August 20, 2007
For the love of Principia #16
Dear Friend of Principia,
Here are the topics that will be covered in this document.
(1) “Principia and the Future of Education” by Jim Rosebush
(attached)
(2) Letters posted at petitionprincipia
www.petitionprincipia.org/home2#letter1
(3) Letters posted at truthatprincipia.
www.truthatprincipia.org/readerswrite/
(4) Question about principia.edu e-mail addresses and their
security
(5) Town & Country proposed development of ½ of
campus update
(6) Form replies from Board of Trustees
(7) Fall quarter just around the corner
(8) Mailing addresses of Trustees (attached)
Jim Rosebush (C’71) has written about Principia’s important and unique role in education in a piece titled “Principia and the Future of Education”. From the perspective of his career as a leader in founding and funding schools Jim speaks about the link between Christian Science practice and Principia. He identifies personality as the single biggest obstacle to Principia achieving the fulfillment of Mary Kimball Morgan’s vision of educating critical thinkers who are equipped to raise the level of world thought. He challenges the Trustees to return Prin to its democratic tradition exemplified by openness and accountability. (attached)
PetitionPrincipia has a new “Thoughts from Signers” section. If you
go to www.petitionprincipia.org/home2#letter1 you can read:
(a) John Fitzpatrick (C’69) Questions whether, with the “erosion from human will-power, micro-management, and personality”, he will continue to fund two Merit Scholarships he has provided to the college.
(b) Dinah Kinsman (
“you are not listening to the people you represent”.
(c) Ruth Bishop (C’72) raises issues from an Institute for Global Ethic’s article on integrity she finds relevant to the leadership of the Trustees.
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TruthatPrincipia has begun posting letters addressed either to The Trustees or its website readers at Readers Write. You can read them at www.truthatprincipia.org/readerswrite/
(a) David Morse (C’72) wrote to a senior Principia manager about the
lessons of the
(b) Priscilla Manning (C’56) comments on Elizabeth Pond’s recent
article and her concern about Stuart Jenkins personal approach.
(c) Carol Boggs speaks about her experience as a mediator and
expresses her alarm that Jim Reeves did not act impartially nor did he perform to the standard of his credentials.
(d) Ralph Copper CS (C’71) former NEC and Alumni Board member is
interviewed for the Pilot and also writes cogently about his many concerns about the CEO and Trustees and their attempt to govern without the consent of the governed. He calls for the replacement of Stuart Jenkins and the replenishment of the Board of Trustees so that it properly represents “Principia’s broad constituency.
(e) John Tibbits (C’82) argues that the Trustees are unresponsive and
seriously deficient in three specific areas: (1) ignoring the call for removal of Stuart Jenkins, (2) dissolving the Resolution Committee before its work was finished, (3) imposing controls on the Pilot. Until these issues are corrected any other actions have little meaning.
(f) George and Anne Faulstich (C’60) talk about the need to replace
Stuart Jenkins so that the ability to attract students and faculty to Prin
stops being eroded.
I have valued my principia.edu e-mail address for many years. It is very convenient to not have to change it when my e-mail provider changes. I have also valued the opportunity to explain about Principia when asked about my e-mail address. Lately many of us with principia.edu addresses have begun to worry that our e-mails might be monitored or intercepted. An atmosphere of fear and intimidation is prevalent on campus, especially since in their July 16th letter the Trustees made an implicit threat:
“Some members of our community may not agree with the choices
represented by the Trustees’ decisions and will turn to growth
opportunities elsewhere. So{July me members of our community may not agree with and is beginning to be felt in the field. I know it is technically possible to monitor and access our e-mails. Several alumni have told me they would like a clear statement from the Trustees that:
“Principia.edu e-mails are entirely confidential and will not,
under any circumstances, be accessed, viewed, copied or re-
tained by Principia.”
In the meantime many are using alternative e-mail addresses.
