The Selfless Star of SED for Four Decades of Stellar Leadership, Joan Dee Served the SED Community with Loving Care (P

Home , Bonnie Hammer, Providence College

SED @Boston University School of Education fall 2011

The Selfless Star of SED For four decades of stellar leadership, Joan Dee served the SED community with loving care (p. 4)

Also Inside: l Ethics for eighth graders? A study (p. 10) l Militant energy in language ed (p. 8) | message from the dean | news & notes inside new faculty News & Notes Waxing words in switzerland 1 An alum in Switzerland has an innovative way to teach her students This fall, SED is joined by eight new English and history. faculty members. Dean Hardin Coleman Doing More: says the new hires are “eager to continue Dear Alumni and Friends, Bonnie Hammer (’75) Julia Wilkins (’06) has been wowing The theme of the presentation was our mission of preparing outstanding is a big wheel in TV. 3 parents of her third-grade Core Knowledge a wax museum, Wilkins explains. Each teachers who will grow our capacity to It is an incredibly exciting time to be at SED. Every fall brings the students at The American School in student chose a historical figure and produce research to refine educational return of students to Comm Ave. Our new freshmen have completed Cover Story: Joan Dee Switzerland (TASIS), writes Professor researched and wrote a one-minute practice in the 21st century.” outstanding high school careers. They come to us with high GPAs, deserves more than a gold excellent SAT scores, and spots in the top 10 percent of their gradu- 4 star for her 41 years at SED. Michael Aeschliman, who sits on the speech about that person’s life and sig- ating classes. They come from 19 different states as well as China s TASIS Foundation Board and is the curricu- nificance. One parent later told Wilkins Donald J. Beaudette and Korea. We also have 13 students transferring in from other uni- Militant Energy: lum advisor for the organization. about a family trip to Rome: “Her child comes to SED as asso- versities and colleges, all sharing the desire to take advantage of our A language ed specialist “She is an outstanding asset here,” had been Julius Caesar in the wax ciate professor of the wonderful faculty—including eight new professors (see News & Notes, 8 empowers his students. Aeschliman writes. “Her students, most of museum. She said the tour guide asked professional practice opposite) who will prepare them to become the type of great teacher who inspired us to perform at the best of our abilities when we were whom are nonnative English speakers, put her to tell her son to be quiet because after spending 36 years students. Our building bubbles with this hope and promise. Ethics for Eighth Graders? on an absolutely ingenious oral presentation, he kept interrupting the tour to give leading rural, suburban, Scott Seider studies some with costumes and English recitations, that additional information he had learned and urban schools and

As we talk with alumni and superintendents around the country, we s 10 uncommon schools. drew dozens of parents and teachers and from his project. It was pretty great to school districts in three different states, continue to be impressed by the excellent leadership roles that our astonished people with their English fluency.” hear that.” ● 24 of those years as a superintendent of graduates play in their schools. We have one recent alum who has been Making Gains schools. As coordinator of the Educational nominated to be a teacher leader within a new charter school in New in the Workplace: Orleans; another who has been asked to create an innovative program A young Mozart Leadership & Development Program, s 13 An SED program helps in Boxboro, Massachusetts, to serve the needs of struggling math learn- explains his life Beaudette is responsible for helping aspir- adults learning English. in one minute. ers in high school; and a third who has been asked to take on a leader- ing and new school leaders develop the ship role in creating a high-scope Science, Technology, Engineering, and skills and knowledge necessary to lead Mathematics curriculum in Marlborough, Massachusetts. As everyone schools and school systems in rapidly from the Gates Foundation to the Secretary of Education has come changing and challenging environments. to learn, the cornerstone of effective school reform is highly effective teachers who are willing and able to become leaders in their schools. He works with schools and districts to It is clear from our alumni’s accomplishments that the BU School of identify, prepare, and mentor leaders for Education is doing an excellent job of preparing such educational lead- tomorrow’s schools, and plan and develop ers for schools around the country and the world. programs that respond to the needs of students in prekindergarten through grade I want to end by thanking you for your ongoing support of the School, 12 and beyond. He currently sits on the which makes it possible for us to complete our mission. Not only do Cover photograph by Winslow Martin many of you supervise our students in their clinical placements, you Board of Directors of the New England also are eager to hire them upon graduation. Your gifts to the School School Development Council. go a long way to support the quality of our programs. Your contribu- tions to our scholarship funds are invaluable in helping us recruit and Editor Patrick L. Kennedy (COM’04) retain great students. Your generosity supports faculty recruitment, SED Kathleen Corriveau our alumni speaker series—which enhances the intellectual quality of @ Contributing Writers joins SED as assistant our community—and many other projects at the School. We are also Boston University Rachel Johnson (MET’11) Corinne Steinbrenner (COM’06) professor. She received enriched by the feedback you share with us about your experiences at School of Education Andrew Thurston SED and how they affect your current work. Come visit us soon. fall 2011 a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Designer Dean Owen Edwards cognitive neuroscience Sincerely, Hardin L. K. Coleman from Brown University, Photography Development & Alumni Boston University a master’s in education Relations Officer Photography, Ray Billings unless otherwise noted from the University of Cambridge, and Communications a doctorate in human development and Coordinator psychology from Harvard University. Her Hardin L. K. Coleman Nikki Moro Dean and Professor, BU School of Education research focuses on childhood social and Recyclable. 1211 90400008737 617-353-3213 Produced by cognitive development, with a focus on Boston University Printed on Sustainable Forestry

