A Coed School. for a Coed World
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fall/winter 2010 A coed school. For a coed world. Headmaster Christopher Shannon (Pre-U ’76) LION Editor Kirk LLano Copy Editor Jane Martin Louise Mills Archives, Research and Database Management 8 10 Jane Martin Adrianna Zerebecky Contributors Mark Boghen Cheryl Doxas Contents Linda Gendron LCC LION Magazine — Fall/Winter 2010 Kirk LLano Alec Mathewson ’95 Louise Mills Patrick Peotto 2 12 Christopher Shannon (Pre-U ’76) Headlines: Different but Equal Adrianna Zerebecky The Coed Advantage Voices – Student Leadership for the 21st Century Photo Credits By Christopher Shannon (Pre-U ’76) Christian Auclair Headmaster By Linda Gendron Mark Griffiths ’67 Assistant Head – Student Life Danny Lutz 4 Alec Mathewson ’95 14 Christinne Muschi Breaking the Glass Ceiling: The Role of Looking Back on When Mailing Coeducation in Preparing We Looked Forward – Automatic Mailing & Printing Inc. Young People for Dr. Paul Fournier ’61 Design the Realities of Life By Mark Boghen Origami By Patrick Peotto Media Consultant The LCC Lion is published by Assistant Head – Academics SURVEY SAYS… The Advancement Office 16 Lower Canada College 6 History of Our Move 4090, avenue Royal to Coed Q & A with Rob Tipney, COEDUCATION WORKS! Montréal (Québec) By Cheryl Doxas H4A 2M5 Director of Middle School By Mark Boghen Retired English, History Teacher A survey* of 18,000 students and parents confirms that students téléphone 514 482 9916 Media Consultant fax 514 482 8142 18 at coed schools: courriel [email protected] 8 LIONfest • Believe their school is safe and welcoming site web www.lcc.ca blog www.wearelcc.ca Sylvia Tracy – Work of Art • Hold positive impressions of their classroom environment and levels By Mark Boghen 19 Send your comments, articles, photos, Media Consultant Report to Donors of achievement CLASSifieds and other correspondence 2009 – 2010 • Are well adjusted and have positive self-image to the above address. 10 The Baillie Science Wing 38 • Make friends easily and show respect for both genders Publication Mail Agreement CLASSifieds • Enjoy attending and would recommend their school Number 40598094 • Are university-bound and confidently prepared academically Numéro de convention 4058094 44 LION de la Poste-publications In Memoriam LION LCC LCC 2 We are all one! 1 www.lcc.ca *The Benefits of the Coeducational Environment | 2006 CAIS Survey | Conducted by The Strategic Counsel and express views. The school day reinforces the “In my view coeducation importance of embracing diversity as a reflection of the reality of the broader society in which we live. is the best preparation We have developed a strong and balanced classroom experience, with students achieving at the highest for most students.” levels. They are comfortable leading, following, teaming and collaborating – essential 21st century work skills. Moreover, our coed learning community is founded on a culture of respect where friendships and lasting bonds are formed between both genders. Through their experiences learning and leading together, we prepare our students very well for the realities of a coed university experience, the coed workplace, and the dynamics of a coed world. LCC has become a strong launchpad for success in an increasingly complicated world. I see and feel this Headlines positive energy every day when I come into contact with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and community partners. Coeducation has allowed the The Coed Advantage School to move forward in a balanced and confident manner – from strength to strength. ABOVE The lighting of the LCC Centenary Birthday Cake. In this issue of the LCC Lion, others join me in L to R: Head Boy, Kirk Glowacki ’10, Head Girl, Jessica Italia ’10 the celebration of the coed advantage. Former Board and Headmaster Christopher Shannon (Pre-U ’76) This year at LCC we are proudly celebrating fifteen years Chair, Dr. Paul Fournier ’61, revisits the strategic of coeducation. As a leading educational institution decision to shift LCC to coeducation. Assistant Head As a testimony to gender equity, in this issue we Linda Gendron reflects on the powerful impact of profile two gifted long-serving members of faculty, in Montreal, it is important to reflect on how our school providing meaningful leadership opportunities for both of whom witnessed LCC’s transformation to has evolved and changed. both boys and girls. After they leave LCC, we want coeducation over 15 years ago. Junior School Art our graduates to be comfortable as initiators and Teacher Sylvia Tracy and Middle School Director By Christopher Shannon (Pre-U ’76) leaders throughout their adult lives. In another article, Rob Tipney are both energetic educators dedicated Headmaster Assistant Head Patrick Peotto reflects on his career to promoting excellence and equity and bringing in both education and law, changing norms and why out the best in girls and boys. he decision to become