The first was some weeks ago when the University redid the paneling in the elevators.  When we moved in here there was a sort of psychedelic stainless steel motif on the walls that was a bit dizzying to see.  The first reaction was to grab the handrail to steady yourself.  They decided to replace that paneling with something that made it look like mahogany, though it was still metal.  A student got in the elevator and commented “So that’s where my tuition goes.  This is a school after all and not a Madison Avenue office building.”  My first reaction was that I was back in Peru in the sixties.  People were quick to criticize any sort of waste of money.  I liked the fact that this young man was that sensitive to what might be considered over the top.  After all, downward mobility has to begin somewhere.  Maybe on an elevator.

The other occasion was when I was going down alone and the elevator stopped to let two students get on, a young man and a young woman.  I was obviously at the back of the car.  When we reached the ground floor the young man put his hand out to hold the door and let the young lady exit first.  Then he turned to me and my gray hair and motioned for me to go before him.  I said no, thanked him and said “after you.”  He came back saying, “I insist; after you.”  What a delight it was to come across a young man in today’s world that courteous and that anxious to let someone else go first.

I found hope on DePaul’s elevator.

Then I got to thinking that accepting money for prayer was one of the most serious complaints Martin Luther had against the Catholic Church.  Admittedly it’s not exactly the same thing, but he definitely didn’t like putting a price on prayer.  Then I realized that something really important to me is the “God bless you” that you get most often when you give something to someone on the street.  Personally I place a lot of trust in that prayer.  I look forward to receiving it and somehow it makes my day better.  I am always reminded of the Scriptural refrain that “the Lord hears the cry of the poor,” so the God-bless-you that I receive no doubt goes straight to heaven and has God’s ear.  So I am grateful for the cry of the poor that is made in my name.  The fact that people in need are so attuned to the Lord in their life is a lesson for me.  And I am happy that they are praying for me.  That’s worth paying for.

Christmas card picture circa 1954

Happy New Year! This week the Cristo Rey Network would like to share the Christmas Gift of Sir John Templeton.

Not long after Sir John Templeton died in 2008, his daughter-in-law Pina Templeton discovered a curious document in his personal archives. It was a short letter the legendary investor and philanthropist had included with his family Christmas card mailed out in 1962.

“Though it wasn’t as common back then as it is today, people might have opened the Christmas card letter expecting to find an update on John Templeton’s family, or maybe even some stock tips,” says Dr. Jack Templeton, Sir John’s son and president of the John Templeton Foundation. “Instead, the letter began, On the 1962nd birthday of Christ, we invite you, our friends, to share with us this little simile: Are You In Control of Your Mind?”

An unusual start to a Yuletide message? No doubt—but one entirely in the spirit of the visionary investor who was not born into wealth, but who spent the Great Depression diligently preparing the ground from which his great fortune later grew. The short letter, which we have reproduced below in its entirety, encouraged readers to think of the mind as a garden, and themselves as responsible for tending it. The goal is not simply to render one’s mind healthy and productive for its own sake, but rather to open itself to God and to love—and in so doing, to cultivate one’s gifts to be a blessing to others. Sir John believed that after love, the greatest gift God gave to humanity was the mind.

Though Sir John was rigorously logical and analytical as a financial strategist, Dr. Templeton believes his father’s choice of a poetical metaphor in this letter reveals something about the way he saw the world: as filled with life and the potential for unlimited bounty—if wisely and lovingly cared for.

“He could have portrayed the mind as a mechanical thing that could be tinkered with to make it run more perfectly,” Dr. Templeton says. “But he saw the mind as something organic, something that could proliferate, and be a source of bountiful blessing for others. He believed that a well-tended mind could contain the seeds of joy and wisdom that could be picked up by the wind, and blow into a neighbor’s garden.”

This past year, Florida State University social psychologist Roy F. Baumeister turned his Templeton-seeded scientific research on free will into a New York Times non-fiction bestseller, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (see Templeton Report, Oct. 19). What Sir John knew intuitively half a century ago, science is proving today—and doing so at a time in history when people need the hope that comes from knowing they are not condemned to passivity amid the worst economic crisis since the 1930s Depression.

Left: Sir John Templeton, Right: Dr. Jack Templeton

“Sir John believed that trouble brought opportunity,” Dr. Templeton says. “He believed that if you look at adversity as a blessing and an opportunity to overcome barriers, then hard times can become a source of enduring joy. If we really believe that we are children of God, then we won’t be fatalistic. We will use the minds that God gave us to thrive in times of crisis.”

From Sir John’s perspective, reminding family, friends, and associates on his Christmas card list of the blessing and the responsibility of God-given free will was a holiday gift greater than any investment advice he might have provided. For some, it might have offered the secret to riches. But for all, it offered the secret to a richly meaningful life.