[email protected] Creative Services Initiative–certified paper. Photos courtesy of Julia Wilkins how children decide what people and

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news & notes | continued | alumni spotlight

what information are trustworthy. She is also Many things about V. Scott Solberg is SED’s interested in language and reading develop- SED attracted associate dean for research ment, as well as cross-cultural differences Dr. Solberg, including our and a faculty member in and the role of parenting in children’s social Educational Foundations, lab-based learning programs, and emotional development. “ Leadership, and Counseling. [and the] professional devel- He received his PhD in opment our faculty provide counseling psychology Melissa K. Holt is an assis- for practicing teachers.” from the University of California, Santa tant professor in counseling Barbara. Solberg is an active member in the psychology. Prior to joining Society for Vocational Psychology in the SED, Holt was a behavioral Devin Kearns is an SED American Psychological Association, the scientist in the Division assistant professor of International Association for Educational and of Violence Prevention at special education. He Vocational Guidance, and the National Career the Centers for Disease received his doctorate Development Association. He also serves Control and Prevention. Holt’s research at Vanderbilt University. on the editorial board of Career Development focuses on youth experiences with violence Kearns has worked as Quarterly and as ad hoc reviewer for the Journal in the home, school, and community, with a an elementary school of Vocational Behavior and the Journal of Career particular emphasis on bullying. Within this teacher, a reading specialist, a literacy coach, Development. Solberg has published over 40 line of research, she has evaluated the over- and a research associate. He has provided professional articles, chapters, monographs, and lap among violence exposures, factors that professional development and curriculum technical reports that focus on career develop- promote resilience among youth exposed to design for the University of California, Los ment for youth, including how to promote opti- violence, and the efficacy of school-based Angeles, Vanderbilt University, and Teach mal youth development and college and career violence prevention programs. Holt com- For America. He has worked with teachers in readiness through the use of individualized pleted her predoctoral clinical internship at school districts across the United States and learning plans and resiliency-based curriculum. the University of Illinois at Chicago and has Canada. For his doctorate, Kearns worked on “Many things about SED attracted Dr. expertise in counseling clients with histories a large-scale investigation of the supplemen- Solberg,” says Dean Coleman, “including our of trauma and in treating individuals diag- tal reading program Peer-Assisted Learning lab-based learning programs, the amount of nosed with eating disorders. Strategies (PALS) and a study of the cognitive professional development our faculty provide causes of reading disability. Currently, he is for practicing teachers, and our excellent rela- working to understand the processes involved tionship with faculty in BU’s College of Arts Kimberly Howard holds in multisyllabic word reading. & Sciences. He believes these programs will a bachelor’s degree from provide the basis for several productive and Johns Hopkins University meaningful programs of research for junior Doing more and advanced degrees in Zachary Rossetti is a and senior faculty.” A big wheel in cable television, this SED alumna teaches viewers about tolerance. By Rachel Johnson counseling from Boston former special education College. She completed a teacher and inclusion facili- When everyone thinks you’ve done enough, Bonnie Hammer branding strategy turned a floundering USA into a ratings darling. It predoctoral clinical intern- tator from New Hampshire. Bill Zahner’s research (COM’71, SED’75) knows you can always do more. also helped guide development of the new programming that caused ship at the Outpatient Behavioral Health He was an assistant pro- focuses on how students Not satisfied with reversing the fortunes of two beleaguered cable the ratings boom. The shows that USA has launched since Hammer Center at Sinai Samaritan Medical Center in fessor in the elementary/ learn important algebraic stations, Sci-Fi (now Syfy) and USA, she transformed USA into the took the helm, including Psych, about an offbeat detective who solves Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to joining the special education program concepts by participating most-watched television station of 2010, created an awareness cases pretending to be a psychic, and Burn Notice, in which a renegade SED Counseling Program faculty, she ran a at Providence College for four years before in mathematical discus- campaign against prejudice, and, in January 2011, became the chair spy is out for redemption, are all character-driven, and all have what high school drop-out prevention program and joining SED Special Education. His research sions with peers. For his of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios, earning she describes as a “blue-sky tone”—an upbeat feeling. was an assistant professor in the counseling emphasizes the sense of belonging expe- dissertation (supported by responsibility for the fortunes of seven cable channels. Hopefulness, seeing the future in welcoming difference and psychology program at the University of rienced by people with disabilities, and it the Spencer Foundation), Zahner analyzed how Known for a management style that insists on advice from all sides, change, drove her other character initiative at USA, “Characters Wisconsin—Madison. Howard’s research focuses on school and community inclusion, two groups of bilingual ninth graders engaged Hammer has accomplished her impressive ratings turnarounds by cre- Unite,” a public service website aimed at advancing acceptance interests include the examination of the social relationships in schools, and augmenta- in mathematical discussions about slope, rate, ating a branding strategy that, she said in an interview with Wired mag- and combating racism, discrimination, and intolerance. Hammer’s career development process of diverse, low- tive and alternative communication methods. and linear functions. Zahner, who joined SED as azine, can “tie together the wrestlers of the WWE with the furry critters career began at Boston’s WGBH television station helping to pro- income youth. She is interested in factors He is also interested in preservice teacher an assistant professor, earned his PhD in edu- Wof the Westminster Kennel Club and the quirky characters on Monk.” duce the acclaimed This Old House, and over the past three decades, that promote vocational development and perceptions of diversity (including disability), cation from the University of California, Santa “Characters” is the key word and the basis for Hammer’s rebranding she has been president of Syfy, USA, and NBC Universal Cable resilience and the reasoning processes used family/sibling experiences, autism, intel- Cruz, where he was a fellow with the Center for of the USA network with “Characters Welcome,” a slogan designed to Entertainment and Universal Cable Productions. As she told the by children and youth to understand career lectual and developmental disabilities, and the Mathematics Education of Latinos/as, an steer USA’s vision as well as bring in new viewers. It’s worked. Under trade magazine Broadcasting & Cable, “Somebody saying, ‘You can’t

