Dear Cushman Family,
I hope each of you is well, and that your upcoming holiday will be joyful for you and your family.
Cushman’s play spaces continue to be echoed with laughter while the classrooms are resonating with the excitement of engagement, cooperation, and learning. Despite this joy, our nation is faced with its children and teens experiencing the relentless feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolationism. This has continued to weigh heavily on my and all of Cushman’s employees’ hearts and minds.
Over the past several years, we have witnessed growing evidence of increased social media and cell phone use among our school population and of a splintered society that has led to a significant increase in childhood and teen anxiety and depression. The disconnectedness experienced amongst many has led to the growing decrease in pro-social behaviors including effective face-to-face communication, body language, and collaboration, while the incidence of insular thinking, suicide, and violent behavior remain on the rise. Evidence that supports this notion continues to surface, such as what is shared in the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. I invite you to read this book as part of our ongoing reflection on these important issues.
My Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, and I remain steadfast in ensuring that we serve your children’s emotional needs by strengthening and providing multiple opportunities for them to become ‘connected’ and engaged with others through work, play, and sports. For the past 100 years, we have continued to place a strong emphasis on creating a warm, inclusive environment for your children, which places a happy attitude, joy, ambition, and the development of character through industry, courtesy, and responsibility at the forefront. We do our best to ensure our School’s technological infrastructure has strong controls and filters intended to protect them while in use at school. To overcome the many external factors and distractions in society your children are faced with, however, we need your partnership!
I recently addressed the students and posed the question, “What will you do today?” Remarks included “working on the planets,” “math,” and “working on improving my futsal.” While these were beautiful responses, I was also thrilled by a child’s mention of “being kind.” I confirmed the importance of each remark, but I also proposed a different thought represented by one word: LOVE. I charged them to love one another. Paying attention to those who appear lonely, reaching out to someone who appears distracted through a lack of engagement, and showing others through word and deed that they are important are very necessary. Love must permeate our school and our external community. This is what will contribute to having a peaceful and loving heart. This is what will contribute to having the kind of peaceful community that your children and teens can call upon to care for them, and one in which they, as adults, will be models for those younger than themselves.
Once again, I invite you to read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and reflect on how we can work together to ensure our Cushman children live joyful and enriched lives within a peaceful school, community, and society.
With love,
Arvi Balseiro