Pride Matters

Posted on October 1, 2013 by admin

We talk a lot about pride at LCC – essentially because pride matters. It really matters. This is embodied in a book titled When Pride Still Mattered – the story of one of America’s most fabled and successful modern personalities, Vince Lombardi. He was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers football team in the 1960’s and winner of the Super Bowl in 1966 & 1967.

The son of an immigrant Italian butcher, Lombardi rose to the top in his field in America. He inspired his players by believing in them and convincing them to believe in their own promise, both as individuals and when working as a group. Lombardi was famous for a traditional value system and look – even on the football field: fedora, trench coat, big black glasses and strong focus on pride as a precondition to achieving anything difficult & meaningful.

David Maranniss, author of When Pride Still Mattered, notes that Lombardi has become a mythic character in America and his legend now transcends sport, almost five full decades since he was active. Many now turn to Lombardi in search of characteristics that they fear have been diminished or lost today – more traditional virtues such as discipline, respect, loyalty, character, and teamwork.

As Lombardi used to profess, before anyone can truly feel and show pride, you have to truly believe in yourself and your goals. Essentially, that means having a positive mindset and remembering that achievement begins with being hopeful. As a speaker told our teachers earlier this past August, “kids who think they can usually do.”

But a positive and hopeful attitude is usually not enough to get you where you want to go. There is a lot of discussion these days in education circles about a host of important attributes that our students need in their daily toolboxes, especially resilience and grit. Yes, grit and perseverance are essential to success, not just in the classroom, but in life in developing relationships with one’s peers and friends – and as citizens in broader society.

Each student at LCC needs to build foundations or roots, but they also need wings – skills and attitudes that will help them to fly independently. Stability and “stick-with-itness” are essential, especially when kids feel disappointed, frustrated or upset. This includes development of a lot of emotional factors: self-regulation, an ability to wait (delayed gratification), emotional control, and self- awareness that can diminish emotional outbursts.

We know that students who are poor at self-regulation also start to shy away from challenging opportunities – even if they don’t admit it to themselves.

I saw grit in action last week in a couple of cases: two Senior School soccer teams were shutout on the scoreboard – but our student-athletes took it all in stride, knowing tomorrow would be better. And our Senior Boys Football team played a very gritty game against a talented top-ranked team with probably about twice as many players as us. I was proud of our boys’ performance under difficult conditions.

Pride was also very much on display last week, especially at our two open houses. Our student ambassadors were the difference-makers for visitors to our school. You can’t fake pride; that never works. Parent and student visitors complimented our guides’ engagement, politeness, and breadth of knowledge about life at LCC. That is pride on display and yes, pride matters.

As Vince Lombardi used to say, “excellence is a habit.” So I ask our students to be proud of doing their best and showing their pride to the world; it does matter! – Christopher Shannon, Headmaster

Digital Citizenship – Digital Profile

Posted on September 24, 2013 by admin

The same week we started school this year the word “selfie” was added to the Oxford Online Dictionary. Yes, a digital self-portrait. By the end of that week, Pope Francis took a few “selfies” in the Vatican with some Italian teenagers. That event caused a major international stir, given that most popes throughout history have remained somewhat distant and surrounded by an air of formality. But earlier in the spring this pope also opened a Twitter account – and he now tweets daily about everyday things – and offers his millions of followers spiritual direction and advice. So on the heels of generations of conservative practices, even the Pope is fostering an image as cool, contemporary and more in keeping with our times – largely through developing a broad social media platform.

If I were to guess, I’d say that at least 90% of LCC high school students have also taken a few “selfies” and sent them out over the web – and most of them also have some form of social media presence. This is a topic that requires more thought than most teens have already given it. It’s important to remember that despite our technical capacity to do so, we can’t simply do anything anywhere and not expect to face consequences – sometimes unexpected.

On that front, I read recently about some teens who this summer visited an important Holocaust memorial at which a small group of them took silly “selfies” and fired them off to their friends and posted them to their Facebook accounts. Before they knew it, all sorts of people they didn’t know accused them of insensitivity. The Holocaust memorial is a place of remembrance, reverence and respect where many feel that silly photos simply don’t have a place. Whether or not a “selfie” is appropriate at memorials or other cultural monuments, it is fair to ask if the kids in question even reflected on where they were and what the monument symbolized. Did they consider the Holocaust and those who suffered? Or when kids arrive at any important monument or site these days, is it simply reflex to take a group “selfie” and move on without reflection? Most kids live in the moment and unfortunately often think after they act.