choice and career attainment. cultural representations of disability. NSF Center for Learning and Teaching. ● Photo by Kevin Scanlon Hammer’s leadership, the “Characters Welcome” campaign and do that’ is what motivates me.” ●

( 2 ) ( 3 ) COVER STORY

the school of education hired Joan Dee 41 (’59, ’73) as a dean’s assistant in 1970. She’s Cheers had “dean” in her title ever since, or at least until her retirement last May. As associate dean for most of that time, Dee has overseen admissions, licensure, academic standing, practi- cum placements, and student services for the School. She has sat on the Dean’s Cabinet and on the SED Academic Instruction and Standards Committee. Dee has been an active member for of the SED Alumni Board, organizing timely, helpful mini-conferences that consistently draw more than 100 attendees. She was even acting dean of the School for a time. Dee has been the recipient of an Honorary BU Dean Scarlet Key Award, SED’s Ida M. Johnston Alumni Award, and the Pi Lambda Theta Excellence in Education Award. Moreover, along with her longtime fellow associate dean, Boyd Dewey, who retired in 2009, Dee began several enduring SED traditions. “Every Dee! time I do the junior pinning or the senior robing In her 41 years as associate or anything with the Education House, I’m always dean, Joan Dee began going to think of her,” says Director of Student traditions that will remain Services Jackie Boyle (MET’07, ’14). “We’re so lucky because now we have these staples in our forever part of SED. calendar that the students are really invested in By Patrick L. Kennedy and care about.” The junior pinning, officially the Pinning and Photograph by Winslow Martin Affirmation Ceremony, annually honors juniors about to embark on their student teaching placements. At the ceremony, juniors stand before an audience of alumni and family and declare their commitment to the teaching profession by reciting the Boston University Educator’s Affirmation, a Hippocratic-style oath penned for the occasion by former faculty member Steven Tigner.

