Hey Everyone!
As you may know the senior staff are
making their final decision about Pre-IB this week, which will result in a
recommendation to the Board of Directors. The board will be seriously
considering this recommendation when making their final decision in March. There
has been extensive debate and discussion about the Pre-IB over the past few
months, and it is with this in mind that I have drafted a letter that addresses
some of my serious concerns.
I really wanted to send it to you all
because after all, communication is key. I will be sending it to the Board of
Directors and Senior Staff tomorrow afternoon and I would really appreciate
anyone’s feedback before I do so. Comments, suggestions, spelling (says the
native speaker) or otherwise. Also, if you anyone would like to co-sign in
solidarity/agreement, I think it would sh really powerful.
Thanks for your time, and enjoy the
snow!
- Hana
Dear Board of Governors,
My name is Hana. I’m a
first year from America here at Atlantic College, and since arriving six months
ago I have become very involved in both Sustainability and Student Council.
Working with this idealistic and passionate group of students has been
transformative for me: and I am constantly impressed by their desire to
transform and push the boundaries of what is already a fantastic institution. We
are passionate about making change in the world, and the ideals our UWC
education is based upon.
Over the past semester in
Student Council we have been very focused on issues of communication and
non-negotiable legal requirements. While founded in a real desire to protect
the UWC ideals as we see fit, I would like to clearly separate my arguments in
this letter from those that we have expressed previously. I’m not talking about
code of conduct or national law, I am talking about the celebration of culture:
I’m talking about our pursuit of education as a force to unite people, nations
and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.
We are aware of the
upcoming decision on whether or not to implement the Pre-IB program in the fall
of 2013, and before final decisions are made and it is too late for us to have a
conversation, I would like to voice some of my concerns. I am aware that you
have been told (many times) by students our general feelings of hostility
towards Pre-IB, and I bring up our animosity as a reason to work out some of
these very legitimate concerns. The following letter is not another statement of
hostility, but my honest suggestions on how to make sure this program becomes
the amazing extension of the UWC movement that I hope it can become. I have
addressed these concerns with as close to an unbiased perspective as I can
manage and I hope that you will read this letter and see the positive intentions
it was sent with.
The first part of the
Pre-IB program that shifted my opinion from initial negativity to openness was
the English-language aspect. There has been a very negative perception of Pre-IB
here at AC, as many students see it as purely a money making scheme. Indeed this
is the reason we were originally given when we found out about the Pre-IB.
However, when we went on to hear about the English part of the program, I warmed
to it. I was excited that people like my roommate, who struggle so much with
English, would actually be able to understand guest lecturers, and wouldn’t have
to stay up till 12:30 just translating their homework assignments. I was happy
that they would be able to get the support and the nurturing they not only
deserve but also need to thrive in UWC, and other English-speaking
programs.
I hope that a program like this goes into place, but the
English language aspect is also the root of one of my concerns about the Pre-IB
program beginning in 2013.
The IQ selection process has been
explained to me as the submission of a resume – including school transcript and
sometimes exam scores – and a phone interview with a member of senior staff. The
interview is supposed to be the part of the application that provides the
judgement of character, and the assurance that students have a commitment to the
following values: “international and intercultural understanding, celebration
of difference, personal responsibility and integrity, mutual responsibility and
respect, compassion and service, respect for the environment, a sense of
idealism, personal challenge, action and personal example” (UWC Common Code
of Conduct). However, as the stated purpose of the Pre-IB program is to teach
English to those who would otherwise be unable to cope with an English course
load, I doubt that an interview (in English) will be able to provide a realistic
portrayal of student’s visions and ideals.
If the Pre-IB program was
postponed for another year it would give us the chance to work on this. For 2013
it is too late to work on the admissions process, but if it were delayed we
would have the time to discuss our many ideas about how this could work better.
For example, we could have a peer-review process where in addition to the senior
staff interview there would be the chance for second year students (chosen by
senior staff based on recommendations from teachers, house parents, and tutor)
to interview the student themselves. At a school with 90+ countries represented
interviews could be conducted in the student’s native language and would result
in a simple personal recommendation submitted to the staff responsible for
admitting the student. Obviously there is a huge potential for bias, but I think
that if implemented in addition to the current staff interviews, this would only
lead a more realistic evaluation of a student. As it is, our staff does
believe they are accepting qualified students, so the recommendation from
students should just support that belief, and will build students’ confidence in
the selection process as well as increase the reliability of the current
selection process. Additionally, a native-language personal statement or
application essay that could be read by a student who would then write a
recommendation for the student in English (a simple “I think this students
personal awareness and incredibly thoughtful writing is a good indicator of…”)
would also be a less time intensive addition to the current application
process.
The IQ selection process has its issues,
but at Atlantic College I can’t distinguish between students who are national
committee, and those who are not. Despite this, there are obviously some major
problems with the way the IQ selection process works, especially when it is
applied directly to selection of Pre-IB students.
During the Governors meeting we had at
Atlantic College this fall you stated that the Pre-IB program wouldn’t be able
to select students at the same level as those in our current diploma program. I
fully recognize that this is due to the age of the program and the small number
of applicants that apply, but I believe this is a very clear reason to hold back
the program.
I do not doubt that the Pre-IB students
who do eventually join us at AC will be amazing individuals who will grow to be
our fellow leaders and champions of the UWC ideals, but their selection should
be thoughtful and concise so as to ensure that they are in fact the select
people who share our passion and idealism and should be part of our Atlantic
College community.
Whether it is
highlighted or not, one of the major reasons for this Pre-IB program’s rushed
implementation is finance. I would ask that you, who do ultimately have the
final call on the Pre-IB program, consider very seriously the implications of
putting into motion this large of a change to Atlantic College based on money
rather than our mission. I realize that more money is needed for the school, and
that with more funding Atlantic College would be better able to support our
projects and initiatives, thus increasing the quality of our UWC education. I
also recognize that the implementation of a new program is a very feasible way
of making up this money. However, I have heard nothing so far that ensures a new
Pre-IB program will also be in line with the UWC mission, and I would ask that
you (as our governors) pay as much attention to our mission as you ask us to.
If our own Principal and Governors are not accountable to the Code of Conduct
than the very foundation of this institution must be questioned.
Yes, much of the
animosity towards the program last term stems from our natural dislike of
change, our teenage revolutionaries rebelling against the system, but I think
that much of the anger and fear about the program is well founded in our
inability to accept a program whose purpose we fundamentally disagree with.
I think
that almost every student at Atlantic College would be in support of a program
that we thought actually fulfilled the mission statement, that we got enough
information about, and that we could not only be “told” about, but also help
plan and talk proudly about. You must understand that we love our school (and it
is OUR school, as much as it is any of the more permanent members of the
community), and this is not because the quality of our dorm rooms, the number of
books in our library, no - not even because of the amazing food. It is not
because of how much money we have, It is because of our peers.
This
program has the potential to be a powerful addition to Atlantic College, but I
do not think it will be as effective, accepted or relevant if it is
rushed. We have feelings, we have suggestions, we would like to come up
with programs. Big brother/sister programs, Saturday whole school picnics – we
would like to be language tutors and swim instructors, and I personally would be
absolutely honoured to give this life changing experience to 25 more people. By
implementing this program in the way it has been so far, there is a huge loss of
potential, and it is sad that we are not able to work with you in making this
program the best it can be. I implore you, as our leaders and mentors, to take
into consideration our concerns and suggestions in the very serious decision you
have ahead of you.
Sincerely, and with utmost
respect,
Hana Bracale
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