Mind, Body and Spirit

By Lauren Goldberg

In 1900, the pioneering educator John Dewey published The School and Society, a collection of essays and speeches that he had presented as the founder of the Laboratory School at the University of Chicago. His purpose was to explain what was at that time a radical idea in education: a holistic approach to teaching and learning, one that focused on inquiry, hands-on experience and social connection.

Over the next 20 years, progressive schools were established around the country that embraced Dewey's ideas. The Foote School was one of those institutions. Today, our school continues to reflect the child-centered approach Dewey proposed when he began his project in Chicago.

One of the core principles of Dewey's "whole child" philosophy was on full display Monday afternoon, when our winter sports teams gathered in the gym to celebrate the end of their season. Athletes and coaches formed a large circle in the middle of the basketball court as Athletics Director Brad McGuire recognized the accomplishments of six teams: Boys' and Girls' JV and Varsity basketball, swimming and squash. After everyone had assembled, each team huddled in a different area of the gym to discuss their experiences, reflect on highlights, and select a teammate to receive a special award. 

The team awards announced that day were not related to points scored or race times. Rather, they reflected important values that are emphasized throughout the curriculum at Foote, and which are practiced on the court and in the pool: perseverance, hard work, collaboration, dependability, accountability and respect. In his role as boys' varsity coach, Brad offered an analysis of the season, guiding his players to reflect on many successes as well as challenges and areas for growth.

Our coaches teach character as much as as they teach sports-based skills and the students' comments to each other reflect this intention. "You help me relax when I'm nervous before a game," one girls' varsity basketball player told a teammate. "You always stand your ground on defense," another player said admiringly. Their coach, Eric Einbinder, praised the entire team. "You came to every practice as if it were game day," he said. "That attitude is what helped us have an undefeated season."

The squash program fielded its biggest team ever this year. "We had a lot of firsts," coach Kim Birge-Liberman noted. The swim team experienced what coach Sheila Lavey described as "an odd season," due to several snow-related cancellations. Nonetheless, many swimmers improved their times dramatically and the entire team contributed to a terrific season. "We really hung in there," Sheila said with pride.

JV boys' basketball coach Joe Reiser echoed Sheila's observation: "You guys never gave up," he said to his players. He beamed as he recounted a game in which the team came back from a significant deficit at halftime to win the game, due in part to the "strength and support of the bench."

Ahriel Fernandez, the JV girls' coach, led a thoughtful reflection about the highlights of the season for a team that included players who were brand-new to the game. Every player matters to these teams, and the coaches and players know it. 

After the individual team meetings, the entire group came back together at center court to announce their character award winners and share another moment of collective happiness about the season. Brad asked for a moment of silence, encouraging each athlete to think about a compliment that they might give themselves, and a challenge that they would like to set for themselves. "I believe that playing on a sports team is one of the greatest classes you can have at school," he said.

Brad's comments echoed the goal that John Dewey set more than 100 years ago: "What we want is to have the child come to school with a whole mind and a whole body, and leave school with a fuller mind and an even healthier body." 

Lauren Goldberg is Foote's curriculum coordinator.

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