Another example of social media in the news last week was the case of three Toronto firefighters. They were fired for making allegedly sexist statements on their private Twitter accounts. The comments had nothing to do with their work or relationships with colleagues. Yet, the city of Toronto deemed the comments distasteful and out of step with the city’s core value of gender equity. It was reason enough to dismiss the firefighters. You may agree with that decision or you might fall into the camp that states that personal digital space is indeed entirely personal and should have no bearing on one’s profession. There is certainly ample room for debate here.

I believe we will be having lots of digital debates well into the future. Regardless of one’s position on the right to tweet and its intersection with free speech or the “selfie” phenomenon that is now employed even by the Pope, one thing is clear: lines regarding digital communications are blurred and we are living in a time of significant transition. We all possess tools with the capacity to create a broad public profile. Young people’s digital profiles matter – and whether they like it or not, people will judge them by it and perhaps well into the future.

A recent study by digital security experts McAfee indicates that about 50% of Canadians aged 18-34 are quite concerned about colleagues or bosses seeing their personal online materials and 16% know someone who has been fired after embarrassing content was found online.

There are no simple answers about how to act online, but I advise our students to slow down a little and think more before taking a “selfie,” posting an image or comment, or pressing send. Students should avoid falling victim to impulse, the egging on of their peers, or the temptation to do something they think might make them appear cool or confident. There’s nothing wrong with having fun or fooling around a little bit. But how will others interpret our kids’ digital statements? They should try to let an ethos of respect be their guiding light. This includes a simple litmus test: could grandma read it or would she be offended?

Teens shouldn’t cower or stop being involved with social media. They just need to slow down, think and evaluate first. Teens need to protect their personal digital profiles and their reputations. It matters – today and well into the future. – Christopher Shannon, Headmaster

PS: Last year, several LCC students participated with a McGill University research team investigating issues and trends in digital citizenship. The group called “Define the Line” will be holding a student digital summit in late November and we will participate. I look forward to the feedback.

Time to Declutter

Posted on May 31, 2013 by dlevy

Last Friday’s Grandparents’ Day was truly a special celebration. Hundreds of grandparents came to LCC for an opportunity to connect with children in a manner that is both meaningful and inspiring to see.

The presence of so many happy elderly people made me think of my wise old aunt Kathleen who had a full life. She lived well into her 90’s—healthy, active, engaged, and upbeat to the end. In her 90’s Kathleen took a lot of courses for personal interest and self-development. One course led to her doing housework in the nude, which was supposedly very therapeutic. She loved it; people just knew to avoid her place in the mornings!

My favourite course that Kathleen took was called “decluttering.” To “declutter” is to rid yourself of the piles that build up around you over time—the mess that gets in the way and can prevent productivity, efficiency, even happiness.

In my aunt’s case, the decluttering course focused less on reducing the useless “stuff” in her life as it did on getting rid of people who were dragging her down—the complainers, the whiners, the negative forces who could make any 90 year-old miserable. So during the last few years of her life, aunt Kathleen actively decluttered —literally consciously dropping friends who were mostly negative energy and who brought her down.

So let’s think about “decluttering” in your life. I’m not suggesting you start “dropping” friends left and right. But this is the time of year when we all benefit from evaluating our circumstances and clearing a path to daylight, to efficiency, to a more positive attitude, or positive mindset.

How does your personal space look—your desk at home, your documents on your computer? It’s time for more than spring-cleaning; it’s time to “declutter” and eliminate the mess that stands in your way as you prepare to wrap up your school year.

So how about friends? Are the people you spend most of your time with uplifting and supportive? Or have you somehow fallen into a circle of whiners & complainers? Ultimately, the people you surround yourself with help to define you and what you will become.

