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.
A Vision of Art: A Conversation With Marisol Diaz
D-E’s Art & Design Department is a program that encompasses all three divisions—the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. It’s an integral part of the school community that falls under the leadership of Art & Design Chair Marisol Diaz, who also runs...
D-E Students Present Inspiring TEDx Talks
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Teaching With Artificial Intelligence
The other component of AI in Education is, of course, incorporating student use of these tools into the lessons. For Mr. Campbell, the recent workshops highlighted how important “process” is. “AI comes down to transparency,” he noted. “By increasing transparency of...
Professional Development That ‘Meets the Challenges of a Changing World’
D-E’s Profile of a Teacher states that “We continue to grow as professionals, deepening our knowledge and improving our practice at a pace consistent with our changing world.” To this end, in February D-E faculty and staff participated in a Professional Development...
Reflections from Preeti Fibiger P ’24
Dear D-E Families and Friends, I’m writing during these last few weeks in my role serving as Interim Head of School, which ends on June 30. This latest issue of D-E Today comes to you while our campus is markedly serene after a busy, happily buzzing series of...
D-E Lower School Chess Players Win 1st at Bryant Park Tri-State Chess Championship
CHEERS to D-E Chess! D-E came in first at the recent Bryant Park Tri-State Chess Championship! Congratulations to Easton M. ‘37, Nicolai D. ‘37, and Kabir G. ‘37, for this wonderful achievement! D-E 360° Director Dr. Brown noted, “A huge shoutout to [D-E Chess Team]...
String Society 2025 Grand Finale Concert Highlights
WOW & BRAVO!!! Our String Society 2025 program, presented by D-E 360° Summer, ended on a high note with a wonderful Grand Finale Concert. The concert, performed to a standing room-only audience in Hajjar Auditorium, was the culmination of a week-long, intensive...
Give to the Annual Fund Before the Fiscal Year Closes
Now that our 2024-2025 school year is in the books, we want to thank all of our incredible alumni for their continued connection and support! We’re especially excited to welcome the Class of 2025 into the alumni community, to celebrate the arrival of our incoming Head...
Faculty & Staff Luncheon Celebrates End of Academic Year
D-E celebrated its teachers and staff recently, during the annual Faculty & Staff Lunch under the big tent on Leggett Field. D-E 360° campers kicked off the festivities with a drumming performance, led by Middle School Music Teacher Jean-Marie Collatin, ahead of...
8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony Highlights
On the evening of Friday, June 6, D-E eighth graders, dressed in summer white, gathered under a tent on Leggett Field for the Eighth Grade Moving Up Ceremony. Middle School (MS) Principal Jonathan Davis opened with farewell remarks in his signature jocular style. He...