When looking at Parker’s duty towards its students, we often think about helping students achieve academic success, supporting extracurricular activities, and college counseling. A progressive education means more than this. According to Parker’s mission statement, progressive education is built on encouraging “students to think and act with empathy, courage and clarity as responsible citizens and leaders in a diverse democratic society and global community.” This means not only fostering a student’s intellectual ability but also cultivating empathy and creating a safe environment.
Issues within the school are affecting students everyday, and the current events that we once would only think about as something on the news are creeping into our city and our school. This raises a singular question from the student body: What is the true meaning of a progressive education when addressing issues that affect our school and everyday lives?
When a student’s safety is at risk, even because of a very minimal threat, it is Parker’s duty to address these issues. A progressive school promises to protect and empower its students through empathy and intellectual growth. For example, mold was recently discovered in the math and science wings on the first floor, yet students did not receive an email discussing this and only heard about it from teachers or parents, as parents received an email. There has been a lack of transparency surrounding this health hazard that contradicts the progressive values the school upholds.
Not only is students’ health safety at risk, but with gun violence in schools growing in today’s political climate, so is physical safety within the school. Lockdown drills aren’t enough to protect students. After the death of political activist Charlie Kirk, which I in no way condone, an assembly was held discussing the reaction of this horrific event, but many students throughout the Upper School had the same comment: A school shooting in Colorado happened the day Kirk’s death as well, but only one was discussed by the administration. Kirk’s death would have been an opportunity to discuss gun violence as a whole, no matter who was affected, but that is not what happened. Parker heightened security to protect the school against gun violence, but the threat of violence itself is rarely talked about. No school shootings or any other forms of gun violence were mentioned during the assembly. Why? Does a progressive education not include representation for all affected by violence?
Having open conversations about violence and safety within the school is Parker’s obligation, and these conversations require empathy, something that the Parker community has seemed to be lacking this year. Threats to student safety are no longer isolated incidents. The most pressing issue for many students and their families in Chicago today is Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has been deployed in the city, yet not much has been said about this at Parker. No doubt it would be inappropriate to single out undocumented students, but Parker should send an email about what to do if you see an ICE raid or are approached by an agent. The limited discussion surrounding immigration officials in the city contradicts Parker’s mission statement.
Overall, Parker encourages its students to speak up, but the administration often stays silent during pressing issues. Staying silent means being complicit. Teachers may address these issues privately, but Parker calls itself a “model home,” so these issues must be discussed publicly. If Parker wants to uphold its progressive mission to the fullest extent, it has a duty to act transparently and protect its students to the fullest extent.
