|
843
Crotona Park North * Bronx, NY 10460
* Tel: (718) 861-1426 |
|
" S t e p 1 : F i n d i n g t h e W o u n d "Daniel Kornfield July 2003 Yale University carries a well-known name. The Crotona Achievement Center, reaching out to boys in the South Bronx, does not. Yet Yale, the center of learning at which I spent my last four years, has in many ways lost its sense of mission. It can boast Nobel Prize winners and top scholars in diverse fields, paving the way in everything from literary criticism to AIDS medication research. But that esteemed institution no longer boasts a sense of unifying principle and purpose, the opposite of Crotona. Within one hundred years, Crotona may become a household name, a model for world-shaking educational centers around the world. Just as Harvard and Yale were modeled after Oxford and Cambridge, Crotona may well become a beacon for those who currently shake their heads at the plight of the inner city and its complex cycle of decadence. A cacophonous chorus of voices rises from NGO’s, lobbyists, think tanks and politicians, placing in the spotlight the travesty that our inner city life presents among a nation rising in abundance and power. The answers they propose are as shrill as they are confident. “The white man must repay his debt to society in an apologetic one-sided attempt at improving race relations,” some cry. “Minorities must pull themselves up by their bootstraps!” say others—not usually in those words, of course. The public education system needs more money. The public education system should be abolished. Social services must be expanded. The welfare state must be put out of its misery. Housing projects must be built. Housing projects must be torn down. The government must provide better day care and health services. The market must be allowed free reign. The drug war should be taken more seriously. The war on drugs must be abandoned. Do this and not the other, and we can soothe the wounds of our aching people, those poor who suffer while many thrive. A common denominator in many of these proposals is government action and money—whether it be a call for more or a call for less. While such debates are not insignificant, they are really missing the heart of the matter. The improvement of economic indicators in the Bronx over the last decade has not overcome the social disease spread through broken homes, disordered priorities, complacency and the desire for immediate gratification. Where that disease once expressed itself more often in violence than it does now, such tendencies have been replaced with soft living rather than controlled strength. For the past two months I have been working closely with sixteen boys from the Bronx. Without exception, I can say that what these boys most need right now as a guarantee of healthy living has very little to do with more money in the immediate future. What is really needed is a change in character. This is the truth, and it is a hard truth. It means that what is most failing these children is not their government but their culture. And it takes a lot more work to feed a soul than it does to feed a mouth. This is where Crotona has boldly stepped forward. In the midst of a plethora of free social services offered to parents and children in the Bronx, Crotona has impressed itself upon me as entirely unique. Rather than simply “providing a nondestructive outlet” for children, as an employee of another charity described her program’s mission to me yesterday on the subway, Crotona goes to the root of the deepest questions about life, and addresses them through habitual formation in virtue—as well as a whole lot of fun. Taking up the old mantle of forming the whole person, the same aim that a liberal arts education such as Yale’s once boasted, Crotona staff work through love and service to challenge boys and their families to live life more fully. (Dan graduated from Yale University and is now a full-time Crotona program director.) Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" T h e C a l c u l u s o f V i r t u e "David Monge July 2003 Training week for summer counselors was progressing nicely. That is to say, I was totally overwhelmed with the scope and magnitude of what was being asked of me as a Group Leader in Crotona’s summer Leadership Club. The theory was simple enough: to build character in the young men attending the program. Practically, however, I was being asked to notice virtually every moral action in the lives of the students of my group and be able to rationally explain the moral content of each action. After one week, I was thoroughly convinced that this was a nearly impossible task. Only my pride saved me from concluding that it was totally impossible.
“Juan, you just interrupted me, that’s 10 Demerit . . .” “No I didn’t!”
“Now you’re arguing with me.
That’s 25 more . . .” “Maaaaan!”
“That’s complaining and slang.
35 more points. Now,
why am I . . .” “That’s wack!” “Nooooo!” “You idiot!” “Shut-up!”