“Dad was not only suffused with gratitude, I would say that he was almost helpless in the face of gratitude to God,” his son recalls. “He was driven by the desire to express that gratitude by helping others to find mental empowerment, moral empowerment, and spiritual empowerment. He wanted to seed others’ gardens.”

The text of Sir John Templeton’s 1962 Christmas card letter:

On the 1962nd birthday of Christ, we invite you, our friends, to share with us this little simile:

Are You In Control Of Your Mind?

In some ways your mind is like your garden. If you exercise no control, it will become a weed patch and a source of shame and misery. If you exercise wise control, then it will be filled with God’s miracles and become a place of indescribable beauty. You are free to choose which. How can you do it? Simply for example, develop a habit of looking at each thought as you would a plant. If it is worthy, if it fits the plan you desire for your mind, cultivate it. If not, replace it. How do you get it out of your mind? Simply by putting in its place two or three thoughts of love or worship, for no mind can dwell on more than two or three thoughts at one time.

Circumstances outside the garden of your mind do not shape you. You shape them. For example, if you expect treachery, allowing those thoughts to dwell in your mind, you will get it. If you fill your mind with thoughts of love, you will give love and get it. If you think little of God, He will be far from you. If you think often of God, the Holy Spirit will dwell more in you. The glory of the universe is open to every man. Some look and see. Some look and see not.

Gardens are not made in a day. God gave you one lifetime for the job. Control of your garden or your mind grows with practice and study of the wisdom other minds have bequeathed to you. He who produces an item of unique beauty in his garden or his mind may have a duty to give that seed to others. As your body is the dwelling place of your mind, so is your mind the dwelling place of your soul. The mind you develop is your dwelling place for all your days on earth, and the soul you develop on earth may be the soul you are stuck with for eternity. God has given you the choice.

Recently I had dinner with a good friend of mine and we were talking about this year and how eventful the year has been.  We spoke of movements large such as the “Arab Spring.”  We remembered a year filled with natural calamities: tsunami in Japan, volcano eruption in Brazil, floods in Pakistan and earth quake in Turkey.  Of course, we decried the financial scene unfolding across the globe.  On the plus side we both were happy over advancements in peace between India and Bangladesh and the celebration of World Peace Day in Assisi, Italy in October.  We smiled as we acknowledged that the world never tires of a beautiful love story such as that of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

This friend knows my belief in the spiritual wisdom contained in the Serenity Prayer.  I’m sure that many of you know it: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”  He asked me if I had difficulty this year with the first part of this prayer.  I quickly answered that the first part was not an issue. The second part of the prayer is what motivates me and keeps me on focus. I told him about my ministry here at Christ the King Prep and that I am convinced every day that we need to change the educational success rate of young urban students. It takes courage to enter upon such a mission as this.  Many people will say, “It can’t be done.”  Others will suggest that we need to wait until there are better times than now to be committed to  such a project.  Still others will say that I should let others “deal with that problem.”

I am inviting you to join me in a very courageous mission: “Transform Urban America One Student at a Time.”  This is the motto of the Cristo Rey Network of schools, now numbering 24 schools across the United States, with more in feasibility.  We believe that we do not have to accept the fact that only 10% of urban young people complete a college education.  We have the courage to change that.  We believe that we do not have to accept as unchangeable that the United States has fallen to #15 in the production of college graduates worldwide.  We have the courage to change that.  We believe that we do not have to accept that in less than 10 years more than 20 million jobs in this country will go unfilled because the new jobs require college talent.  We have the courage to change that.

As we bring this year to an end, let us end on a renewed commitment to courage and to a future of hope.  We have the courage to change; join us in this mission.

It occurs to me that there is a parallel here with how Christ is making His Kingdom come in our world.  Everything looks pretty much the same and maybe even getting worse.  Sometimes it’s hard to affirm that Christ is at work, that He is the Lamb taking away the sins of the world.  It certainly doesn’t look that way.  And yet we believe it.  We take it on faith because of the one who tells us so.  As the feast of Christ the King approaches, we affirm that the Kingdom really is on its way.   

Thanksgiving is always a great chance to reflect on the year with my family. This year I did something a little different and took the day after Thanksgiving for some further reflection here at the school. Several members of recent graduating classes came by our library to have a bite to eat and to chat with our principal, Fr. Jose Medina, and me.  Each one told us they felt prepared for college because of the education they received here, and most told us to continue to offer a rigorous program. “Add more Advanced Placement classes,” one said. “I wish I could have taken more than one AP my senior year,” another added.  She was happy to hear that we now offer five AP classes, students can take up to two AP courses, and plans are underway to add another AP class next year and allow seniors to take up to three of these courses.