( 5 ) Cover story | continued |

“She played a large part in making that happen,” says Katie Dee and Dewey, the students’ co-advisors, would regularly Matthews (’12). Dee coordinated the first ceremony in 1989, At Joan Dee’s retire- visit the house for dinners and other events. “It created a and she continued year after year to work with the SED under- ment party (far right), sense of closeness,” says Woods, who lived at the house from Associate Professor graduate student government president, who serves as stu- Carol Jenkins narrated freshman through senior year. “There was a strong sense of dent speaker at the event. a slideshow of highlights community and collaboration.” from Joan and Norm More important, Dee worked with the alumni board to bring Dee’s professional In October, SED unveiled a plaque at the “Ed House” hon- graduates young and old back to campus to show their sup- and personal lives. oring Dee and keeping her name visible to future genera- port for the new teachers. “That was always an inspiring part tions of residents. of her involvement with the alumni board,” says Ryan Woods Just as her name and traditions will live on at SED, so too (’05, ’06), president of the board. “She’s made it very student- will Dee’s lessons and standards live on in the up-and-coming focused, engaging alumni to bring them back for student pro- administrators and teachers who worked under her. “She was gramming, such as junior pinning and senior robing.” such a good mentor. I constantly sought her advice,” says Says Matthews, who emceed last year’s pinning, “It really Boyle, who as the Education House advisor now eats dinner marks the beginning of our career. It’s saying that BU and with the students once a month. SED have confidence in our ability to be teachers, that they’re “She’s such a consummate professional,” Boyle says. “She ready to send us into the field. And then to shake the hand of handled issues with plagiarism, academic misconduct—defi- the president of the alumni board, of the community we’ll be nitely the more difficult aspects. But she was the woman for entering in just over a year—it’s a very special moment. When the job. She’s a tough person, and she knew how to deal with I was there, making my affirmation, I had a tear in my eye.” those things. Dee also co-founded the modern Dean’s Hosts. The pro- “She paid incredible attention to detail, and she was so gram had existed, but lapsed in the 1950s. “I found the old out- good at what she did. I always felt a need to get things fits in a closet” in the 1970s, she recalls. “We took them out, right when I worked for her, and that sort of work ethic and then in a very short time decided to make new ones that becomes contagious.” were a little more up-to-date!” Heather Kohn (’09, ’10), who worked in student services The hosts play a vital admissions under Dee for five years, seconds that sentiment: “When you role by greeting prospective stu- drove to Boston, and dropped Joan off at SED. He would then attend were in a meeting with her, you felt she’d do whatever it took dents and their parents. “They show number-one Fan Mass at the chapel at the Prudential building and go for a walk if to do whatever was best for the School and the students, and people around the School and make Norman Dee is SED’s top Terrier. weather permitted. The Dees would later meet for coffee, and after five it was inspiring. I learned from her to be as committed as you arrangements if someone comes o’clock he would often help her set up for alumni events. can be to what you’re doing, to put 110 percent into your job, She cares in and wants to talk to students or t is impossible to talk about Joan Dee without mentioning her hus- Finally, most evenings, the couple would attend a Terriers game, and to show students you care about them.” about this faculty.” The hosts are very active band, Norman Dee (CGS’54, SED’56, ’59, ’62, ’70). He’s been a especially hockey and basketball, men’s and women’s. The Dees have Dee’s caring stands out more than anything. “She cares School so on “Day for the Class of,” Dee says, constant—and constantly cheerful—presence at his wife’s side, at been season-ticket holders for men’s ice hockey for the better part about this School so much,” says Boyle, “and from a very much,” says when SED welcomes accepted SED alumni gatherings, and especially at Terriers athletic events. of four decades, and for most of that time they have also traveled for unselfish place. She really, truly loves the students. If there students. “They take a lot of care There have been Dees in Concord since the 19th century. away games all over the Northeast. They still attend every home game was a student with a health issue or a family emergency, she Boyle, “and in making them feel a part of the I Norm’s family runs the funeral at Agganis Arena. The athletics department even held a banquet to would come into my office every hour to check in and see if “from a very School, and it’s always impressive to home that handled the burial of honor Norman Dee as the Boston University Terriers’ Number-One Fan. there was any word. She cared about everybody at the School unselfish the students and their parents.” Henry David Thoreau. “It cost thirty It’s not a surprising title for a deeply Massachusetts-rooted sports like they were her own children or grandchildren.” place. She Dee was instrumental in estab- bucks, and I don’t think he ever paid fan who worked at Fenway Park as a teenager, although that experi- As Dewey recounted at Dee’s retirement party in May, lishing the Education House, one of it, the cheapskate,” Dee jokes. ence had a surprising effect on his loyalties: Ted Williams and com- she once invited some international students to her home really, truly BU’s first specialty residences. Now Norman and Joan met at a pany didn’t have the time of day for young Norm, but when the Bronx for Thanksgiving dinner. It was her first attempt at cooking loves the a home for 26 education majors, the roller-skating rink in the 1950s, Bombers came to town, Norm found that “Joe DiMaggio, Mickey a turkey, and the result was a bird black on the outside and students.” brownstone on Bay State Road “was and found they shared a passion Mantle, and that whole team were the nicest guys and treated me raw inside, but that was besides the point. “It’s an indica- an elegant building, but it needed for education. “I was lucky to have great. That’s why I’m a Yankees fan!” tion of how big her heart is,” says Matthews. “She opened some work” the summer before it opened in 1990, Dee recalls. met somebody else who wanted up her home to these students who had nowhere to go for BU carpenters and other workmen were still putting the finish- to teach,” says Joan. Both taught the holiday.” ing touches on the renovation when students moved in that in Concord public schools, and Dee & Dewey Book Awards “I’ve just been so happy with my life and my colleagues first fall. When work was complete, the students invited the Norm went on to teach at Lesley Students continue to benefit from the Joan Dee & Boyd Dewey and the students,” Dee reflects. “I have heard from people I construction crew members and their wives to dine with them University for 35 years. Book Awards program, which grants 20 distinguished students met early on in their career who came back and said, ‘This at the house’s opening reception. In the years between his retire- a much-welcome credit at BU’s bookstore, the Barnes & Noble was a good choice for me.’ It’s a pleasure to get a letter like “It showed how our students were such good people and ment and Joan’s, Norm had a daily on Kenmore Square. that. And it’s a pleasure to work with the students of the that they were good to everyone,” says Boyle. “Dean Dee routine. He rose with his wife early To learn more or make a donation, visit www.bu.edu/sed/ School of Education, because they share my vision and the always tells students that story to make sure they know they in the morning, breakfasted with alumni/giving/bookawards. vision of the faculty. Winslow Martin need to be kind and generous.” her and friends at a local diner, Above, courtesy of Joan Dee; top right, Kalman Zabarsky “And they’re fun, too!” ●

