So what happened? Wasn't this place supposed to be where young girls could thrive without unnecessary distractions? What happened to the unwavering commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environment for all of your students? Between the inappropriate conduct by a teacher and the over the top bullying that should have resulted in the involvement of law enforcement officials; the leadership certainly has some "splaining to do". Yet this too has been nothing short of insulting. From what I've been able to see, the alumni my wife included are seriously disappointed, hurt and in some cases intensely angry.
July, 2014 over a period of four days I watched as my best friend became increasingly wounded at a very deep level. As the hours rolled on, the atom was split, ignited and the mushroom cloud of social media uncovered the hidden Sea Monster that has been deep apathy. How long has this thing been down there asleep? Someone has to know. Alumni spanning generations have a right to know. This is neither the work nor neglect of a single individual alone.
Some institutions must remain within the bubble that made them great. If not, the quality of your product (the children) will run the risk of becoming common folk. No doubt there will be product whom by design produce greatness, but the quality and nature of each individual, their core and their personhood is what is currently suffering the most. What has always been the true product at this elite Los Angeles school is a world-class person of character.
Although a major concern, my gripe is not the issues themselves, the bullying and sexual advances are not the sole problem. This kind of activity has been going on from the times beginning and will probably never cease. The greater issue that has broken so many hearts is how the school handled or chose not to handle these issues as if they were no better than the local public metropolitan school district or the church. The actions you have taken speak as if the product has never been the children themselves but the school image and all that image can bring. The greatest musical pieces whether complicated or simple have a commonality. Every piece has a sound that is full, covering all range and depth as is necessary to convey the emotion and story as birthed by the artist. So too are the generations of students that have graced your doors. This is one place and others like it that MUST have principles and values that remain in the past, it must remain Bubble Town. If not, the core values of Community, Excellence, Confidence and Honor are a facade and amount to nothing more than good sounding uplifting words that ultimately mean little.
Obviously, I cannot speak to attending an elite school or living life as female. Having said that I do have plenty to say about character, integrity and the desperate need we have in America for real leaders and competent leadership who actually have boundaries that mean something. In the internet age where any and everyone can become a star on YouTube or American Idle and perhaps even become wealthy, now more than ever we need to be able to distinguish between those who wish and pretend to be somebody of substance compared to those who actively make the world go around.
As leaders, people are always watching us so our character has got to reflect in more than just our words. This is a choice. We choose to treat some people with less respect than we do others. We decide to pick and choose what we hold ourselves accountable for. I believe character runs so deep within that it's one thing to lie to other people but when you can lie to yourself and then believe that lie, it is at that point when you have crossed into dangerous territory of black hole proportions. It is at this level where outside council become the most critical. (I STRONGLY suggest you listen to your alumni) It is also at this level where outside council is most ignored.
So how can we check ourselves at the times when we believe our own press? I'm not so sure the individual has the capacity to see themselves in the shining light of reality when we're drowning in the fog of our own greatness. That is precisely why this is a responsibility of the entire staff, alumni and shareholders. Does anyone really want this to be the lasting legacy?
Sometime in the past thirty years a course change was made. Like an ancient sailing ship on the ocean, a simple yet slight change in direction was made that has brought your school to the current location. Now, I have my doubts that where you currently reside was ever the intended target. However, we are here nun the less. How about doing a Farmers Insurance and get back to where you belong?
Character is only a single portion of the foundation for true greatness. I challenge the staff at any learning institution for young people with similar character issues to think like a navigator and just make a minor course correction. It only takes a little adjustment on your part but your commitment absolutely has to be a long term one. I believe apathy can be a form of evil. It is also my belief the current state of the school could not have just popped up overnight. This type of neglect builds over time so it will be some time before your integrity and trust from the community will be restored...if at all. With over a century's worth of product (former and current students) running around on the planet combined with the major changes for academic achievement that kicked off some forty years ago, do you really want this to be The Lasting Legacy?
Respectfully
Bruce P Collard
brucepcollard.blogspot.com
Related Sources -
The LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0715-private-school-20140715-story.html
Natalie's Story: http://m.kidsinthehouse.com/teenager/bullying/types/natalies-story (This video has been removed due to a complaint by a parent of a student involved)
CRIME TIME: http://youtu.be/b6fnlWQRiOI
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