OutsideIn
by Heather Flewelling

“When the surface is all you see, it becomes all you know”

Sir Sidney Poitier shared that idea recently with a crowd of 3000 educators and students. He addressed a National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference. His vision of the world had expanded, he explained, through experiences, participation in various communities, and understanding the myriad roles he played over the years.  His challenge to us was to pursue exactly what Milton compels: to dig, question and ponder with a desire to understand; to connect with the world around us. Walk in the shoes of another to imagine a different birth and life; consider who we might have been. 

I have had many opportunities this year to help deepen our experiences. Multicultural programming and the Affective Education curriculum (see the glossary) strive to broaden students’ perspectives and help them consider, in meaningful ways, the experiences of others.  We have stretched ourselves: through Community Service Day; through our speakers—faculty, students and guests; through course work and cultural events.  Pushing ourselves out of our routines to permeate the Milton bubble has been the theme, encourage students outside of their comfort zones.

One “bubble buster” this year partnered the Class II Social Awareness class with Prison Empowerment Program (PEP) of Boston’s City School. PEP connects young people with prison inmates who have reflected on their actions and their lives; the program facilitates dialogue about crime and punishment among diverse groups of youth and adults inside and outside the walls of Massachusetts' prisons. Comprehensive, realistic conversations about prisons and justice take place. Forty Milton students traveled to local prisons to hear inmates’ stories and explore their realities. Students confronted stereotypes sitting by inmates, often not much older than themselves, whose lives have involve very different circumstances.

Another mutually rewarding exchange via the Social Awareness Class occurred when seniors from West Roxbury High spent a day at Milton with several Class II students.  Some of their comments: “When I first saw this place it looked like a college— it made me angry and sad [comparing Milton to their school]…”  “This place is wild — the teachers really seem to care about the students and talk with them, not yell at them or think they should just be controlling the class.” “I couldn’t believe how focused everyone was.  If you all saw our school you would be amazed.” “For all the cool things I saw, I’m not sure I would want to go here—it’s too competitive and we’ll spend our whole life being grown-up so maybe we should just be able to be kids.” 

At Milton we ask students to move past their chronological age and meet their intellectual potential.  Teachers’ expertise in providing deep and rigorous material and approaches are necessary to support this effort. Our visitors from West Roxbury suggest our faculty are achieving this goal. 

Through discussions with urban public school students on campus to visits with inmates in local prisons we come closer to humanizing insights into conditions that affect others’ decisions and actions.  Our students can listen, ask questions, and build realistic awareness of what is possible in the world.  In the “pages” that follow, students speak about their experiences and the wisdom each has gained. 

We at Milton look for inspiration in many venues: at Monday morning assemblies, over a CultureFest celebration, in a local prison visitors’ rooms, at various sites during Community Service Day, in our resting or exploration points over the summer.  Don’t underestimate the possibilities.  Even the side of a Starbucks cup reminds us, “The Way I See It- isn't necessarily the way you see it- or the way it is- or ought to be. What's more important- is that we're all looking for it- and a way to see it.” Desi Denado Starbucks cup #293

Culture and Affinity Clubs at Milton

Asian Society - promotes Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Island cultures through weekly meetings and activities.

Latino Association - is a social and cultural organization designed to promote awareness of Latino/Hispanic culture in the U.S. and abroad.

Onyx - is an organization through which Black students can find social, cultural and political support among their peers through weekly meetings and activities.  Membership is open to all students who are interested in appreciating, respecting and learning about the Black experience.

HAPA - the Hawaiian word for half, is the name of the weekly discussion group for bi-racial and multiracial students.

Jewish Student Union - is a public forum for the Milton community to actively discuss issues about and affecting the Jewish community within Milton and beyond. All members of the Milton community are encouraged to share their thoughts, opinions and ideas regardless of their religion, race or ethnicity. 

Muslim Student Association - is an organization for Muslim and Middle Eastern students to share their culture with each other and with other students in the school.

Christian Fellowship – reads books and holds discussion on how own’s faith pertains to living one’s life. 

GASP (Gay & Straight People) - discusses issues of sexual orientation, to educate the campus, and to provide support to people of all orientations.  

Gender Equity – meets to discussissues pertinent to girls and women in independent schools

Common Ground - is a multicultural action-oriented association working to help Milton fully embrace all of its diversity.  Its goal is to educate the community about ethnic, racial, religious, gender, family and sexual differences, while celebrating the "common ground" that brings together all groups at the school.

South Asian Student Society- is a social group for students of South Asian decent

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