinalists
Steve Malliaris -
Siemens/Westinghouse Prize
Debate Team
21 total
Hearts to Compassion
AASL Library Award donated to
Hefferan School
Mike Cantania's Advisory -
canned food drive
Adopt a Family program - 89
families received gifts and meals
Gale Academy Book Drive -
sophomore book collection project
4 total
Lives to Service of Mankind
Foreign Exchange Students
Chris Chiaverina Elected
President of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
Supervisor and Members of New
Trier Grounds Crew - 1999 Field of the Year
Leaders of Booster Club
4 total
There are 21 entries in the board binders during the past year
for the category of inquiry and 4 each for the categories of compassion and
service. Our actions suggest that we
think sports excellence is the most important value at New Trier, and that we
think service is of least importance, particularly if we distinguish service to
New Trier from service by New Trier.
I think we can and should do a better job of living by our
motto. I think it is a good motto. I propose that during this next year the
board recognize individuals and groups in equal proportions to our tripartite
motto. I will propose such a resolution
at our next meeting. I hope it will
have your support.
Thank you for your time and
attention.