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Center for Civic Engagement
THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Open and informed dialogue is a critical component of the civic engagement initiative at Harpeth Hall.
BY BONNIE MOSES • UPPER SCHOOL SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHER
Each spring, the annual voter registration drive at Harpeth Hall is a day of excitement and anticipation for Upper School students. During the 2019 drive, 102 enthusiastic new voters were registered on campus. Visitors to the third floor of the Wallace Wing will see an entire wall devoted to “I registered” and “I voted” photos that bear witness to the passion Harpeth Hall students have for civic engagement. To build on this enthusiasm and provide greater civic leadership opportunities for our students, the Faculty Committee on Civic Engagement (CCE) was created in the spring of 2019. In addition to encouraging active citizenship, the CCE initiative emphasizes the importance of information literacy, civic dialogue, and civic education. Recognizing that this effort transcends individual disciplines and requires the commitment of the entire Harpeth Hall community, the idea for the Harpeth Hall Center for Civic Engagement was born. Much of the foundational work related to the Center began with the work of the Civic Engagement Committee this past summer. In July, Upper School teachers Joe Croker, Tony Springman, and Bonnie Moses continued on page 32
We need more women at the leadership table, and Harpeth Hall ensures our graduates are ready to take a seat. HEAD OF SCHOOL, JESS HILL
attended the “Sphere Summit: Teaching Civic Culture Together,” a conference for educators sponsored by the CATO Institute in Washington, D.C. Joe Croker describes CATO’s visionary work which “brings together conservatives, progressives, and classical liberals who, despite their many philosophical differences, share a fundamental faith in democracy, respectful dialogue, and the rule of law.” To provide a glimpse into the Sphere Summit experience, Peter N. Goettler, president and CEO of the CATO Institute, was the featured speaker for the Upper School faculty in-service day in October. Open and informed dialogue is a critical component of the civic engagement initiative at Harpeth Hall. To support this objective,
the history and English departments implemented an enhanced and specific difficult dialogues protocol in the classroom. These guidelines have since been shared with the entire Upper School faculty and student body. In addition to this work, a team-taught English course, “Writing, Rhetoric, and Civic Engagement,” was introduced at the junior level. In this course, teachers Joe Croker and Dr. Ben Fulwider model respectful deliberation as well as healthy disagreement for their students. Beginning in the fall of 2020, the history department will offer a new semester elective, “Democracy and Leadership,” which provides an opportunity for students to learn about the role of citizenship, the importance of civic engagement, and the foundations and
mechanisms of government at the local, state, and national levels. With an emphasis on experiential learning, students will engage with the Nashville community and discover how citizens can partner with public and private institutions to enact change. Head of School Jess Hill and Upper School Director Armistead Lemon have worked tirelessly to support the civic engagement initiative and to create a Center that will bring all members of the Harpeth Hall community together as partners in this work. Harpeth Hall is excited to announce the creation of The Center for Civic Engagement which will empower young women to become active and informed citizens and to appreciate — through action and reflection — what is required for civil societies to thrive.
