Dignity, Integrity and the Democratic Process

This past week, we learned of the passing of Baltimore congressman and civil rights leader, Elijah Cummings. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the wife of Rep. Cummings, describes him as

“an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility. He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not our problem.”

What a powerful, emotional, and inspiring statement. It conjures up a feeling of hope in me - hope for our students, hope for our country, and hope for the world. Why? Because democracy, the heart of our country, is evident right here in our very own school.

Last Friday, our 8th grade class took to the streets of New York and successfully registered 27 passersby to vote. Corey Pickering, our MiddleSchoolIntegrated Studies teacher, described our 8th graders as “tenacious, patient and knowledgeable.” I couldn’t agree more!

In a world filled with division and challenges, we look toward our youth to lead and inspire - for after all, they are the future. And our future needs a strong democracy rich with diversity. Our promise, not our problem, as Rep. Cummings so wisely stated.

27 additional people will feel the power of their voices heard. If that’s not part of “our highest and best expression of our collective humanity” at work, I don’t know what is.

Gina Farrar, Ph.D.

Head of School

PHOTO: Blue School 8th graders help to register voters.