For about three minutes on April 8, from 3:26 p.m. to 3:29 p.m., the sun will go completely dark in Burlington, Vermont. A total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime celestial wonder. For reference, there has not been a total solar eclipse visible in New England since 1970, and there will not be another until 2079.
When one of our editors, Daniel Wareham ’24, told us that he suggested to Dr. Austin and Mr. Merrill that the school should provide buses to Vermont for students to witness the solar eclipse, we instantly thought it was an excellent idea that should be implemented. But more importantly, we thought it was emblematic of what it means to pursue excellence, create unique learning opportunities, and enrich the Deerfield experience.
First, we encourage students to take initiative. For the school to cater to our interests and passions, we must be proactive in advocating for our ideas with faculty and administrators. By democratizing the student activities process, such that every one of us contributes, whether or not we are a member of the Student Planning Committee, we would foster an inclusive, dynamic community culture. In addition, an important part of a Deerfield education, beyond the classroom, is the lifetime skill of making things happen, and there is no better way to acquire this habit than through practice. We invite you to invite, celebrate, and welcome input from one another.
Second, we encourage the school to work together with students to expand weekend ac-
tivities. Besides fun, off-campus activities hold an essential role in Deerfield’s educational mission. They teach us, as lifelong learners, to explore the world around us, and remain curious about what we see and experience, even if that is not necessarily in a book. When we incorporate diverse activities that cater to various student interests — astronomy, environmental
science, history — we foster intellectual vitality. In the oldest part of the United States and a pristine natural location, there are so many opportunities
Third, we encourage the Deerfield community to rethink the pursuit of excellence. Wareham said, “This upcoming solar eclipse, I would argue, is more illuminating than any sports tournament or college visit. Shouldn’t students be unrestrained in their pursuit of intellectual excellence in this instance?”
There is one major difference between this proposal and a sports tournament: a solar eclipse trip would be open to all members of the Deerfield community. Unlike an international debate tournament, or a research conference, or other activities that typically justify disruptions to our classroom experience, this opportunity would be neither selective nor exclusive. We, however, believe that inclusivity is exactly the point. Curiosity, and nothing more, should be enough justification for us to pursue the things we care about. Nobody needs to “qualify” to enrich their experience as a student; nobody needs to have already demonstrated excellence to receive permission to pursue excellence. Because Deerfield is a place where all students and all ideas can thrive and be actualized, we are all in this together when it comes to our personal and intellectual enhancement.
Deerfield should be an accommodating place. That starts with student contribution, continues with school support, and culminates with a shift toward inclusivity in our approach to intellectualism and opportunity.
Oh, you know what would be a great start? Charter buses to see the solar eclipse on April 8! We very much want to marvel at the sun and the moon. Protective sunglasses would be very much appreciated, too.