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The July 24th Friends of Principia #15 mailing included notes from the July 19th meeting of the Town and Country task force working with Principia on developing approximately ½ of the St Louis campus. [Morgan Grove} A second meeting was held on July 31st so that several officials who missed the first meeting could be brought up to speed. See www.town-and-country.org/for their minutes. You can also send comments to principiacomments@town-and-country.org“which will be reviewed by our City's elected officials to help them better understand the community perspective”.
At that 2nd meeting Stuart stated that Principia is in “fine financial condition”. But later he admitted that Prin runs an annual $10 m deficit. He also recounted how the Pre-School needs to be torn down and replaced and the Middle School undergo major remodeling. He further described the blighted conditions of the faculty and staff apartments and the homes on
*Why was the plan not 1st presented to parents and alumni before being unveiled
to the public?
*How much would homes cost?
*Would the new housing really be an affordable replacement for faculty and staff
as a replacement for existing homes and apartments?
*How is a city facility [the proposed relocation of Town and Country’s
municipal center to Morgan Grove relevant to Principia’s educational purpose?
The questions were deferred, ignored or not answered to the satisfaction of the questioners.
The Board of Trustees have hired someone to, among other things, reply to correspondence they receive. The replies appear to be “form replies” such as:
Dear ,
We have received your e-mail of July 30 and appreciate you taking the time to
share your perspective. You can be assured that each Trustee has received your
message.
There are heartfelt opinions on all sides of this discussion, and we are making a
concerted effort to listen to the full range of views. All of the Board’s actions and
decisions are based on our highest sense of what is right for Principia and its
students.
Thank you for joining us in prayerful support of Principia.
With warm regards,
The Board of Trustees
This makes it even more important to send correspondence to use both their e-mail and home addresses. They are both attached to this letter.
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Fall Quarter is just around the corner. Athletes are already busy practicing on both campuses. Teachers and professors are returning from their summer activities. Classes start on the
Please remember to remain vocal with your questions, concerns, or plaudits. As mentioned earlier letters to the Trustees are most effective when mailed to home addresses. Copy them to either www.truthatprincipia.org or www.petitionprincipia.org so we can all share your ideas.
With gratitude,
Paul D Schmidt JD GRI
College ‘71
Contacting the Trustees
Ms. Katharine C. Bullock
US ’76 and C ‘80
Mrs. Helen O. Elswit
US ’69 and C ‘73
Mrs. Maggie P. Foerster
C ‘62
Mr. Willard M. Hanzlick
2600 FM 620N
C ‘68
Mr. Bill R. Hays III
(214) 363-6484 (home) -5-
C ‘71
Mr. Stuart E. Jenkins
U/S ’78 and C ‘83
Mrs. Catherine A. Raffles
C ‘81
Mr. Robert B. Schwenkter
U/S ’66 and C ‘70
Mr. Michael T. Sharples
C ‘62
Mr. Scott C. Shivers
U/S ’86 and C ‘90
Mr. Charles A. Spaulding III
U/S ’63 and C ‘67
Mr. Chris D. Towle
U/S ’86
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Principia and the Future of Education
There is no more important concept in education than Principia. This is even truer today than when Mary Kimball Morgan founded it in 1898. This is not because Principia has reached its zenith, but because of the exponential growth in the world’s urgent need for enlightenment. Mrs. Morgan could have called her new idea in education “The School for World Problem Solvers” because her writings indicate she envisioned it as a training ground for critical and disciplined thinking and acting that would “dispute materialistic logic…” (Science and Health, 120:24). The world’s need for Principia has never been greater. One might paraphrase the opening lines of the Christian Science textbook and state that “The time for Principia has come” because surely “The time for thinkers has come.” (Science and Health, vii: 13)
The link between Christian Science practice and Principia is seamless. Mrs. Morgan was a pioneer not just in education, but in the application of thought to a specific purpose. Mrs. Eddy states that “Academics of the right sort are requisite.” (Science and Health 195:19)….which is a sound enough basis for the creation of a school. Mrs. Morgan further adopted the balance of our Leader’s statement regarding academics---that they should “promote the growth of mortal mind out of itself.” This signifies that the Science and study (academics of the right sort…) is validated by demonstration (growth of mortal mind out of itself…) The fact that Christian Science is thereby revolutionary makes Principia also revolutionary. At some time and in some way Principia must stand up to and accept its responsibility to the world, or it will fail the world and fall into “the dustbin of history.” Will this happen? Is Principia’s work in this era finished?
