Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Proposed Mission Statment

"Guideposts" for mission statement change by Pres. Tom Lindsay:

"Liberal education is an education for, through, and in liberty.

- 'For' - the highest freedom is the freedom of the mind, that is, freedom from bondage to unexamined assumptions (e.g., partisan politics, ideology, and political correctness).... Read More

- 'Through' - through close study and free, wide-ranging discussion of the greatest works of Western Civilization, students gain the depth and breadth essential to a free mind.

- 'In' - the practice of questioning the competing arguments of the greatest minds regarding life's most serious questions nurtures and, in time comes to embody the qualities of mind and character essential to intellectual
freedom.

In the course of examining the whole of existence, Shimer recognizes that, to be true to its quest, it must likewise examine its act of examining; that is, must explore the context in which its inquiry takes place. Accordingly,
Shimer studies the Founding documents -- the Declaration, U.S. Constitution, and The Federalist -- as well as the other original sources that both informed the Found and, later, reacted to it.

We at Shimer both acknowledge and appreciate the fact that the very possibility of an education for intellectual liberty depends on our being situated in a system of ordered political liberty such as we enjoy in American democracy."

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Please note: These are guideposts, not an actual mission statement.

The mission statement is here: http://shimerstudentalliance.blogspot.com/2010/02/tom-crafts-mission-statement-that-will.html

And because Tom's heard the community's concerns at the Assembly and a couple of meetings, he can say he made his mission "with community input in mind," even if it's completely contrary to what we support.
-Brigid