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.
Eighth Grade Living Wax Museum
This year’s Eighth Grade Living Wax Museum, facilitated by English Department Faculty Mr. Gautham Akula and Ms. Amanda Burnett, showcased historical figures selected by students. Each student dressed the part and gave a well-rehearsed presentation to families and...
Magic 2025
On May 22, D-E’s school spirit was on full display at the Myrna B. Sherman Gym, where MAGIC happened! Rain kept the annual intramural competition indoors, but it didn’t dampen the sense of community beaming from the rafters. Juniors (Class of 2026) took an early lead...
Senior Selectives & Senior Class Trip
D-E’s Class of 2025 had an active couple of weeks leading up to Commencement on June 1 as part of their Senior Selectives, elective activities organized by US faculty and staff. These included spring roll making, Indian cooking, swing dancing, dog training, and soccer...
Service Learning in Action
Service-learning is an integral aspect of meeting our D-E mission, and as aptly described by Debbie Rivera Murphy ’11, Dean of Student Life, “address[es] compelling societal needs and teach[es] our students why social issues matter for all of us, especially in an...
Winter 2024-2025 & Spring 2025 Team Records
Celebrating our D-Edicated Upper School Student-Athletes:
End of Year Sports Banquet Highlights D-E Athletics welcomed Upper School (US) student-athletes and their families to Myrna B. Sherman Gymnasium on May 22, 2025, for a memorable End of Year Sports Banquet. Spirits were high for the nearly 600 attendees which also...
Engaging in the Arts to“Make it Better”
The Art & Design Department regularly collaborates with Upper School clubs during the school year on service initiatives that benefit both the D-E community and local organizations. One example is the HOPE Fashion Show, an annual fundraiser organized by the HOPE:...
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
In April, D-E hosted its first-ever TEDxDwight-Englewood School event in Hajjar Auditorium, which was a great success and is expected to be a new school tradition. Chief Innovation Officer Diana Gross gave opening remarks, along with student leaders and executive...
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...