“10. . . 20. . . 30. . .40. . .” Notice the vice, process it, conclude what is the root cause and explain that cause in a succinct and intelligible way to the student. . . all within the span of a few seconds. Daunting, to say the least. But as I practiced, I learned. I improved, a little bit each time. I hope that it could be said that I became a little more virtuous. I refined my concept of virtue and became more adept at briefly but completely explaining these habits which will lead each student to the good, and consequently to his happiness. Through the Demerit Point system, I was growing in awareness of the scope of the project that is instilling character in another man. There are thousands of moral decisions that each person makes every day – some for the better and some for the worse. To change those bad habits and fortify those good habits boils down to millions upon millions of individual decisions throughout the course of one’s life. That realization alone has made the weeks that I have spent at Crotona invaluable to me. I have, however, learned much more than that; and I plan to take much more than that from Crotona and into my professional future as a teacher. The instruction in virtue is largely absent from the American education system. Paradoxically, every educator in America believes in virtue. Every teacher continually emphasizes the vital importance of forming proper study habits, which lead to a stable disposition of character enabling students to learn quickly and think critically. This is an example of a solitary virtue that is expressly taught in schools. But so much more is possible, and realistic. Crotona has opened my mind to the possibilities and challenges of teaching virtue. It has given me a foundation on which to build my teaching philosophy – a philosophy that most certainly will include the instruction in virtue based on a rational foundation. The rational emphasis allows any person to see for himself what is in his best interest and to act accordingly. Knowledge itself, however, is not enough. This is why great importance must be placed on little things and the attention to detail, wherein lie the thousands of actions, which ultimately make up our character. (Dave is a Junior High School teacher from northern California.) Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" T h e B i g P i c t u r e "Ariel Caro July 2003 Now
that I'm a Junior at Mt. Saint Michael High School, I realize after
three years with Crotona that preparing for the future is very
important. When I was younger and first started coming to Crotona, I
wasn't a very reflective person. I simply did things without a sense
of purpose. Today, I'm thinking of working in computer science as a
software engineer. Central
to all the important lessons I've learned at Crotona is a big
picture perspective on life. In order to have this quality I've been
trying to develop certain good habits. One of these is the virtue of
study in which I apply my reason to My
reflectiveness helps me to appreciate other people's opinions. I
feel better able to understand others and relate with them. Through
a better understanding of people and human nature I am able to help
others choose the good. I've learned at Crotona through many
programs that I must first have the experience of choosing the good
myself before I can help others do so. In addition to this, Crotona
has helped me to respect people's freedom. The result of all this is
more friendship with others and deeper bonds of fellowship with
them. (Ariel is a Junior at Mount St. Michael Academy and enrolled in two Crotona programs.) Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" P e r s p e c t i v e s o f a L a w A b i d i n g C i t i z e n "Philip Luseni April 2003 Law is often understood as a rule of conduct established by custom, agreement, or authority. In order to become a law-abiding citizen, one must first be acquainted with those laws that he is to abide by since one can't obey what he doesn't know. Additionally, he must be able to differentiate between which laws are just to follow and which are not. The natural law is just to follow because it commands man to do good and avoid evil. This law is always just because God, as the Eternal lawgiver, is its source, who is Truth. Civil
law can be either just or unjust. When a civil law does not act in
accordance with right reason (truth) it is unjust. An example of a
civil law that could be considered as unjust would be segregation -
a law that "categorized" some people as fundamentally
(according to nature) different by their race. However, most people
experience daily that an ethnically African man has the same
fundamental capacities as an ethnically European man or any other
