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.
LS Fall Festival Highlights
On a bright and sunny October day, a beloved tradition—the Lower School Fall Fest—returned to Leggett Field. The D-E Parents’ Association hosted the event, which welcomed D-E families to come out to enjoy fall-themed inflatables,...
The Latest Buzz: MS Hosts Beekeepers Visit
Like the Nettie Coit Teaching Garden, D-E’s Apiary offers our students another on-campus opportunity for experiential learning. Grade 6 Dean Ms. Urbanowski recently facilitated a hive demonstration by beekeepers Simon and Ian, who assist with maintaining the bees and...
Upper School, Lower School Students Team Up to Write a ‘Small Story’
In a beautiful display of cross-divisional partnership, the Creative Writing class of Ms. Stephanie “Tuc” Tucker, Dean of the Class of 2027, is working together with the PreK 4 Class of 2039 on a book lesson. “This semester-long project will culminate with the...
Lower School Assembly Celebrates Respect, Hispanic Heritage
The Lower School’s second assembly of the year focused on the core value of Respect and acknowledged those in the D-E community celebrating Hispanic History Month. After a welcome message from Mrs. Lopez and a meditative “Mindful Minute,” teachers, staff, and...
Black Affinity Goes to the Met
D-E’s Black Affinity Group, with the support of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Office, recently organized a field trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, primarily to see the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit on Black dandyism. The trip gave...
Middle School Day of Peace Assembly Promotes Positivity
There was an aura of tranquility in Schenck Auditorium as Middle School students gathered recently for a Day of Peace Assembly. Students and faculty/staff members were invited to contribute a spoken-word piece or a vocal/instrumental performance about peace, kindness,...
Spotlight on Our D-E Community: A Message from Dr. CW
The start of the new school year always brings energy and excitement to D-E! To show how and why our School is such a vibrant community of learners, we will share in the coming months a monthly series that sheds light on our mission, our core values, and academic...
Upper School Class Trips Foster Community Among Grade Levels
Every fall, students in the Upper School participate in grade-specific class trips that have become a rewarding D-E tradition that combines…
Mandarin Students Take On Tea Whisking
As part of a unit on China’s Song Dynasty, from 960 to 1279, Ms. Zhao’s Mandarin 3 students recently received a hands-on lesson in the art of “diancha,” or tea whisking. Ms. Zhao demonstrated how to use a bamboo whisk to mix finely ground tea powder with hot water to...
MS Celebrates International Dot Day
holiday—inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book, “The Dot—that encourages people of all ages to “make their mark” and discover the power of their own potential and creativity.” After listening to the story, sixth graders were introduced to D-E’s Human Ed qualities of...