October 25, 2007
Dear Friends,
The October 18th resignation of CEO Stuart Jenkins was a welcome relief after many months of increasing angst on both campuses, an ever widening circle of engaged alumni and mounting written and oral evidence of misdeeds. However, this was just the beginning of the healing process.
I have heard from many of you over the past week. The repeated themes were relief, gratitude and a resolve for serious introspection, honest acknowledgment of wrongdoing and institutional changes that ensure that this nightmare cannot reoccur.
I recall fondly a Principia where the atmosphere was familial. Friendly greetings between passers-by were the rule. Missteps were forgiven as healing was evidenced. Commonalities were accentuated, rather than differences, but differing views were nourished. Parties representing all segments of the community worked in concert energized by a common love of Principia and Christian Science. It wasn’t nirvana but it was a place we cherished and hoped our children would also experience.
This past year there was an alarming disconnect between CEO Stuart Jenkins, the Trustees, a few administrators and staff on one hand and many of the administrators, faculty, staff and students on the other. Such was the oppressiveness of the prevailing atmosphere that some on campus were temporarily silenced through an atmosphere of “intimidation and fear” as stated in the majority report from the Resolution Committee back in July. There were those who bravely spoke out. The Pilot reported independently. Voices in the field asked for change. Nothing appeared to have any effect.
Some of those contacting me recently had heard that a group of distinguished Principians had written a letter to the Editor of the Pilot that was published in Pilot on October 12th. This group had unsuccessfully tried to engage the Board in discussion for four months and had decided that it was time to share their experience with the community. Their letter is not publicly posted, but is available by request at the email address included in their letter to the Editor as provided in this excerpt:
…Since retiring from Principia, we have shied away from second-guessing those who succeeded us as Trustees, Chairman, CEO, College President, Head of School, and other key positions. We know the challenges of these positions and that those in these roles are often faced with very difficult decisions. While we have tried to remain out of the public eye on the issues currently at hand, we believe that at this time it is appropriate to share with the Principia family our concern about the present situation, our prayers for resolution and healing, and some of the steps we have taken. …
Today, about four months after first communicating as a group with the Trustees, we do not feel that they have demonstrated a sincere desire for dialogue as they had indicated back in January. As the challenges at Principia have escalated, and without evidence of reasonable progress or a viable roadmap for resolution, we believe that it is appropriate to share our experience with the community. For these reasons, and out of a desire for greater transparency, we have decided to make our letters to the Board available on request from our* collective email address: principia2007@gmail.com.
We appreciate that the Trustees have recently written of their desire to “seek the common ground that unites us.” As we all work together for the benefit of Principia, it is critical that all participants demonstrate the ascendancy of Principle over person. We all yearn to see evidence at Principia of the practice of leadership that restores trust. …
Principia is blessed to be built on such a strong foundation and to harbor within her family so many wonderful people. The inspired prayers, the critical thinking, the deep love for what is right and good by every member of our extended family, will yield the fruit of healing. …
* John Boyman Former President of
Hank Hamlin Former Director of Publications for Principia
Margie Hamlin Former Principia International Student Advisor
Doug Hawes Former Principia Trustee
Dawn Larmer Former Chairman Principia Board of Trustees, CEO
Bob Larsen Former Principia Financial Development Director
Bill Truitt Former Headmaster,
Char Wachtel Former Principia Trustee
My hope is that Principia’s strong foundation will support the healing process that is now needed. Principia has certainly been threatened by the internal struggles. Many well loved members of the Prin community were either forced to leave or left in frustration and disgust. If this period of intense disharmony is followed by radical healing that leaves Prin more united and democratic and with governance safeguards that ensure this debacle won’t be repeated, their sacrifice will not have been in vain.
The primary issue is not one of change vs. the status quo. Principia has always been about progress, which necessarily includes change. The primary issue has been about what constitutes progress and how it is achieved. In addition to formulating and articulating a viable strategic plan, decisions must always be based on Principle, not person as required by Policy 7. Those entrusted with the stewardship of Principia must employ the appropriate tone, tactics, and temperament in all that they do so that they educate by their own example.
I have received pleas by phone and e-mail for the next steps to include:
*public acknowledgment of wrongdoing
*honest and open admissions of mistakes
*apologies to those inappropriately fired or forced out
*the departure of anyone who enabled the perversion of Mary Kimball Morgan’s vision
*a genuine collaboration between the Trustees and other members of the Principia community to ensure that all elements have a permanent voice
*the enactment of rules of governance than ensure a diverse Board of Trustees and institution wide leadership that satisfies Policy 17’s standard […every post shall be filled with the most effective individual available].
Although many are still eager to make public their stories of wrongdoing I hope our energies will now be spent “walking in the same direction”.
Enough venting, together let’s ascend to the heights.
Watch and pray.
With gratitude,
Paul D. Schmidt
College ‘71
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