Proud to be a Pirate: Students leading the way

To the Editor;

Our world is in trouble! Every hour of the day we are exposed to the news of tragedy, division. and a lack of respect for those who hold differing opinions. The front pages of our newspapers, the lead story on state and national news and social media saturate us with stories of a divided political and cultural world. It has come to be acceptable to demean and call other names and feel no remorse. What happened to being civil to one another?

Recently I have had the opportunity to join the advisory board of the Can We? Connect project. It is a program sponsored by Third Thought-An Initiative for Civic Engagement. It invites youths in our schools to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs and learn from the interaction with others with a different perspective. 

PCHS is one of 15 schools in Maine participating in this project. Each school has a team of 15 to 20 students who commit to the principles of learning from each other. Each school team has facilitated training in learning the skills of listening, sharing opinions and respecting differences.

Recently I had the privilege of attending the convening of all of the participating high schools in the Can We? Connect Project at the Augusta Civic Center. Three hundred students at dozens of tables facilitated by student guides discussed issues of importance. The energy, enthusiasm and engagement reaffirmed my belief in the young people of today.

As a former teacher and principal at PCHS for 27 years I was especially proud of the students representing their school and our county.

Norman Higgins

Sebec