The alumni we met with last week are working extremely hard in college – they know they have an opportunity of a lifetime.  The message that came from our conversation with these young people is that they want to erase the achievement gap, which is what Cristo Rey Boston is all about.

The achievement gap is the difference between the academic performance of students from low-income communities and students living in middle and upper middle class areas.  The achievement gap is a drain on our nation’s resources. In fact, a few years ago researchers from McKinsey & Company concluded that if there was no achievement gap in the United States, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would be 2 to 5% higher per year.

One barometer of the achievement gap is the 200 point difference between the average SAT scores of all college bound students and the average SAT scores of college bound Latino and African American students.  Keep in mind that this is a comparison of students going to college, not those who don’t take the test at all or the 30% of entering 9^th graders nationwide who fail to earn a high school degree.

All of our seniors take the SAT – something only seen at Boston’s elite high schools – and for the past four years our average SAT scores were below the national average of Latino and African American students. To make any kind of impact on the achievement gap, we knew we had to work extremely hard to address this trend.  Cristo Rey Boston’s 304 students are the demographics the achievement gap points to; 49% are Latino, 44% are African American, and all are low-income, with an average family income of $26,013 and household size of 3.7.

We revamped our freshman curriculum, put a lot of effort into improved instruction in math and English, added double block courses throughout the curriculum, restructured our faculty professional development and teacher coaching effort, and added an intense remediation program for all freshmen to ensure they were proficient in math and English by the end of 9^th grade.  This year’s seniors are the first group to undergo four years of the new curriculum.

The results of the fall SAT tests are in, and this year’s seniors are 86 points above the national average for students of color.  The improved scores tell us that the work we’ve been doing in the classroom these past four years is paying off, though we have a long way to go.  Our next goal is to reach the national average for all college bound students, and this will take an enormous amount of work and additional resources.

As recent graduates urged the principal to keep up the rigorous academic program, I saw the kind of dedication our alumni gain at Cristo Rey Boston. They will work as hard as they need to in order to succeed in college and beyond, and I can already see the gap narrowing as they enter the job market our Corporate Work Study Program prepared them for.

We’re finding a way to close the gap between those with resources and those without at Cristo Rey Boston High School, and everyone involved in our school in any way can take pride in our success.  We know we have work to do, but with a little help from friends in Boston and beyond, we’ll get there, and we’ll set an example for educators everywhere.

The WISE meeting was held last week in Doha, the capital of Qatar.  I was privileged to be invited to attend and participate in a panel called “Learning from Gamechangers.”  We were four panelists:  a lady from Ethiopia who founded Whiz Kids Workshop for preschoolers; a man who is a photojournalist for National Geographic and has worked for over 30 years in more than 100 countries, documenting situations in conflicted areas through photography; a clinical psychologist from Kuwait, creator of THE 99, a group of Islamic comic superheroes used to promote tolerance in all its forms; and myself.  It was a fascinating experience.  I have no idea how they knew about the Cristo Rey Network but it certainly is a tribute to what we have accomplished.

There were 1200 delegates to the conference, from all parts of the world, many dressed in their native garb, especially the ones from Arab countries.  All day long, running from conferences to workshops, it seemed that we were constantly rubbing elbows with Ministers of Education and members of different prestigious think-tanks from all over the globe.  It was extremely consoling that the conference was held; it is gratifying that some people really are talking about education as a world problem and suggesting ways to improve it.  What I found disconcerting was the lack of a religious presence.  The day of the panel I wore my roman collar but as far as I know I was the only representative of the Catholic Church at the meeting.  What does that mean?  We are so proud of what the Church does in education and yet is anyone noticing?  Do we have nothing to add to the dialogue?  Is Catholic education making a difference?  Maybe the world doesn’t think we’re as good as we do.

I invite you to check out some of the summit’s photos: http://www.wise-qatar.org/content/snapshots-best-summit-2011

In physics, when we study work, there is an apparent dilemma. Work is defined using force through a distance, and it appears that if you use more effort more work should result. However, here is the catch: if the force is not directed in the proper direction, it is possible to expend great force and achieve no work. Before my involvement with the EEI, I gave my best effort in teaching physics at a college preparatory level, but I often had questions whether all, or even most, of my efforts were “getting the work done”. I questioned the coverage depth versus breadth on any one subject. I also questioned the level and specific types of critical thinking I should require of my seniors. I questioned the extent of independence I should allow on lab inquiry and lab reports. I was not accustomed to an urban student population that had the triple demands of school, work, and a cultural shift to becoming college ready.