man. When educational institutions reject students who have qualifications (GPA and SAT scores, etc.) at least equivalent to the average of other accepted students it practices some form of segregation - it applies some other criteria as more significant than standard qualifications by which a person is admitted. What is this criterion? Race, which is the same criteria by which blacks were segregated from whites. How
can affirmative action be just if one standard is used for one race
and a different standard is used for another race without there
being in reality a fundamental difference between races? But since
man, regardless of race, has within him the natural law by which he
is guided toward right reason, the sole criteria for any man's
worthiness should be how he pursues objective truth in knowledge and
action. Back to Crotona Articles Main Page. " A L e t t e r t o a M a r i n e M e n t o r "
April 2003 Dear
Paul, I
am reading many books thanks to my being in Crotona. I would like to
be like you when I grow up, a war hero. I will try to get someone to
raise money for more equipment. I'm now studying for the ITBS
testing. Someday,
they will make an action figure of you. If I am a book writer, I'll
write an article on you. If they don't feed you right, buy some soul
food. Continue trying to be the best man in the world. (Lcpl Paul Markey is a volunteer in Crotona C.L.A.S.S. and is a student at Fordham University while serving in the Marine active reserves. His motor transport unit was sent to Iraq two months ago.) Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" A s p i r a t i o n s o f L i b e r a t i o n "Jason Tejada April 2003 Many
people perceive freedom to be the ability to choose. This idea is
incomplete. Real freedom is the ability to choose the good. The mind
is bound to make mistakes in judgment because it is corrupt (by
fallen nature) and because it is limited. After the intellect
presents the will with the truth, the will chooses it because it is
good. With a well developed intellect one can identify the truth of
any reality or situation more clearly and with greater certitude. If
freedom was just the ability to choose then there would be no wrong
choice. If there were no wrong choice, then no laws would be
necessary. According to this, based on pure ability to act, one's
action is by necessity good, or at least unjudgeable. Thus, one
would not say that because a man may choose to steal a car he is
doing good through his choice. Hence man is free in his choice as
long as it is in accordance with a reason that distinguishes between
the good and the false good. This act of reason may be called law.
It is clear, therefore, that a man is free only when he acts in
accordance with law - the dictates of reason. On
a personal level, I realize the need to develop my intellect
(reason) in order to be more free. Since the object of the intellect
is truth, a developed intellect is one that more easily apprehends
the truth in reality. To know the truth in different situations and
of various things, I must practice the virtue of study. One concrete
way in which I will live the virtue of study is to learn academic
and religious subject matter much more and at the appropriate times.
And, to ensure that I study as much as I should, I will follow a
daily schedule that prioritizes my use of time for my various
interests and obligations. However, there are times when I know what
is true but do not have the courage or drive to act on it. I
recognize the need to practice other virtues in addition to study,
such as fortitude. Thus, in practicing the natural virtues, I will
cultivate my personal freedom. (Jason is a Junior at All Hollows and is currently enrolled in three Crotona programs.) Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" A U n i q u e E x p e r i e n c e "Nick Lawler January 2003 C.
L. A. S. S. Tutor: I
enjoy the challenge of motivating each boy with whom I work. Each of
them needs development in a different area and so I have to
constantly change and refine my approach. Some need help with
schoolwork and some need character formation. Another
does well in school but constantly complains and becomes upset when
he doesn't get his way. Working with another tutor, we have tried to
show him that grown men take a more measured approach to adverse
situations. During our time, there are consequences for his actions;
he can pout but then he won't play sports. Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" A W a k e - u p C a l l "Pablo Usandivaras Program Director January 2003 When
I started working at the Crotona Achievement Center last August I
had some idea of what I was getting into with respect to character
development. Now after a few months I realize my understanding of
personal character was merely casual. I'd like to share with you a
little of what I'm experiencing about human life while trying to
serve others. Back to Crotona Articles Main Page.
