Weekly Message from Head of School 2025/3/17-2025/3/21
Dear Keystonians,
Happy Friday!
What a difference a week makes! Last Saturday, we enjoyed an afternoon snow squall, and now, as the week comes to a close, temperatures are rising, the sun is out, and magnolias are blooming. Starting Monday, our campus playground will remain open until 6:30 PM for summer hours. Spring is in the air!
Last night, I attended an alumni event here in Beijing, hosted by Columbia University’s Teachers College (TC). TC President Dr. Thomas Bailey is visiting several cities across Asia to connect with alumni and learn more about educational trends in the region. Keystone has had several leaders who attended Teachers College, including me, Dr. Jiang in the Middle School, former Dean of Students and Dean of Faculty Kelli Sanchez, and former Head of High School Diana Martelly.
A century before we all studied at the beautiful campus in Morningside Heights in New York City, John Dewey was a professor at TC. John Dewey is the most famous educational philosopher in the United States, and in the early 1900s, he spent two years in China, learning about the educational traditions here and sharing his vision for education.
Professor Bailey shared that Dewey’s experience in China strengthened his commitment to interdisciplinary education and experiential learning—two of the core tenets of his educational philosophy that have had a profound impact on education both in the US and in China. He also reminded us of Dewey’s strong belief that every teacher must be a researcher, investigating exactly what each of their students needs. Dewey was an early champion of differentiation (see last week’s letter!).
After a brief presentation, Professor Bailey answered questions from the audience on a range of topics.
Throughout the evening, in his various responses, he kept repeating the phrase:
“We are here.”
What is TC’s commitment to global diversity in the face of rising nationalism in the US?
“We are here.”
How is TC thinking about the recruitment of international students to its programs?
“We are here.”
He shared Teachers College’s commitment to continuing its long tradition of supporting international students, noting that the college has increased its support for students matriculating from outside the US. He stated, “Higher education in the US is strong, and we will continue to support students from all over the world, especially from China.” He also mentioned that Teachers College has 8,000 alumni living outside the United States, with 2,000 of them in China.
“We are here.”
It was a memorable evening reflecting on the legacy of John Dewey, and it made me proud to think of the impact his work has had on our school. We can only imagine the impact Keystone students will have and the ways their wisdom will ripple into the future long after we are gone. I’m proud to have attended a college of education that is committed to its presence in China and to providing opportunities for such a large number of Chinese students. Professor Bailey’s words echoed in my mind the whole way back to Houshayu: “We are here.”
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend,
Emily