My participation in the Educational Enrichment Initiative has supplied the answers I sought. The curricula and list of learning skills developed by our EEI teams have now given me a strong blueprint on which to base my instruction. Training on writing annual plans and unit plans allow me to adjust and refine my lessons year to year. Last year, student alumni returned after taking freshman University Physics to report their success in that subject. For me, this was a “first”, and I know it is due to the guidance I received through EEI.

I have watched my fellow teachers at San Miguel High School open themselves to the power of working collectively with their colleagues in the Cristo Rey Network. From debating and designing college-ready curricula, to writing unit plans and exchanging instructional strategies, we each come away with the knowledge that we are supported, and held accountable, by a true network of like-minded educators. Even though, as a network, we have much work ahead, my students and I have felt a shift in direction of the Cristo Rey Network due to EEI. Because the Educational Enrichment Initiative originates and is sustained within the Network, it will continue be a uniting and motivating force in our goal for every student to graduate from college.

A thousand streams can trickle water in a thousand different directions, or join together to carve a grand wonder.

Last week, I had the great privilege of attending my first Board Meeting as a member of the Cristo Rey High School board of directors.  And even though I had to travel from Evanston all the way to the south side of Chicago, it was definitely worth the trip. Not only did I get a chance to see a high-powered charter school in person but I also got the chance to meet a very powerful board team and watch members of the Cristo Rey staff in action. And at the meeting, we learned a number of new things about the school and discussed the school’s plan for success in the future.

At long last, months after figuring out that I’d be sitting on Cristo Rey’s board through the Kellogg Board Fellows program, I was finally attending my first meeting with Cristo Rey. And I’m quite thrilled with how everything went. The other new members were not only pretty interesting group but also had very impressive backgrounds. On one side of me was a partner from the Boston Consulting Group. Ironically, I had met him during the MBA recruiting process a year or two back, and he recognized me the moment he walked into the room. To his right was a partner at the prestigious Chicago law firm Winston and Strawn. On my other side sat an entrepreneur. And across the table was none other than Chris Perry. In addition to being on the Executive Committee of Loyola Academy, Chris currently serves as chairman of the Board for Cristo Rey.

My takeaway after seeing the diverse set of board members is that social impact can come from many different areas. Not only from high paying roles like consulting and corporate law but also roles in the entrepreneurship and not for profit spaces.  Another takeaway was the ability to have impact from both the law side and business side. That both can play a role in having impact and helping to push great organizations forward to do things that they couldn’t have done themselves.

Read more.

Tune in to WBEZ-FM Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon and Monday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. to hear the CTK interview.

It was the official back-to-school day when students arrived welcoming our first senior class and the fastest-growing student body in the Cristo Rey Network. At the same time, we welcomed the crew from national public radio for a feature about CTK offering “a ray of hope, ” to our nation’s educational system. To say the excitement filled the halls is to understate. 

“Our job is to prepare you for college, and now you are practicing your college behaviors,” Latin teacher Charlie Barlow told the senior class. “Next year you will be college students, carrying on an indelible mark for all our students behind you. This is your practice year for college. You’re almost there. This is a big year.”

The seniors will test their readiness for college all year, but signs that we’re growing stronger and accomplishing our goals are fueled by affirmations from the public. Later this week, CTK will be featured in a national public radio documentary series about the plight of African-American teen boys and the challenges they face in our nation’s educational system.

CTK makes its debut on the Tavis Smiley documentary “Too Important to Fail,” which will premiere this Friday on NPR and PRI national and international airwaves, and on local WBEZ-FM Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon.

Left: Seniors Emmanuel and Stanley with Rob Birdsell, President of the Cristo Rey Network, in front of the school. All three were interviewed for the radio story. Photo by Bill Healy.

On the airwaves, CTK senior Emmanuel discusses the hope and inspiration he has found as a student at our school. He is joined by Rob Birdsell, President & CEO at Cristo Rey Network who speaks volumes about the hope CTK and the other 23 Cristo Rey schools bring to Emmanuel and 6,500 high school stations in its network. The radio program promotes a five-part PBS-TV series Smiley is doing on “The Education of African-American Boys and their Impact on America,” which will premiere on Tuesday, September 13 at 8 PM Eastern on PBS.

“This school has given me a chance to do something I never could have imagined,” Emmanuel said during the taping Tuesday at CTK. He plans to attend an engineering program in college next year and is busy preparing to apply.“At first it was tough walking home through the neighborhood in a shirt and tie and hearing all the stuff guys were saying. But now they leave me alone and I think many of them look at me and wish they could be in my shoes.“Emmanuel works five days a month (and kept his job five days a week last summer) at the law firm of Hoogendoorn & Talbott LLP, through CTK’s Corporate Work Study Program.

Tune in to WBEZ-FM Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon and Monday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m. to hear the CTK interview.