- Tim Breen, Ph.D., Head of School
In the most recent issue of Independent School magazine, Gustavo Carrera, writing about how schools might respond to challenges of racial justice, noted that this conversation should really be a deeper conversation about why independent schools exist. He wrote, “To look at ourselves honestly means to ask: Why are our schools here? The raison d’être of independent schools has been, and continues to be, that of advancing the interests of those who already have privilege—to provide a return on investment (ROI) to those who have sufficient disposable income to afford independent school.“ While many would push back — rightly noting that this framing applies more to older, wealthier schools and that our primary task is helping the young people in front of us grow into their best selves — I appreciate the clarity of this article and accept the challenge to articulate and live toward a purpose that goes beyond “advancing the interests of those who already have privilege.”
Watershed is a school that was founded with just such a purpose — to be an example of what education can be when we apply the best research on learning and teaching and strive to prepare students for their future, not our past. A Watershed education is research-based, and future-focused. As independent schools question their role in society, another component of our founding vision is more and more relevant: our belief that “schools should be of service to their human and ecological communities.” This commitment gives deep purpose to our work, grounds us in the communities in which we live, and helps frame a Watershed education in the broader context of our world. We are deliberately NOT an “ivory tower” separated from the world, because we believe we have a responsibility to make our communities better: Boulder County should be a better place because Watershed is here.
All schools are committed to the young people in their care — focusing on two aspects of their learning and growth. We focus on their academic growth, helping them develop the skills and understandings to succeed in the broader world. We also help students grow socially and ethically, teaching them to navigate with goodness and compassion the increasingly complex social world in which we live. These two purposes: student academic growth, and student social growth are mainstays of independent school education.
At Watershed, we believe there is a third purpose for independent schools: to serve the broader community. This is why we engage students in work that makes a difference in the communities beyond the school. The beauty of this third purpose is that it actually strengthens, and connects the other two. Learning is more enduring when the work is directly relevant to the world. Students are more engaged when they know the work matters to someone outside the school. And by making a contribution to the community, students develop as positive members of society.
To deepen and amplify this work, we are excited to be partnering with the Anchor Schools Project. The Anchor Schools Project is a new effort to help schools become “anchor” institutions in their communities — much like hospitals and universities are. This aligns with Watershed’s vision of the third purpose of independent schools. By thinking of ourselves as anchor institutions, we are pushed to acknowledge our role in the broader community and explore how we can contribute to the good work of improving our towns and cities. We will also work with Anchor Schools on our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. This is exciting because it means our DEI work will not be a stand-alone effort, rather it will be truly integrated into our vision as a school that is embedded in our community, and committed to making positive change in our community.
This is an exciting time in education. I feel lucky to be an educator in this time of change. And I hope the seed of change we are planting can take root for all students (in public, private, and independent schools) — helping all to engage in work that is more relevant to the world today, that makes a real contribution in the world, that gives students hope for both their future and for the world they will inherit.
