At Saint David's, we believe the development of compassion, kindness, and empathy builds and strengthens connection and belonging among all our boys--whatever their belief traditions, backgrounds, or family circumstances. In service of this imperative, Saint David's is in its sixth year of collaboration with Dr. Derrick Gay, an internationally recognized consultant on issues of Diversity and Inclusion, and Global Citizenship. These efforts to promote empathy, cultivate cultural competency, and deepen inclusion are grounded our school's mission and values, and in the shared values of our families.
On Friday, Dr. Gay was the featured speaker at our Parents Association Meeting, giving parents an inside look at the work done during developmentally sound assemblies he leads with all grades. Dr. Gay shared some of the videos he screens in various classes to spark discussion, and provided strategies and approaches parents can also utilize at home.
The approach taken in sessions is empathy-driven, focused on developing in boys the capacity to understand and care about the feelings of others and to appreciate each other's similarities and differences. Our mission's central ideas of "critical analysis" and "deliberate moral introspection" undergird discussion related to belonging and inclusion--whether the topic be "consequences of words or actions," "feeling left out," "identity," "hurtful jokes," or any other. During these sessions, boys are not told what to think or believe. Instead, kindness, fairness and moral action are stressed, and boys are encouraged to critically analyze and deliberately reflect upon the topics and scenarios.
As Dr. Gay observed, his several years of collaboration with Saint David's have enabled the boys and him to know each other. This allows for a classroom environment of comfort in being candid and honest. In addition to conducting visits with students, he collaborates with Saint David's teachers on the empathy and inclusion elements of Sophrosyne, our Pre-K through Grade Eight social-emotional health and well-being program, and leads sessions for faculty and staff. We thank Dr. Gay for the work he does with our boys, faculty, and parents to promote our continued growth and development as an inclusive community in which all members feel recognized and valued for who they are.