That philosophy guides the Ethics Department Chair, Sr. Joseph Murphy, for his first-time tenth grade students. Sr. Murphy explains that, “they [students] think of opinions somehow like it’s property that they ‘own it’ somehow, but they really don’t own it fully until they can argue for it. Knowledge in a certain sense is a process, and you have to arrive at a conclusion through a process.”
Over this past Summer 2021, Ethics Department Chair Sr. Joe Murphy contributed a chapter within the anthology Intentional Disruption: Expanding Access to Philosophy (2021) published by Vernon Press. The anthology edited by Stephen Miller outlines how educators in philosophy have implemented the discipline at the pre-college level.
Students are always “in process” in class, formulating their ideas, at times, only in Spanish. Joe Murphy’s chapter “Once a Philosopher-In-Hiding: Teaching Philosophy in Spanish in the USA” details his journey from being the language department chair to trailblazing the now expansive ethics department curricula. He is one of few educators to integrate second language education with philosophical inquiry emphasizing that, “language is a way that we identify ourselves. When we talk and when we use language, it’s one of the ways that we make sense of the world.”
Philosophical education in high schools is often attributed as “critical thinking”. Sr. Murphy argues that what precedes the idea of “critical thinking” is first philosophical inquiry. He has seen what it provides in little moments: parents amazed with how their children have learned to discuss hard questions over the dinner table. Sr. Murphy hopes and implores other schools, administrators, and philosophers-in-hiding to take the leap. After all, they will become the philosophers and leaders of our future.
Jazz Rock Spring Show on April 17
Jazz Rock, directed by our legendary Mr. Rob DeBellis and with vocal coordination by Mr. Kenneth Kacmar, hit another one out of the park with its Spring Show this morning in Schenck Auditorium! An enthusiastic crowd cheered, hooted, and clapped along to a dozen...
Swartley Gallery LS “High Five” Closing Reception
Art-tastic! The Swartley Gallery displayed multimedia work from our Lower School art students as part of the “Keep the High Five Alive” showcase, curated by Ms. Christine Hanaway Maloney. First graders experimented with colors and patterns by painting squares...
HOPE Fashion Show 2025 a Whimsical, Wonderful Success!
The annual HOPE Fashion Show, with its whimsical fairy tale theme, was a tremendous success on multiple levels, from being a cross-divisional learning opportunity and a creative example of our mission in action to benefiting a wonderful cause, the Limb Kind...
D-E Attends Ethics Bowl Championships @ UNC Chapel Hill
Way to go! Our Ethics Bowl Team made D-E history by coming in 6th place at the National Championship last weekend at UNC Chapel Hill. They competed against high schools from across the country, including Canyon Crest Academy in California, All Saints Academy in...
The Play’s the Thing: 8th Grade Shakespeare Workshop Highlights
What’s in a name? This week D-E 8th graders got a closer look at the Bard’s famous tragedy about star-crossed lovers after the cast of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey’s Shakespeare LIVE! performed Romeo & Juliet for students in Schenck Auditorium, followed...
Orchestra Extravaganza Concert is Friday, April 25
Save the date! On Friday, April 25, D-E Performing Arts Department’s annual Orchestra Extravaganza Concert is set to perform. Rehearsals are underway with D-Edicated guidance from our Music Department faculty; student musicians from all three divisions will be...
Congrats Gabe Feldman ‘25: 200 Career Points in Boys’ Lax!
CHEERS and congratulations to senior Gabe Feldman ‘25 for scoring his 200th Career Points mark earlier this week! Gabe currently has earned an amazing 108 goals and 94 assists for D-E Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse! Way to go Gabe! GO BULLDOGS!!!
D-E Varsity Baseball named Team of the Week!
WOW and WAY TO GO D-E Varsity Baseball! After a week of voting, the Bulldogs were recently named as “North Jersey Team of the Week”! The Bulldogs earned this nod thanks to the results of an outstanding 4-0 week and outscoring their opponents 34-5! Go D-E Varsity...
DEIB Cultural Showcase 2025 Highlights
Bravo! D-E’s Affinity groups shined bright during our Second Annual Cultural Showcase! Dynamic live musical, dance, choral performances and videos from the Black, Chinese, Latino, South Asian, Korean and LGBTQ+ communities kept the audience in Schenck Auditorium...
Congrats Dani Weiss ‘25: 100 Career Goals for D-E Girls’ Lax!!!
WOW & Congrats to senior Dani Weiss’ 25, for scoring her 100th career goal for the Bulldogs! Dani netted her 100th career goal in the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse win earlier this week AND topped the school record for goals in a game – with 10. Dani previously held the...