Congratulations, Graduates!

On June 20, 2017, it was my great pleasure as Board President to deliver a brief address to Hillsborough Township High School graduates. This was a very special occasion for me personally as it was the only year of fifteen that I was president - and my daughter was one of the graduates.

I took the opportunity to speak, in my own way, about American exceptionalism - though I never used that phrase. In my view, the thing that makes America exceptional, i.e. different from all other nations, is that there is no single religion, ethnic background, or cultural tradition that bonds us. Instead, we are bound by an idea - that humans have inalienable rights centered on freedom and individual liberty - and that we are stronger as a nation because we choose to have this idea rise above cultural, ethnic, and racial divisions. E Pluribus Unum, indeed. And by the way, public education is what makes that work, when public education itself is working.

The following is a transcript of my remarks that day.

"Good afternoon graduates, parents, family, and friends. Congratulations! 

One of the few perks granted a school board president is the privilege of speaking at graduation. Now, as we all know, no student remembers anything that was said at their graduation - and today that goes double for one graduate out there who hasn't listened to a word I’ve said since she was about fourteen! Nevertheless, I am going to give it a shot. 

I stand before you today not only as a representative of your nine elected school board members, but also, and more importantly, as a representative of the people of Hillsborough, who have provided this education to you as more than their obligation, but as their gift. And what an important gift. 

We have heard much in recent years about how America, a nation of immigrants, finds its strength through its diversity. But that’s only half the story. America is great because of our ability, indeed necessity, of setting aside our diversity and uniting as Americans. This is as true for those who trace their family tree back to the beginning of our country as it is for those recent immigrants we welcome each year. And a public school education is the catalyst. 

When Alexis de Tocqueville traveled through America in the 1830s, studying and compiling his great works on American democracy, he marveled at a classless, egalitarian society. One whose cultural traditions arose from their great founding documents - centered on freedom and individual liberty. This was before the great waves of immigrants from Ireland, Scandinavia, Eastern and Southern Europe, Latin America, Asia, and all corners of the globe - each bringing their own cultural traditions. 

What they found is that America is more than a place to travel to on a map, it is a place to travel to in your head. It doesn't matter where we begin our journey if we all end up in the same place, as Americans. 

In 2012 author Richard Kahlenberg wrote, “Public schools were founded in this country to make sure that future generations of citizens have an appreciation for democratic values, understand what we have in common as Americans, and have the skills to be productive members of society.” 

Through education, we give you the gift of America, and in return, we ask only that you pass this great gift on to your children and grandchildren."