" N e w Y e a r ' s R e s o l u t i o n S a m p l e s "
January 2003 Jose Caceres, Grade 8 My New Year’s resolution is to practice humility, something I lack. I overwhelm others and myself with pride. I know what I am, but don’t like it when others tell me. With humility I’ll be more open to advice and have a stronger defense against pride – the reason for evil and blindness to good advice. I usually think I’m right; and since I know I can’t always be right, I know I’m proud. However, since humility includes knowing your weaknesses, I guess that I’m one step closer to humility. Hector Calagua, Grade 6 Next year I will improve in my sensitivity to others and in telling the truth. Of course I’ll also work on my studies. To be more sensitive to others, I’ll listen more and not get angry. I’ll be a leader when I don’t want to be and a follower when I don’t want to be. I’ll respect my brother just as I want him to respect me. I’ll share my things with others and most of all; I’ll attend Mass on Saturdays and Sundays. Mike Colomer, Grade 6 Next year I’m not going to play any video games and try not to use slang. I’ll eat my food, even if I don’t like it. When I feel hungry, I’ll control it by thinking of other people who are suffering from real hunger. I won’t speak back to my Mom or fight with my little brother. Radames Feliciano, Grade 7 I will work on my behavior next year. It has been getting better, but I still need to improve. An “A” in Conduct is my goal. I’m also shooting for the Honor roll, which I realize, requires me to change my overall attitude about school. I plan to change my behavior by listening more to others and standing still rather than fidgeting. Freddimir Garcia, Grade 10 In the New Year I firmly resolve to know myself better – who I am and where I am. Because, a man cannot get to his destination if he is lost, i.e., he doesn’t know who and where he is. My destination or ultimate end is to be a good man who is united to his Creator – God. In order to do this, first and foremost, I will work on the virtue of humility – the human quality of which a man knows who and where he is in relation to his ultimate end – God. Specifically, I resolve to serve others generously by offering them my time, understanding, diligence, patience, cheerfulness, integrity and love of God. Really, I am resolving to give myself to others since it is only through the sincere gift of myself that I will find myself. For example, when I have some “free-time” (the little that I have after following Crotona’s suggested daily schedule) I will offer to help my little brothers with their schoolwork and chores rather than listen to music or watch TV. Ruben Garcia, Grade 6 I want to work on self-control next year. A person needs it to be cheerful when things don’t go his way such as losing a game. Since I always seem to think of myself, I want to improve on thinking of others, which also requires self-control. I guess I need to work on the virtues – habitual tendencies that help us choose what is good. Christopher Rodriguez, Grade 5 I worked hard at Crotona but I still need to improve my conduct and grades. Aside from respecting others more, I’ll not use slang. I’ll eat everything my Mom makes me even if I don’t like it and I won’t ask for something I didn’t earn. I’m going to try to write neatly and read at home while taking notes. I will also pray to God regularly. These are the ways I plan to work at becoming a better man and grow in self-control and love. Jason Tejada, Grade 11 In 2003 I would like to work on my Faith. I can’t help but feel that I should have a stronger relationship with God. It is not that I don’t believe in Him, but that I feel I should be doing more to be a better Christian – a better human being. There are times when I think I’m not on the path that God wants me to be, a struggle that all people face at some point in their life. Even the Pope has admitted to having these struggles and that, as he says, with faith all can be accomplished. With a stronger faith, I will be truly able to enjoy life. Jontrell Torres, Grade 6 I will better myself by helping my parents more, especially at home. I will keep my room clean and clean the bathroom the way my Mom showed me. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to wash the dishes every night because my Mom says I use too much soap. I also plan to have more patience with my brother by not allowing myself to get into an argument with him. And for schoolwork, I will try to study and read more. I’ll also practice writing more than I have to for school. |
Crotona Center
the circumstances around me, reflecting on their deeper meaning and
how they relate to my ultimate goal - eternal happiness. Being
reflective helps me to keep smaller and/or present things in
perspective of life in general. And by this, I feel better prepared
to handle life's challenges. But also, I try to channel my present
actions toward specific goals. For example, I look at my studies in
school as preparation for becoming a software engineer, which helps
me to persevere in my schoolwork with diligence.