( 6 ) (7) SED in the world

Bend, bend, bend, *snap!* n The teacher slamming the door teaching at Keio University in Tokyo in the In Toho, the students Promoting cross-cultural empathy might The population of Toho on Japan’s southern mid-2000s, working with 100 students to were presented with two sound a touch lofty, but it gets back to jolts from her post-lunch slumber, island is dwindling. In a country with a slug- produce a textbook called ABCs of Japanese. problems—how to pro- Konstantinakos’s reason for teaching: “I gish birthrate—only 13 percent of the popu- (He’s currently developing an ABCs of mote their little-known like to see students working at their best the kids in her elementary school lation is under fifteen—the future for this Chamorro with the University of Guam.) In and also doing something that is of some village of fewer than 3,000 people is fragile. Toho, the students were presented with village and correct mis- benefit to others.” class spring to attention, and young In Konstantinakos’s latest book, Art and two problems—how to promote their little- conceptions about their With two decades of anecdotal suc- Cyrus Konstantinakos—pencil snapper Life in Rural Japan, the children of Toho share known village and correct misconceptions culture—and told they cess behind him, Konstantinakos is ready the history of their village and speculate on about their culture—and told they could could solve them. to share his methods with other teachers. extraordinaire—prepares for another trip to the principal’s office. its fate. Part chronicle, part textbook, the solve them. All they needed to do was learn And that’s why he’s back in his hometown book combines glossy photos with Japanese a little English. It’s a “notion of urgency and studying at SED. Just because an approach n Bored and rebellious, Konstantinakos was on a fast track to and English descriptions of village life; on an agency,” says Konstantinakos of the message worked in tiny Toho doesn’t mean people accompanying website, www.tohovillage. he shared with the students. “There’s this a facilitator.” A new website to accompany will risk it in a city like Tokyo or Los Angeles. summer school: “Trying to narrowly escape from getting in trouble org, the youth continue guiding the tour in urgent need to do something, to let the world ABCs of Japanese will allow students to Konstantinakos knows that he needs to person. The book, which Konstantinakos know what you guys are all about. It’s not upload their own videos and slideshows—a quantify his results, if his methods are to was always more interesting and exciting to me than following edited with support from the United States– just for yourself; they need to know.” kind of “youth-tube,” says Konstantinakos— gain traction on a larger scale. Militant Energy Language education specialist Cyrus Konstantinakos channels his inner rebellious youth to empower his students. By Andrew Thurston

