Horace Mann - Winter 2012 - (Page 34)

news of the school Langfan Finalists Address Press Freedom on Competition’s Tenth Anniversary or the past ten years members of Horace Mann School’s tenthgrade class have studied the U.S. constitution, and examined an issue through its lens as participants in the William K. and Marion langfan american constitutional oratorical competition. The 2011 tenth-anniversary competition engaged finalists Susannah cohen ’13, Daniel elkind ’13, Jacob Gladysz-Morawski ’13, alexander posner ’13, and elizabeth rosenblatt ’13 with the question of “How free is a free press?” each earned a plaque in recognition of the thoughtful arguments they presented. alex posner took home the winner’s trophy. The final round of the competition took place on September 11, 2011. coinciding with the tenth anniversary of 9-11, Dr. barbara Tischler, history 34 Horace mann magazine Winter 2012 f teacher and Director of curriculum and professional Development, who coordinates the langfan award, observed: “it seems fitting that we celebrate free speech with free speech, the freedom of our students to speak their minds, to be critical, and to disagree. That’s what the langfan competition, indeed, what a Horace Mann education, is all about.” The langfan competition was launched at Horace Mann in 2001 by Mark ’78 and Dayna ’79 langfan to honor their father William, and their late mother Marion langfan, whose love of the U.S. constitution and of oratory inspired the event. The goal is to encourage students to learn how the constitution applies to daily life in the U.S., and offers them a public speaking experience at a young age. Since the award’s inception, the competition has been fine-tuned to make the most of its pedagogical possibilities. The topic is introduced to the entire tenth grade at an assembly at which Horace Mann School Theater arts Director Woody Howard and english teacher Gerri Woods discuss the nature of oratory. Students then have the opportunity to meet with members of the History Department to discuss possible topics. Students who decide to participate in the competition receive further training in oratory, and review their research with their history teachers. one semi-final round yields the finalists. The 2011 competition culminated in a Sunday brunch in the rotunda of fisher Hall, which the speakers’ family members, and HM teachers and administrators attended. audience members were welcomed by Dr. Tischler, Horace Mann Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly, and Upper Division Head Dr. David Schiller. Dr. Kelly led the gathering in a moment of peace in memory of the victims of 9-11, and Dr. Schiller emphasized the importance of fostering an education that teaches young people to think through issues in the humanistic tradition. in discussing issues of freedom of the press the students invoked historic press/freedom court cases to support their arguments. a panel of student judges, who were finalists in 2010, selected the winner, with history teacher pasquale Devito guiding their deliberations. Shaan Hathiramani ’04 captured the langfan prize in its first year at HM. The alumnus recalled the langfan experience as “memorable… both for the opportunity to deliver a speech on big issues in a rapidly changing world, and the privilege to hear the speeches of friends. We addressed topics like civil liberties and censorship that seemed only appropriate to read about in class or watch on the news. The langfan competition gave us the opportunity to engage with those issues directly and with confidence,” he said. “The gravity of that year (2001-2002), the preparation and practice of the speech itself, and the spirit of the occasion, provided for a lasting experience.” $ photo by Ruth Seligman

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Horace Mann - Winter 2012

Horace Mann - Winter 2012
Contents
Letters
Greetings from Dr. Tom Kelly
Greetings from Melissa Parento ’90
Horace Mann School’s 125th Anniversary Observances Begin
Strategic Thinking
New Initiatives in Institutional Research and Admissions
HM's New Director of College Counseling
Timothy HO and Monica Merlo are 2011 Tina and Dave Bellet Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Langfan Oratorical Contest, 2011
Horace Mann School Graduates 178 in June, 2011
Alumni Council Corner
Bookshelf
Class Notes
Memorials
Philanthropy and You

Horace Mann - Winter 2012