David O'Halloran, Headmaster - Saint David's School, New York City

My opening letter noted how “kindness,” found in our mission’s third paragraph, speaks to the core essence of a good man, a man who is gentle and respectful, humble and giving, selfless and thoughtful.  In our world today, we hear so much, so regularly, about violence, aggression, and disrespect. This can lead to a hopeless sense of helplessness, a feeling of a breakdown in fundamental civility. Kindness, though, is a powerful antidote. Kindness begets kindness. It is contagious. The kinder we are to others, the more we experience it ourselves - and the effects of that kindness ripple outward and touch others in ways we can't even imagine.  Last week, an alumnus from the Class of ‘08 visited Saint David’s and gave Chapel to the eighth graders. In his talk, he reflected upon the events of 9/11 and the feeling of absolute chaos, fear, and violence that surrounded him—except when he was within the walls of Saint David’s where he felt safe, cared for, and protected. He was in seco...

At first, the boy was a bit disappointed. The vehicle that he and his partner had designed to meet a challenge had collapsed under the weight it was taxed with carrying. With determination, however, he and his partner went back to the drawing board. They would employ their new-found knowledge of what didn’t work to uncover a solution.  Effective teachers know how to reach boys in ways proven successful by research. Certain elements of instruction engage boys’ attention, sustain their concentration, result in superior performance, and resonate with the unique ways that boys best learn: Boys need to move. They like competition when it’s friendly. They enjoy teamwork. They love to create products that serve a purpose.  The Wheel and Axle project in fifth grade science is a great example of how Saint David's faculty incorporate these elements, called transitive factors, into their lessons. For this challenge, the boys must design and construct a vehicle out of a variety of materia...

  The following article by Lower School Science Teacher Allie Laird appears in the current issue of Saint David's Magazine:  Engineering and science are deeply integrated within the Lower School curriculum at Saint David’s. As boys deepen their knowledge of scientific concepts, they are also exploring new ways of thinking. Working through engineering tasks builds many of the same cognitive skills used in the laboratory sciences. These skills include problem solving through trial and error, collaboration, and perseverance. Children have a natural desire to build and take things apart to discover how they work, and we are able to take advantage of this curiosity while helping them enter the mindset of an engineer.  In the earliest grades, boys are encouraged to approach engineering in an exploratory manner. This allows them to observe, practice, and play without the pressure of completing a specific goal. As they get older, boys are tasked with more goal-oriented challenges...