“True courage is a result of reasoning. A brave mind is always impregnable.”
-Jeremy Collier

Among the joys of working in a school like Keystone is hearing students argue passionately. They may be exercised about a concept from a novel they’re reading in English, a solution to a physics problem, the translation of a certain passage; or the topic can be more mundane like who’s the best Marvel character, the most meaningful Taylor Swift song, or which team should be leading in the Premier League standings. Whatever the subject, it can feel invigorating and inspiring to hear children and young adults make their points with vigor.

At a time when public debate feels more like dueling bumper stickers, we at Keystone want to step away from the shouting. Part of what makes a Keystone education special is pushing back against a broader culture of instant analysis, taking sides before learning the true facts, and rushing to outrage. As educators in this community, we ask ourselves:how do we teach students to slow down and develop arguments that are well-reasoned? In a time when cynicism and pessimism can seem all pervasive, we need to give our children and young adults a sense of hope and advocacy.

We start this process early in a child’s education, where students learn from teachers at Keystone to gather information before making an argument and supporting those arguments with evidence and data. Whether they are developing a science fair project or preparing for a debate in class, children learn that unsubstantiated arguments are neither adequate nor useful. The art of crafting a thesis, finding evidence to support their points, and presenting concisely and fluently is crucial to students’ growth as budding scholars.

Imperative to their success in formulating a compelling case is an ability to read closely. Perhaps one of the most important lessons that comes from reading is patience. Students need to avoid distractions and stick with something longer than 40 seconds or 280 characters. They have to immerse themselves in the author’s mindset and ferret out the main points while honing their own critical thinking skills.

Part and parcel of this approach requires students to question their initial assumptions. They may arrive with their mind already made up, but when confronted with a new set of facts, they should carry the intellectual humility to either adjust or jettison their initial opinion. Willingly listening to classmates with whom they disagree and being open to the possibility they may have been wrong reflects strength rather than weakness.

In a 2018 Chautauqua Journal article, Columbia University Professor Eric Foner states about Abraham Lincoln, “In approaching the subject of Lincoln’s views and policies regarding slavery and race, the first thing to bear in mind is that the hallmark of Lincoln’s greatness was his capacity for growth. It is fruitless to identify a single quotation, speech or letter as the real or quintessential Lincoln. At the time of his death, Lincoln occupied a very different place with regard to these issues than earlier in his life. Lincoln was a product of his time, yet able to transcend it, which is as good a definition of greatness as any.”

Along with an intellectual humility, students must understand that persistence is key. Becoming good at anything-whether it’s solving vexing math problems, scoring a goal, or playing a particularly difficult musical piece-requires dedicated work. The old New York City joke that the way to get to Carnegie Hall is “practice, practice, practice” remains as true now as when it came out eons ago.

Finally, for students to grow academically and personally, they must come to their learning with a combination of sincerity and kindness. They should revel in the chance to learn about each other while getting to know themselves. In the process, they will discover that one of the best ways to grow comes through helping others. Children and young adults will understand that they are horizontally linked to their peers and vertically connected to their predecessors. Along the way, we hope they come to feel and express the same kind of gratitude as Sir Isaac Newton did when he said so famously, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”