Today we are presented with the opportunity to not only reclaim the integrity of the Principia ideal but, more importantly, bound beyond the history of this institution and demand a higher fulfillment of its mission. If we do not, it will be because we have failed to understand Principia’s relationship to the world and its critical role in not just the “march of civilization” but the redeeming of civilization.
These are high minded ideals; however, they are necessary and ultimately achievable. Today’s dynamic environment in both education and in metaphysics presents a unique opportunity for Principia to assume a leadership role. Right now, at this moment, Principia should be a center of excellence serving as a compass to education and educators in many disciplines. Every day, in my position as Chief Executive of a philanthropic foundation focused on innovation in education, I learn more about the tremendous searching for creativity in education. And I see groundbreaking reforms being tested. There is resistance, but the churning is worthwhile. In our foundation, for example we have been exploring just where and how people learn and how academic achievement is related to life skills. This work is transformative in the classroom and in the relationship between teacher and student. It’s the moral leadership, though that is lacking---a fundamental incuriosity about of the understanding of man’s spiritual nature in relationship to human education and enlightenment. Will Principia step up to fill this vacuum?
It appears that Principia’s mission is largely unfulfilled because of the identical failing that hampers the integrity and growth of political movements, corporations, and other institutions: personality. While most have been earnest and honest workers some of Principia’s leaders themselves have kept the Principia idea from greater fulfillment. There is an often overwhelming tendency, in any organization, to submit to leadership by person rather than allowing the idea or purpose behind the organization to lead. Personality is the tare that mortal mind sows to destroy the good in a movement or organization. However, Principia should aspire to a higher standard than exemplified by totalitarian regimes or ego-driven corporate CEO’s! Why? Because Christian Science has been discovered and it brings with it the key to a better form of human management and governance. It provides the way out of a personality-driven strategy and warns of its certain destructiveness. Why don’t we listen? The red warning lights flash and the bells sound throughout the writings of both Mrs. Eddy and Mrs. Morgan. But we have largely ignored them and frequently pay the costly penalty.
Principia’s present problems did not originate during the tenure of the current Trustees or CEO. They have been incubating for years. They have been recognized by some but were never decisively challenged or destroyed. This is the soil in which deeper divisions, personal ambition, and autocratic control germinate. Present world thought frequently endorses personal leadership as a temporary and attractive way out of chaos, but in actuality even a taste of it brings disaster. In 2007 we face personality-based ethical dilemmas everywhere we turn. Why not at Principia too? Well, because we are all Christian Scientists!
From a human management standpoint, there are helpful safeguards to protect institutions from personal control or domination. It is especially critical to fully employ these management and governance tools in an organization that enjoys the public trust and has been granted tax-exempt status. Even though Principia is a private institution it still relies on governmental authority to exempt personal gifts to it from being taxed. (There are watchdog organizations constantly surveying the management integrity of philanthropic, tax-exempt organizations like Principia. Any deviation from principle could cause Principia to be placed on a “watch list” for donors) Subjecting private institutions like Principia to the same scrutiny, regarding personal control, as public corporations safeguards its future and protects its employees from harm.
