Personal Mission Statement: 1

John Thornton Davis

EDAD 610 (02)
Leading School Communities in a Pluralistic Society
Instructor: Dr. M. Vargas
3 September 2016

MISSION:

Mercy High School, is a Catholic college preparatory school committed to providing the highest standards of
academic, ethical, and civic based education. Graduates will be provided with the means, ability, foresight,
ethics, and world view to succeed and make a positive impact on a rapidly globalizing world.

VISION:
To assist all students in becoming driven, positive, ethical, analytic, and lifelong learners who seek to enrich
their community and world with their individual talents and strengths.

RATIONALE:

As a social science teacher, civics, political science, and government are almost always on my mind. I

love teaching and I love history, but the main reason I teach social sciences is to prepare my students to be

active and positive leaders in our society and community. I believe for our society to continue to evolve in a

positive way this it is essential that students become active participants in their communities. I view my classes

as my chance to enlighten students on why their country/community/society works the way it does. I want

them to be able to understand republican values (republicanism not the Republican Party), their rights, and the

need for their positive participation in the community. Whether they are a public servant or a representative , an

active voter, or simply aware of the political system in which they live and which they control, I would like all

of my students to find a way to help their community.

Personal Mission Statement: 2

To prepare the next generation of leaders, it should be the mission of the school and the education

system in general to provide students with the appropriate means to participate in and change their society for

the better, no matter what path they choose in life. A solid education is a path to accomplishing this and should

be grounded in ethical and analytic thought. Striving to develop the individual talents and strengths of every

student as they push towards higher education is also essential, and guiding and teaching students to develop

and use analytic thought to heighten and extend their individual skills and talents should be the objective of all

educators at the school as they assist students in preparing for higher education.

As society and the world are not static, the ability to analyze, and continue to learn will consistently be

skills that all students should learn so they may better navigate an ever changing world. As our world

increasingly becomes globalized and American Culture continues to evolve, the need to be able to view new

ideas and situations from a broader world-wide or global view is paramount. Addressing the challenges and

changes of the new diverse and potentially globalized society/culture/community will require all students to rely

on their education, work ethics, and ability to analyze and adapt in an ethical way. As such, these skills should

be part the environment and curriculum of a school.

Providing a solid well rounded education based on civic and analytic principals can only work if

students are allowed to explore and develop their talents and then apply them to the world around them. The

concept of specialization dates back to the Neolithic/Agricultural Revolution, yet it still remains a hallmark of

almost every society and culture around the world. Allowing individuals to explore, express, and hone their

crafts, talents, and skills are essential to specialization and the betterment of the community regardless of

whether it is a local or global community. Encouraging students to learn basic and sometimes standardized

skills and knowledge is not enough; students need to be taught how to adapt those skills and knowledge to their

individual strengths. Doing so will not only prepare them for higher education and life after college, it will

provide them with the skills necessary to adapt to and positively change the world around them.