Malcolm Gauld
We like to say that the Discovery Process is a culture, not a program. Of course, it is indeed a program. However, if engagement begins and ends according to what’s on the daily schedule, there will not be much impact on culture. In fact, sometimes what happens off schedule can be the most telling indicator of what’s actually stirring in the hearts and minds of the students and teachers. Take school vacations, for example.
One Discovery Process school devotes a session to planning for vacation just before the students go on break. For example, the Discovery Groups reviewed the IPSES exercise (See Rigor-Synergy-Conscience module) and the members discussed their growth in accordance with its five areas:
I – Intellectual: Use of the mind, thinking, problem-solving
P – Physical: Use of the body, athletics, creative movement
S – Social: Relationships with others, giving back
E – Emotional: Self-honesty, feelings about self and others
S – Spiritual: Conscience, sense of purpose, vision, faith
Each student and leader reflected on these areas and shared with the group how they felt they had grown over the course of the school year. The group then provided feedback to each member. Lastly, each member shared a goal for the upcoming Spring Break. Here are the goals shared by the members of two groups (names have been changed).
Group #1:
Shane: Eat with my family 3 times a week and be civil to my dad.
Leigh: Relax and do some sightseeing.
Huck: Give at least three haircuts over break to continue learning hair-styling skills.
John: Socialize with people I don’t normally hang out with.
Aaron: Get to know some new kids.
Katherine: Include my dads in social activities at least twice.
Mr. Johnson (faculty): Visit with my parents at least three times over break.
Mrs. Montrose (faculty): Be patient with my dad (and civil to his girlfriend) and share at least 2 meals with them.
Group #2 did it slightly differently:
Stuart: Exercise every day! (Physical)
Renee: Continue learning about Chinese Opera. (Intellectual)
Nathan: Go to Temple at least twice over Break (Spiritual)
Brace: Read a novel (Intellectual)
Alan: Find a new group of friends and practice speaking Spanish (Social)
Charles: Talk about how I feel in the moment with my parents, not waiting until the end of the break. (Emotional)
Juan: Ask my brother to help me with Algebra and keep doing exercises for my ankle (Physical & Intellectual)
Mr. Lewis (faculty): Take care of myself physically – healthy diet, exercise. (Physical)
Mrs. Michaels (faculty): Walk at least 3 times a week with my husband (physical & social)
Then at the end of break, the groups debrief how it went. The purpose is not to pass judgment, but sometimes the simple act of stating a goal can boost our resolve in meeting it. And those faculty goals are critical as they model the notion that… We’re all works in progress!
Onward, Malcolm Gauld
