Thanks for writing this, Dean! I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about Outward Bound and how you incorporate O.B. into your own education philosophy. The five pillars fit well with the sorts of dispositions and habits we want to encourage in the classroom. I can definitely see how the five pillars will help create a larger sense of structure for students by providing them with a sort of guide for life (versus a more sequestered guide for playing the game of school).
I agree with your sentiment that compassion is perhaps the most important of the five pillars. As someone who is interested in education for social justice, I would like to see one of the pillars address issues of community and inclusion. Or, a slight reframing of the pillars away from their inward focus to accommodate a more communal, outward looking perspective.
So glad you’re chronicling your journey, Dean. Can’t wait to keep learning from you!