a coed school in the mid-1990’s I believe that after fifteen years of coeducation, LCC as a father of two daughters, he would only choose I came to the School as Headmaster in 2005 because was a major shift for LCC. It was a bold, strategic, is now a better school than at any time in its history. the coed environment for its many advantages. it was a coed school. We don’t issue credits for coed and intelligent decision. What has the impact of Coeducation brings with it many advantages There is also a short profile of our Alumni Non learning, but we provide valuable learning experiences coeducation been on our students and the broader for students, from the earliest age. At LCC we have Nobis Solum Award winner, John Ellis ’32. At the for students that are clearly a product of a mixed-gender Tschool community? Coeducation came at the right observed four attributes in particular: the active age of 93, he reminded our whole community at the setting. In my view coeducation is the best preparation time to clearly reflect major changes in gender equity promotion of equality, diversity, learning excellence inauguration of Centenary celebrations that the move for most students. Let’s continue to build a strong and LION LION in society, and as a way to better equip students for and social advantages. In a coed environment girls to coeducation was perhaps the wisest single strategic relevant learning community that will proudly thrive LCC success at university and for productive adult lives. and boys are given an equal voice to grow, explore decision LCC has taken in the last half century. as a model to others throughout the 21st century. LCC 2 3 Today statistics show a very different picture. enhanced with practice. One cannot get that practice There are more women than men in law schools. More in theory. It is necessary to have both sexes involved women are being asked to join partnerships in major in a discussion to truly understand the different firms and are being asked to serve on the boards viewpoints and communication styles. of large corporations. Men can no longer restrict their I am proud to be part of a school community that communication styles based upon gender norms. advocates gender equity. At LCC, the School’s board To succeed in the professional world, people must of governors is made up of roughly the same proportion work effectively with people of different cultural of men and women. While the Head of School is backgrounds and genders. That is one of the reasons male, the executive management team and the division that I believe coeducation is a vital component directors are made up of an equal number of men in forming the skills and values of young people. and women. Our educational leaders in the School, department heads and curriculum coordinators, are again equally made up of both genders. Student leadership is the same. We have a Head Boy and a Head Girl, for example. I am the staff liaison for Breaking the “I am also proud to be part the Destiny Quebec Committee that three years ago decided, on student initiative, to have co-chairs – of a school community that one male and one female. The model has worked advocates gender equity.” exceptionally well. LCC clearly is a community where both genders play an integral role in fostering the values of the institution. That is a marked change Glass Ceiling: from 15 years ago when this was an all-boys school. It is ironic that LCC was a single sex school back The Role of Coeducation in Preparing Young when I was having that debate in my class at McGill. Over the past twenty years I have seen the value I also had no way of knowing then that I would one People for the Realities of Life of coeducation in the classroom. I have taught day be the father of two wonderful young women a wide variety of social science classes, from law who would attend LCC. As an educator, I firmly By Patrick Peotto hen I was studying education at McGill University over 20 years ago, I took a to political science, and in every one of them open believe that coeducation enhances the educational Assistant Head – Academics seminar course on issues in education. The course was great because we would read discussions greatly enhance the learning environment. experience and prepares young people for a positive various articles on interesting social issues and then discuss them with the professor There is no doubt that young men and women have future. As a parent of two girls, I would not even Win a small seminar setting. I clearly remember the heated discussion we had in different viewpoints on a number of issues. Working dream of having them attend a single sex school, one of those sessions on the issue of the “glass ceiling.” If my memory serves, the together in the classroom, learning to listen to the no matter how strong the teachers and educational professor advanced the viewpoint that the old restrictions on upper mobility for viewpoints of others and being able to persuasively experience.