Labor Omnia Vincit

Labor Omnia Vincit

April 10, 2015

This phrase translates as “work conquers all.” It is an adaptation from the Roman author Virgil (of Aeneid fame), and has long been a mantra for me because I like to work. I always have. I like to relax too (Aristotle taught with clarity the necessity of leisure for reflection and to become an ethical person), but my heart lies always in work.

When we set out this year to re-examine the school calendar, it was with an eye to create more time in class: students and teachers together. I believe that having your children in front of talented, passionate teachers is one of the highest uses of their time. The few days we haven’t delayed our start time when other schools have, we’ve checked the weather to address safety concerns, but once we were confident in safety, we opened school on time because I believe having students at school is better than not having students not at school. Restructuring the Academic Dean position into two posts and hiring both Mr. Gay and Mr. Schatz sets the tone for what is to come: greater opportunity for highly thoughtful inquiry into our scholastic program geared toward making it stronger.

In my short time at The Academy I have learned much and already begun to be affected by its majesty and mystery. I hope that I never stop learning how The Academy can make me a better person. And I also hope to rub off somewhat, to add to the collective history of The Academy in my own, appropriate way. I’ll recommend that we all think of how we can and should work harder.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” I believe that education should be hard (not impossible) and that students should work hard at it, each and every day. They need and deserve our support, but it is their task to raise themselves up to become smarter, better, and happier in life. Childhood is not a reprieve from life but preparation for it, and I hope that The Academy helps students to learn, live, love, and grow in many ways, and some of it through hard work.

Dr. Brian Bloomfield
Head of School, Academy at Charlemont

Labor Omnia Vincit