School Virtues

SCHOOL PLEDGE

I will learn the True.

I will do the Good.

I will love the Beautiful.

SCHOOL VIRTUES

Prudence, courage, moderation, justice, responsibility, friendship, wonder

Core Virtues

We undertake the mission of instructing students in the principles of moral character and civic virtue. Virtue requires both a trained mind and a generous heart. Virtue means we judge our actions against an objective standard of beauty or goodness. We focus on the following seven virtues because they have stood the test of time, largely inspired by Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. The development of these virtues are necessary for a free and just society, and the active possession of them leads to personal happiness.

Prudence. Commonly referred to as wisdom, prudence is the ability to judge right and wrong in changing circumstances and in the absence of rule. The development of prudence requires knowledge of truth and goodness, and is therefore essential for the development of all the other virtues. A student demonstrates prudence when they choose what is right without being told, or rightly applies a rule to a new situation.

Courage. The virtue of courage is the ability to confront fear and pain. It is the choice to remain firm in difficulty and steady in one’s commitments. Courage is the most necessary and least leisurely of the virtues. Courage is demonstrated when a student perseveres on a hard assignment or offers a comment even when they are not fully confident in themselves.

Moderation is the habit of self-control and the restraint of desires and passions. It is the ability to resist unworthy or ignoble pleasures. Moderation is central to civil conversation. A student is moderate when, despite having something to say in class, they raise their hand patiently to be called upon or choose to restrict their comment to what is useful and edifying.

Justice. The virtue of justice is the disposition of acting honestly and fairly. It is the proper respect for authority and for treating others the way one wants to be treated. Justice seeks the good of others and of the community; it is people living in right relationship with one another. Students show justice when they respect class rules and don’t allow their interests to dictate rules for others.

Responsibility. The ability to see ones actions as they relate to the good of others is the virtue of responsibility. It is the excellence of character that allows someone to take on a task despite the extra effort. A responsible student is trustworthy and dependable. They demonstrate responsibility by not only completing their own assignment, but by doing the job that needs doing but belongs to no one in particular.

Friendship is the active cultivation of human relationship based on the love of the same things. It relies on a consistent desire to see another do well, to wish for good things for a friend for the friend’s sake. The highest form of friendship is rooted in a love of the good, true and beautiful. Students display friendship when they encourage others to make difficult, but good choices.

Wonder. The virtue of wonder is the disposition of being amazed by and open to all that life has to offer. At its root, wonder means to admire, to behold in awe, and to be humbled by what one does not know. Wonder helps create a persistent thirst for knowledge. A student has the virtue of wonder when they display curiosity and ask thoughtful questions.