the rules,” he says of his childhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. Japan Foundation, is aimed at supporting an escape hatch to illustrate points in the book. “Kids know a “There are so many uninspired, unenthusi- English- and Japanese-language learners. It Konstantinakos lacked both urgency and lot more about producing media these days astic kids out there and I feel it’s not enough “I discovered my enthusiasm for academic learning quite late.” n has another goal, too; one that motivated its agency at school—“I never had any interest than their teachers do, and somehow we to just work things out within four walls with young authors to learn English. in languages; I did very poorly in Spanish”— need to harness that energy.” my own students,” he says. “We’ve got to Even today, in his forties and pursuing a doctorate in curriculum “There’s all sorts of crazy stuff written but has come to see language learning as He has another theory about study- start bottling this good stuff and getting it and teaching at SED, Konstantinakos admits he likes “bringing the about Japan on so-called education web- “an escape hatch for some kids.” A growing ing languages, too: it improves empathy out there.” sites,” says Konstantinakos. He used one recognition of a potentially bleak fate proved between cultures. Konstantinakos first And he’s continuing to get the good stuff example to galvanize the children of Toho, to be his own rescue, but Konstantinakos traveled to Japan on a year-long classroom out there. While earning his doctorate, militant energy” to the field of education. n Konstantinakos is an asking how many had their dinner cooked on spent enough time in “pretty rough” catch- assistant program after college. He ended Konstantinakos also will be replicating his expert in culture and language education. A fluent Japanese speaker, a hibachi—an outdated imperial-era heating up classes to know an outside force is often up staying for three years and, toward the work in Toho with children in the Japanese device often confused with a grill by those in needed: “Education is good; you just need to end of his stint abroad, noticed that mas- coastal communities hit by the March 2011 he harnesses the pencil wrecker within to produce textbooks and the West. None raised their hands. “I said, be a little more in control or feel that adults tering Japanese was beginning to open a earthquake and tsunami. ‘Well, either you guys aren’t real Japanese or are working for you. I was a bit unlucky with “new room in my mind.” He was starting to His dozing elementary school teacher educational media that “shift students from consumption to produc- there’s something wrong with this website.’ some mean teachers when I was young, but I think differently—seeing freedom, rather might disagree, but Konstantinakos is again I left the door open and let them slam it.” don’t think that makes me unique.” than restriction, in polite tea ceremonies, ready to show that a little energy in the

tion,” giving them the power to change something they care about. It’s a technique he’d pioneered while Photos courtesy of Cyrus Konstantinakos As an educator, he aims to “act more like for instance. classroom can be a powerfully good force. ●

( 8 ) ( 9 ) SED Research

Assistant Professor vital questions about this educational model: Scott Seider is combing Does it actually work, and what effect does it data to determine the impact of character ed. have on student achievement?

