Bridging the Gap

Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no
education at all.” St. Mary’s students benefit from this wisdom daily in Chapel, the Bridge
to Caring, service learning, and the Community Fund. We even find the heart in our exams. If you
had been in the Rose Theater for the Juniors’ semester exams, you would have witnessed the
newest expression of how our teachers encourage the heart of our students and enable them to
find their unique voices.
Just before Christmas break, I had the great pleasure of listening to the Juniors each deliver
a four-minute speech in the style of a TED Talk. As each student walked onto the carpet and
into the spotlight, the audience of parents and teachers heard a confident, compassionate, and
courageous voice. The two evenings titled “Voices of St. Mary’s” began as a combined history and
English assignment that asked the Juniors to express how the curriculum has educated their heart
and not just their mind. English teacher Caroline Goodman, history teacher Holly Hensarling, and
librarian Jeanine Akers worked as a team to ask: How do the facts and stories in your courses
speak to your own experience and how can that make us better human beings?
Students connected Beowulf, Wuthering Heights, Julius Caesar, 9/11, and the Holocaust to
their own experiences with fear, racism, stereotyping, courage, creativity, and faith. Listening to
these voices, it is clear that St. Mary’s is dedicated to letting each girl pursue her individual
potential. It is also clear why our young women pursue the careers of service and teaching, and
choose to call Memphis home, connecting to their community. You will find their stories
highlighted in this issue.
The heart is at the heart of an Episcopal School education. This kind of integrity of mind
and soul and body has never been a more important as we prepare young woman for an often
polarized, terrorized, and fragmented culture. By
not ignoring this vital connection, our students
and graduates are able to teach and serve others
mindfully and whole-heartedly.
Head of School
On the first day of the semester,
Head of School Albert Throckmorton
encourages Middle and Upper School
students to focus on the destination
while also enjoying the journey.
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