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.
6th Grade EnTREPreneurs Rock TREP$ Marketplace 2024
We’re in business! On Thursday, Dec. 12, D-E’s 6th-grade enTREPreneurs successfully acted the part of small business owners at the TREP$ Marketplace in Wharton Lessin Dining Hall, as they set up and promoted wares that they spent the last two months planning and...
Club Être Lunch & Learn with Yansi Fugel of Tux Couture
D-E’s Club Être recently hosted a Lunch & Learn with Yansi Fugel, the founder and CEO of Tux Couture. Her company specializes in making suits tailored for women with the goal of empowering women through clothing. Ms. Fugel appeared virtually to discuss the history...
Middle School History Day Fair Highlights
D-E’s eighth graders made a mark with their research and presentation skills at the MS History Day Fair, for which the theme was rights and responsibilities. Globally impactful topics included the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (by Max S. and Meissa T.), the...
D-E’s Chef Alex, Cater to You Teach US Students About the Chemistry of Cooking
D-E’s Upper School students got a hands-on lesson about the science of cooking! As part of a class called “Chemical Harmony: Acids and Bases,” open to 11th and 12th graders and taught by Petra van't Slot (Science Department faculty), students ventured to the Wharton...
Reminder: MS/US Orchestra Concert on Wed., Dec. 11 & Choral & Handbells Concert on Thurs., Dec. 12
OH the weather outside is frightful, but the music inside will be D-Elightful! A reminder that all in the D-E community are invited to the Middle/Upper School Orchestra Concert TONIGHT, Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7:00 PM, in Schenck Auditorium! Enjoy orchestral classics...
Highlights from D-E 360° ACE Discovery Day to NYBG Train Show!
Dozens of excited Lower School students recently enjoyed a field trip to the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) for the Annual Train Show! This annual D-E 360° ACE (AfterCare & Enrichment) Discovery Day is a D-Elightful tradition – and what an amazing trip it was! ...
D-E 360°’s Private Music Lessons Prep Students for Concert Performances
Music ensembles—such as jazz, classical, handbells, and choir—have long been an integral part of school life at D-E. The incredible talent at our school is often on display during D-E’s annual assemblies and concerts, including the upcoming Winter Orchestral and...
D-E Performing Arts Presents Orchestra, Choral & Handbells Winter Concerts on Dec. 11 & Dec. 12!
Rehearsals have been intense, but our performers are ready! Get ready for a double treat of TWO live D-E music concerts, next week! On Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7:00 PM, in Schenck Auditorium, the Middle & Upper School (MS/US)...
MS Fall Teams Highlights
Wow & way to go! Our Middle School Fall Teams all had an amazing 2024 season, in which they showed great skill, sportsmanship, and D-Etermination. Enjoy this highlights reel and we look forward to hearing about our Middle School Winter Teams’ activities soon! Go...
MS Robotics Team FIRST LEGO League Tournament Highlights
On Saturday, Nov. 23, D-E’s Middle School (MS) Robotics Teams competed (and won awards!) at the regional FIRST LEGO League Tournament in Clifton, NJ. Our Nano Navigators (6th graders Aadya, Ethan, Brian, Samar, Siana, Kaveer, Jad, Omie, Aiden, and Naveen) won...