Three approAches to character education Each of the three schools in Seider’s study approaches character education from a slightly different angle. Seider classifies Boston Prep as a school that focuses on moral character, while he considers Roxbury Prep to focus primarily on performance character, and the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School to focus primarily on civic character. The three high-performing urban schools are Ethics for Eighth Graders similar in that they all require uniforms and Three Boston charter schools are teaching integrity, perseverance, an extended school day and attempt to cul- tivate a strong culture through school-wide and other character traits along with academic skills. Is it working? community meetings. Boston Prep enrolls about 350 students in grades six through twelve. The centerpiece of a Boston Prep education is a weekly ethical philosophy class, taught at the middle- school level by homeroom teachers and at the high-school level by a dedicated philosophy teacher. The ethics classes revolve By Corinne Steinbrenner n Photographs by Vernon Doucette around the school’s five virtues, and teachers use increasingly sophisticated definitions of those virtues as their students mature. “In the seventh grade, they define integrity as doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” says Seider. “In high school, they would talk about integrity as being true to yourself, acting in ways that are authentic.” The ethics class provides a common It’s 9:30 a.m. on a typical Tuesday, and a group courage, compassion, integrity, persever- vocabulary that becomes a powerful tool for of eighth graders is discussing the philosophical ideas of Thrasymachus ance, and respect. Thrasymachus and Yertle Study Sparks Real-World Changes students, teachers, and administrators, says figured into a lesson on the virtue of respect. Seider’s book inspires homeless shelter launch Seider. “They actively use the language of and the fall of Yertle the Turtle. The former is a Greek sophist and a Similar lessons use the memoirs of Gandhi those five virtues all of the time,” he says. character in Plato’s Republic who unsuccessfully argued that “justice is to teach integrity and episodes of the reality n December 2010, Scott Seider discussed his book, Shelter: Where Harvard Meets the Homeless, on “So if a kid is sent to the dean’s office for show Fear Factor to distinguish between true National Public Radio’s Here and Now. In the book, Seider explains how the student-run Harvard misbehaving, they’ll talk about that kid’s the advantage of the stronger”—or, in plainer terms, that might makes courage and mere bravado. Square Homeless Shelter provides transformative experiences for the BU and other area students misbehavior in the context of which of the right.? The latter is a Dr. Seuss character, an oppressive turtle king who Boston Prep, with its weekly ethics class who volunteer there as well as for its homeless guests, and he argues that the shelter’s model five virtues he or she was not fulfilling. In and its community meetings in which stu- Icould—and should—be replicated in other U.S. cities. community meetings, they’ll talk about the commands his fellow turtles to provide him a throne by stacking them- dents receive value commendations for Stephanie Sena, a history professor at Villanova University, heard the NPR interview and got in touch. performance of the basketball team within selves beneath him. (The turtle tower eventually topples, of course, and good behavior, is among a growing number Last spring, she and a group of her students traveled to Massachusetts to meet with Seider and to the context of perseverance or courage.” Seuss’s story ends with Yertle floundering in the mud.) of charter schools that aim to instill in their visit the Harvard Square shelter. In November, they used what they learned to launch the Student-Run While Boston Prep emphasizes character students positive character traits, from perse- Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia, which houses 30 homeless men and draws student volunteers from a moral perspective, Roxbury Prep— This is ethical philosophy class, a fundamental component of verance and self-discipline to generosity and from Villanova, Drexel, Temple, Swarthmore, and other Philadelphia-area colleges. which serves students in grades six through the curriculum at the Boston Preparatory Charter Public School. kindness. Assistant Professor Scott Seider, Now students at Stanford University are exploring the possibility of opening a similar shelter near eight—follows the lead of the successful Established in 2004 in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood, the school an expert in character education, recently their campus in Palo Alto, California. Knowledge Is Power Program focusing on studied Boston Prep and two other similar Seider is thrilled to see his research and writing achieve such concrete results. “That was the goal,” character from a performance perspective. emphasizes scholarship, personal growth, and five moral virtues: Boston charter schools to help answer two he says, “but that it actually happened and happened pretty fast—that’s incredibly exciting to me.” The highlight of Roxbury Prep’s weekly

