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Piercing the Bubble



This week we were so fortunate to have former NH Senator Kelly Ayotte address grades 7 – 11 in our theater about Civil Discourse in a time of Political Polarization. Senator Ayotte spoke to the need to take the high road in tough conversations and put an incredible primacy on building relationships with people who hold different opinions. She was able to speak to some of her own successes in working across the aisle to develop legislation to address the opioid crisis in New Hampshire as one powerful example of how this can be possible.

Additionally, Senator Ayotte offered a strong reminder to our students of the need for more women in positions of leadership within our government, citing that she had only been the 53rd woman to serve in the US senate during her tenure. With a down-to-earth style and but an appropriately impassioned call to action, she challenged our students to become the leaders that they could be. Her call to action and example of service were powerful reminders about making a difference in the world.

In my opening comments, I reminded the students that it was certainly my expectation that Berwick graduates would demonstrate the kind of listening, empathy, and humility that could serve as model for civil discourse on college campuses and beyond. While I have not had a chance to read the book yet, I was struck by a quote from John McCain’s recent book The Restless Wave on this very topic:

There is a scarcity of humility in politics these days. I suspect it’s never been in abundant supply in most human enterprises. And I don’t mean modesty. Any politician worth a damn can fake modesty. Humility is the self-knowledge that you possess as much inherent dignity as anyone else, and not one bit more. Among its other virtues, humility makes for more productive politics. If it vanishes entirely, we will tear our society apart.

During his closing assembly remarks just a few days ago, student life coordinator Ben Nigrin reminded us all that the “Berwick bubble” was both something to be appreciated while here on the Hilltop and then needed to be pierced when graduating from this school. He appropriately acknowledged the gift that our students have in growing in learning in such a safe environment. Speakers like Senator Ayotte remind us of the world beyond the bubble, filled with polarization, complexity, and gridlock.

As I get ready to launch my final 77 graduates outside of the Berwick bubble next weekend, I have great hope for our country’s future.

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