So value true friendship and be wary of those who are “takers” or false friends. Let’s all take the necessary steps to “declutter” this week—whether its things or people—and thanks to the life wisdom auntie Kathleen for the reminder that it is simple steps and decisions that help us to define our priorities and ultimately our destiny. — Chris Shannon, Headmaster

Heartfelt Gratitude

Posted on May 22, 2013 by dlevy

I witnessed one of our best LCC school traditions on Tuesday morning—one that parents never see. It was an impressive series of heartfelt “Thank Yous” and words of appreciation from Middle and Senior School students to departing faculty.

So what is the impact of a good teacher? Incalculable. They work long hours shoulder to shoulder with students of potential. Young people need practice, refinement and opportunities to try and then try again. That’s how deep learning happens. Teachers’ work is more of a craft or art than a science. Teachers are in the people-building business. No single recipe for success works with any two students. It’s complicated and important work.

Several words come to mind when I think about a good teacher: intelligent, patient, insightful, concerned, connected, intuitive, committed, inspired, inspiring, invaluable, fair, industrious. The list goes on.

Today our students proudly took time to be genuine in their public thanks. It was clear from the students’ words that each teacher had really made a difference. Each one has touched students profoundly and in different ways. My thanks to all departing faculty for their commitment to learning and living by our LCC ethos of “Students First.” —Chris Shannon, Headmaster

Toward Truth & Reconciliation

Posted on May 13, 2013 by dlevy

A couple of weeks ago former Prime Minister Paul Martin made an excellent interactive presentation at our annual Destiny Quebec Global Issues Conference. Behind closed doors he was particularly emphatic with organizers about the need to be more engaged regarding aboriginal affairs in Canada.

Our students expressed a certain feeling of detachment from some of the current issues with First Nations, which is not very different than the general population. Unfortunately, mainstream Canada is often ignorant or ill informed on native affairs. So let me do what Mr. Martin wanted, and draw aboriginal issues more into the light.

Canada’s native peoples come from a wide array of backgrounds, traditions and geographic regions, from the Atlantic to Pacific and Arctic coasts. Aboriginal Canadians account for approximately 4% of the total Canadian population – some 600 First Nations governments or bands with distinctive cultures, languages, art and music – and half live in Canada’s major cities, not just on reserves. However, social and economic challenges for Native Canadians are pronounced. Aboriginals are twice as likely than other Canadians to be unemployed. They make up 23% of Canada’s total prison population (33% for women). Many native communities have poor housing, no access to safe water or flush toilets, and youth are often in a state of distress with high rates of substance abuse and suicide rates way above the national average.

The hunger strike and regional protests that made up last winter’s Idle No More campaign reminded ordinary Canadians that there are many complicated socioeconomic issues for aboriginals that are part of the greater Canadian agenda of priorities. Essentially, native people simply want to be more of a priority on the national agenda than they are now. They need to be noticed and respected.

Mr. Martin has been a long-time supporter of native peoples in both public and private life. He was recently a private witness at the “Truth & Reconciliation” hearings held a week ago in Montreal. These are public hearings set up in seven Canadian cities to help our country come to terms with our shameful history of over 100 years of native residential schools – essentially a system of wrenching very young children and teens from their families and communities to go to far away boarding schools run by various religious orders on behalf of the federal government. It was an overt attempt to assimilate native Canadians into the mainstream Canadian society. Or in the word of one bureaucrat at that time, “to take the Indian out of the child”. Children were strictly forbidden to speak their own languages, traditional beliefs were mocked, and way too often, the students were subjected to physical and/or sexual abuse. In short, the school network left a very painful legacy. This actually resulted in an official apology in 2008 from the federal government, some monetary compensation and now, an open process aimed at promoting healing. Survivors of the abuse continue to struggle and have been presenting to the national commission as part of the healing process. The objective is indeed to define and share the truth – and take steps toward meaningful reconciliation.

Unfortunately, this is part of our collective history that we must accept. It is a shocking history in a country that prides itself on the core elements of democratic principles: equality and opportunity for all. So what can anyone do about it? Probably more than you think. But start simple and start small. Inform yourself. Spend a few minutes reading about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada – and consider the challenges of native youth in so many communities across Canada. If you become inspired to act, then be prepared to lead.

As former Governor General Michaelle Jean said recently, “the Commission’s purpose is to break the cycle of indifference. We need to confront history together and see how we want to move forward. It’s about all of us”. – Chris Shannon, Headmaster