October 2021 - by Carolyn Sharette - Executive Director
Human Flourishing
Today, I share some of my personal thoughts about human flourishing.
At the heart of a classical education is the idea that human flourishing is the ultimate aim of all of our efforts. From my view, this means that we look at each and every student as an individual of inestimable value who has innate and unique talents and capacity, which, if nurtured and strengthened, will lead him/her to a life of flourishing.
A definition of flourishing from the Harvard Human Flourishing Program includes the following elements: happiness and life satisfaction; mental and physical health; meaning and purpose; character and virtue; and close social relationships. We are passionate about helping our students to flourish!
Recently, the public dialogue surrounding critical race theory and social-emotional learning (CRT and SEL) has focused our attention on particular approaches to human welfare and flourishing. As I see it, a lot of what is being debated has to do with diverse opinions on how best to achieve human flourishing. I’ll take a few minutes here to explain my approach to human flourishing and my personal views on how we can best help our students achieve the utmost level of that flourishing in their present and future lives.
America’s founding was led and influenced by numerous individuals who desired greater human flourishing for all people. They believed that greater human flourishing could result if the society in which people lived offered them greater liberty. Liberty here is interpreted to mean the freedom to act for oneself, in the interests of oneself, free in large part from the hindrances that had plagued mankind in most societies. These hindrances included things like despotic governments and dictatorships, as well as class/caste systems based upon wealth, race, religion, or ethnicity, which prohibited many people from property ownership, religious freedom, and the freedom to apply their talents and initiative to participate in the highest realms of business, industry, education or government beyond their established position in society.
Perhaps the greatest victory of our founders was memorializing in our nation’s controlling documents “big ideas” about individual liberty, limited government, and equality (Ideals) when they were, in large part, an aspirational vision at best. The implementation of the principles was highly imperfect, yet the Ideals persisted in hearts and minds and were nurtured throughout generations. For example, fruits of the ideal of equality unfolded decade by decade until slavery was eventually rejected nearly 100 years after the words in the Declaration were written. In an incredible and unprecedented display of commitment to the principles of liberty and equality, over 600,000 men gave their lives to see this ideal, freedom, extended to all men and women regardless of their race. This ultimate sacrifice of so many lives for an ideal is a stunning reality in America’s history that validates the premise that America is unique, exceptional, and its people are willing to support - with their lives if necessary - the ideals that lead to human flourishing. It is this shared commitment to those ideals that draws millions from around the world who seek the opportunities America offers.
Following the Civil War, the ideal of equality remained aspirational in many places for many decades. Yet the ideal continued to be nurtured generation to generation and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, almost exactly 100 years later, further advanced the reality of equality.
And we now see the ideal persisting in hearts and minds as continuing efforts to see true equality become a reality through legislation such as The First Step Act, passed with bipartisan support in December 2018. Although this was a time of great polarization in our nation, still the ideal of justice and equality prevailed and we continue to see progress in the ideals becoming a reality for more and more Americans. It is very reassuring to me to know that the American people still hold liberty, justice, and equality as ideals to be sacrificed for, even above and beyond current partisan divides.
However imperfect and however slow the process, the success of America’s Ideals over the past centuries demonstrates that a strong commitment to the Ideals themselves has provided for incredible - even unparalleled opportunity for people of every race, religion, and socio-economic status, and increased human flourishing has been the result. It is this reality – as history and facts bear out – that our students need to understand and appreciate – for their commitment to those Ideals will also provide for THEM the very best opportunity to flourish!
My life’s mission (and many of yours) is centered on assisting our children and youth in setting a course for a life of flourishing. In my view, there is nothing more important than ensuring they understand the great birthright given them in the American Ideals, and that the Ideals are the foundation upon which their flourishing will be possible!
The current push to pull our attention away from the Ideals and onto unproven theories is largely a distraction that has the potential to harm our students in real ways. Our students have only a few short years to prepare for a life of flourishing and we must allow nothing to distract them from preparing to live their best lives.
As you know, our youth are experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. It is our great privilege to share with them the Ideals that can free them from the negativity and pessimism they are facing. We must help them to fully comprehend that they are the beneficiaries of generations of courageous people who have committed their lives to Ideals that have brought unprecedented flourishing to millions of people! They live in times that are filled with great opportunity!
While there may be value in studying theories such as critical race theory, there is a danger in becoming distracted by them and neglecting our student’s understanding of, and commitment to the Ideals, and their understanding of the great legacy they have inherited as Americans. At American Prep, we invest whole-heartedly in ensuring our students see the beauty and power of our American Ideals – sufficient that they will invest effort in doing their part so they may fully benefit from them.
I am very excited about the power and potential that each of our students has to lead meaningful lives of purpose! I believe we will find we, too, have lived lives of great purpose and meaning if we nurture the American Ideals of liberty, equality, justice, respect for the rule of law, and patriotism in our students. We are privileged to be part of providing the next generation with inspiration and opportunities that will enhance their flourishing.