Leadership and Awareness Pilot Program

One curricular element of the leadership program the school is developing is a course on personal leadership development through an analysis of literature and philosophy. The core premise of the course is an element of mythic literacy, or understanding the preconceptions and "myths" that shape our society and ourselves. Dr. Sam Keen, a protege of the author and scholar Joseph Campbell, explains the rationale for such a course:

"Schools in our television culture need courses that make students aware of the ways in which sitcoms, game shows, advertisements, news, sports and political propoganda shape and misshape our minds, imaginations, values and life goals. Currently, most Americans get the majority of their "information" and their world view from television. We absorb by osmosis the images, symbols, stories and myths that influence us most. As long as we remain unaware of these myths, we are unconsciously informed by them and we go through our lives like sleepwalkers reacting to post-hypnotic suggestion."


Left unexamined, the influences Keen notes can impair an individual's growth and certainly hamper the development of effective leadership. Thus the course is an effort to systematically examine and understand both our individual natures and our relationships to society as a whole.

The course is being developed in conjunction with Dr. Keen and researchers from Harvard University, with the support of Krispy Kreme. Intended for seniors, the course will allow seniors to understand their personal stories through the examination and comprehension of what scholars have called "the heroic journey." A literary theme found throughout the world, the idea of a journey to understanding is reflected in the school's efforts to build leadership skills in students by improving their self awareness. The culminating exercise is likely to include a media presentation of each student's individual "story" on which each student will make an oral "defense" before a faculty panel.