( 10 ) ( 11 ) SED Research | continued | sed snapshot

community meeting is the awarding of the and staff. He also surveyed students at the records of students’ grades, demerits for mis- “Spirit Stick” to a student who embodies the beginning and end of the academic year, behavior, and commendations/merits for good school’s ten virtues: scholarship, integrity, using questions from established survey tools behavior. The combined data from all three dignity, responsibility, perseverance, com- designed to measure such things as compas- schools reveal that specific character traits are munity, leadership, peace, social justice, sion, integrity, perseverance, social responsi- strong predictors of student outcomes. The and investment. While all ten virtues are bility, and community connectedness. Students character trait strongly associated with grades important at Roxbury Prep, says Seider, “in rated how much they agreed or disagreed with is perseverance (students with the highest truth, their character education initiatives are statements such as “I sometimes give up on my perseverance scores also have the highest deeply focused on perseverance and aca- homework if it seems too hard”; “I think teenag- grades). The trait associated with demerits demic performance.” ers should just enjoy themselves and not worry is integrity (students with higher integrity get Lessons during the students’ twice-weekly about things like poverty and the environment”; fewer demerits). The trait that predicts com- advisory periods, he says, often feature exam- “I tell my friends when I think they’re doing mendations/merits is a sense of community ples of people who persevered to connection. succeed: students watch a television The relationship between per- commercial in which athletes discuss severance and academic achieve- the training required to win, or they ment, says Seider, is no surprise: listen to a speech by President Barack plenty of past research has shown Obama in which he notes the thou- that performance character traits sands of failed tests Thomas Edison such as perseverance and self- ran before finding the right materials discipline are more important for his lightbulb. Friday’s community than IQ as predictors of academic meetings often include opportuni- success, and many schools have ties for students to showcase their therefore begun incorporating academic excellence, from contests performance character education to see who can memorize the most into their curricula. The findings digits of pi to “public speaking extrav- about integrity and community aganzas” that allow students to earn “You can see the effects of different types of interventions,” Seider connection, however, have prizes for their memorization and says.“And I think that really puts the onus on schools to be reflective Seider excited. about what they want to achieve.” presentation skills. “If you think of school culture as Academy of the Pacific Rim in Hyde incredibly important to creating an Park, which enrolls 500 students in grades something wrong”; and “In my school there environment where powerful teaching and five through twelve, employs philosophies are people I can ask for help when I need it.” learning can happen, then clearly you want from Eastern and Western culture to inspire After gathering binders-full of survey and a school environment where misbehavior is students to excel and to help them appreci- observational data, Seider spent the summer low and positive behaviors are high,” he says. ate their civic responsibilities to their school, of 2011 sifting through that information and “The strongest predictor of misbehavior is their city, their country, and their world. comparing it to records the three schools low integrity, a moral character trait. The best Students perform community service in provided on students’ grades and behavior. predictor of commendable behavior is a sense Boston and beyond, study Mandarin Chinese, He plans to continue analyzing the data of connectedness, which you could describe take a twelfth-grade civics class, and have and expects it to yield several magazine as a civic character trait. That’s where I’m opportunities to travel to China as exchange articles and academic papers and a full- really interested—in this idea that moral and MAKING GAINS IN THE WORKPLACE students. The school’s culture revolves around length book. In the meantime, he says, he civic character traits have a real role to play in An SED program helps adult English learners succeed at work. two Japanese words: gambatte and kaizen. can share topline conclusions he’s already creating a school culture where learning can Gambatte implies persistence and doing one’s made from his research. The most basic of take place.” To back up his gut feeling that Maria Echavarria (right) received a con- vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, read- that their employees “showed great gains in best. Kaizen is the Japanese principle of con- these conclusions: intense focus on charac- better learning happens in better classroom gratulatory hug from ESL teacher Kristen ing, and writing skills. terms of confidence, ability to communicate in tinuous improvement—for yourself and for ter education actually works. Seider’s survey environments, Seider crunched his numbers Bock after completing SED’s Workplace For content, they use topics of interest and English, customer service, and competency. your community. Students are often assessed results show that students do make gains and found a direct correlation between stu- Literacy Program, an initiative of the Donald importance to the students, both in and out of the “The results are totally outstanding.” as a class, rather than as individuals, to rein- in the character traits their schools empha- dents’ academic grades and being in classes Durrell Reading and Writing Clinic. workplace. Bock leads the classes with the help of The above photo was taken at the pro- force the importance of working together. size—and they make the largest gains in the in which teachers issue few demerits. As an Over the course of ten weeks, the pro- SED students who serve as literacy tutors. gram’s high-energy graduation ceremony, areas their schools focus on most intently. advocate of civic and moral character edu- gram offers 40 hours of English language The Workplace Literacy Program began to which teachers and students bring family survey says “You can see the effects of different types of cation in a country where test scores and and literacy to adult employees of Boston last year, and Bock and colleagues have seen members, food, and their dancing shoes. To gauge the effectiveness of the schools’ interventions,” Seider says. “And I think that academic performance often reign supreme, University Dining Services. Bock plans the enrollees make notable gains in literacy pro- “Maria came both semesters, so I got to approaches to character education, Seider really puts the onus on schools to be reflec- Seider is pleased to have solid evidence that curriculum along with Professor Jeanne ficiency, based on the results of written and know her really well,” says Bock. “She just got spent much of the 2010–2011 academic year tive about what they want to achieve.” teaching compassion and character has a Paratore (’83) and Intergenerational oral tests given at the beginning and end of the done giving a thank-you speech, in English, in observing the schools’ classes and community Seider’s second group of findings comes place in the classroom alongside pronouns, Literacy Program Director Barbara Krol- course. The supervisors of nearly all 16 students front of everyone, including her supervisors. I

meetings and interviewing students, parents, from comparing character-survey results with Pythagoras, and perseverance. ● MCydney Scott Sinclair (’82, ’96). They focus on improving who completed the course, Bock says, wrote was so proud of her.”—PK

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