The Church Manual is a model for safeguards against control by personality. So are Mrs. Morgan’s purpose and twenty-three policies (Appendix C, As the Sowing). At this time in the development of mortal thought, organizations need to go farther than ever before to put in place and adhere to policies and practices that protect the institution from personality and act to force tendencies of personal control for to the surface for disclosure and elimination. Some examples of practical management and governance steps that protect the organization and its employees include the following:
- Open and public meetings of all governing boards and the public reporting of minutes from these meetings. The greater the light shining from openness, the greater the clarity of the organization and its management. There should be an enforced practice and policy of tolerance and encouragement of dissent for the purpose of strengthening the organization.
- The publication of all financial reports, regular audits, and financial decisions made by the governing board and management.
- The promotion and absolute protection of a free press.
- A decided and proven policy of and attitude of accountability to its donors, graduates, and the wider community, not to mention educational authorities.
- The absolute protection of employee’s positions and jobs while promoting and welcoming new ideas, criticisms, and yes, even protests. This includes no demand for silence if an individual is fired for poor performance or any other reason.
- Rotation in office should become law.
- No conflict of financial or other interests should be tolerated and this must be extended to even the appearance of conflict.
Who really owns Principia? Surely legally, the trustees own Principia, but they own it in trust. While that is a legal framework for ownership it is interesting to explore the metaphysical interpretation of the concept of trust. Here is a brief discussion of the meaning of trust found among thousands on Google.com.
Scholars and practitioners widely acknowledge trust's importance. Trust makes cooperative endeavors happen (e.g., Arrow, 1974; Deutsch, 1973; Gambetta, 1988). It is a key to positive interpersonal relationships in various settings (e.g., Fox, 1974; Lewis & Weigert, 1985a) because it is central to how we interact with others (e.g., Berscheid, 1994; Golembiewski & McConkie, 1975). Trust becomes even more central and critical during periods of uncertainty due to organizational crisis (Mishra, 1996; Weick & Roberts, 1993). In the organizational "restructuring" crisis of the 1990s, trust has emerged as a central and key strategic asset for organizations (e.g., Mayer, Davis & Schoorman, 1995; Mishra, 1996). Trust is a central component in effective working relationships (Gabarro, 1978). Practitioners acknowledge the importance of trust as much as do scholars (e.g., Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1995; Covey, 1989; Peters, 1992). For example, a book on partnering recently quoted one business person as saying, "...'there are a lot of issues in partnering,...but trust is truly the key. Everything else has to be based on it. Without trust, there is no basis for partnering. It's the bottom line.'" (Rackham, Friedman & Ruff, 1996: 75) The same authors reported, "We heard the same sentiment over and over."
Mrs. Eddy created trusts and trustees to safeguard her assets and her discovery, but in her metaphysical writings she consistently reminds the Christian Scientist to trust in God, not person, nor society.
Principia is really owned by those who invest in it and financially and otherwise endow it and support it. The trustees act with the support (consent) of the underlying ownership, but at their own discretion. Failure of the ability to understand this and practice it seen, from a useful historical perspective, ultimately brings death to an organization or movement.
Democracy is the highest and best earthly system available to us to safeguard individual and institutional freedoms and to protect against tyranny. The features of governance that protect worthy institutions, consistent with democratic principles, are well known. Principia’s Board of Trustees must either declare its intention to adhere to the principles of democracy, openness, and accountability and then act accordingly, or it will bring our beloved school to the brink of ruin.
How will this story end? Ultimately the Principia ideal must win but it is unclear what the visible form may be. An unfettered and liberal education must flourish to lead, guide, and enlighten its students, faculty and staff, and the world. The present may serve as a clarifying period, and thereby strengthen the institution. But this can occur only in an atmosphere free from personal control, so that the entire community can come together in honest, forthright discussion. If not, the results will be a further weakening of its vitality and an inability to provide the moral leadership the world so genuinely needs.
James Rosebush (C’71)
August 19, 2007
Jim served as an assistant to President Reagan and ran the Reagan's favorite domestic policy program called Private Sector Initiatives. In addition he was the longest serving chief of staff to Nancy Reagan. As a student at
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