View from the Bridge

Never talk about religion or politics in polite company. Or at least, that is the common wisdom. 

What is it about politics, especially in our era of pronounced partisanship, that makes it so hard to discuss? Perhaps it’s because political positions, and the leaders who champion them, can reflect our deepest beliefs, and that may bring us into disagreement with others who hold different beliefs. Or maybe it’s because decisions that the government makes can affect our lives directly and, at times, in profoundly different ways. Or perhaps, it simply has the effect of making people hopping mad. 

Regardless, government and the citizen’s role have played a critically important part in the rise of civilization. Today, we may disagree with the scale of government activity, but many would agree that some level of government is required in this time of global complexity and challenge. 

At Tabor, we have adopted four guiding values as the core to our education experience—care, collaboration, courage, and curiosity. These are not new values to our school; rather we have taken the opportunity to name them directly, so that we might build learning experiences to make sure our graduates embody these values. 

Civil engagement, a bedrock of our country’s political experience, is a key element to a good education. As such, we focus at Tabor on collaboration, the understanding that “no person is an island,” and that we will only overcome the challenges of the world if we work together.  To collaborate effectively, communication and the ability to have discussions with those individuals who have different viewpoints than our own is imperative. 

In this edition of Tabor Today, you will read about Tabor community members who have dedicated themselves to just this endeavor—bringing people together to solve problems and build a brighter future. Moreover, you will read about ways that we are leaning into necessary campus conversations about the future. 

We do believe that politics can be discussed in a civil and respectful way at Tabor and, in fact, believe this to be a fundamental element in a holistic education. It is not easy to do, but Tabor has rarely backed down from doing the right thing for our students and the larger world beyond. 

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Tony Jaccaci (@tonyjaccaci) • Instagram photos and videos