As election day fast approaches, it is impossible to avoid the “noise” that is an essential part of the democratic process. While there should always be aspirations for civility in civic discourse, the discourse itself can be loud. This is the noise of citizenship, and it is essential in a democracy.
Citizenship is a tremendous responsibility in a republic. Our country was founded through a compromise of competing ideas grounded in an ideal of liberty. As individual citizens, we are each free to share our ideas regarding the ideals of our nation. As citizens of a democracy, we have a responsibility to voice our ideas through participation in our democracy. We, as citizens, have the freedom to agree or disagree with different policies and practices that result from the democratic process. Not only are we free to do so, we have a responsibility to do so.
Trinity-Pawling is an educational institution. It has a responsibility to teach civics and promote citizenship. It, however, is not a citizen and has no position on politics. Indeed, it is made up of many individuals: faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, past parents, and friends. Its constituency is multi-faceted and comes from multiple different political perspectives. The School is neutral on matters pertaining to politics, but active in promoting citizenship. It does so as objectively as possible, however. We are called to challenge our students toward critical thinking by asking them probing questions and encouraging them to synthesize information from a variety of sources. As in all matters, the School demands respect for different opinions and for all persons.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects to what never was and never will be.” Schools must teach citizenship, rather than espouse politics. Schools must also teach critical thinking, communication skills, character, and community which will inform its instruction of civic engagement and responsibility. “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people,” wrote Jefferson, for “they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”
by William W. Taylor