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This
image of "The Navigator" is borrowed from the
Polynesian Voyaging Society. |
FROM THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE
Reflections of the New Director
The mascot of Xavier High School is the Micronesian
navigator. This image is important for us for it presupposes that
learning in these islands is shaped by the cultural and historical
contexts and experiences of the people. The navigator’s
stories and traditional skills will help guide our dreams and
plans to transform Xavier from a good school to a great school.
Like the Micronesian master navigators and their crew, the school
community is on a journey that is fraught with expectations and
challenges. In their search for a better future, the navigators
had to envision, plan and even change directions as the winds
shifted course or the ocean swells changed shape. In the next
several years we will glean the traditional seafaring wisdom and
combine it with modern organizational planning models so that
we continue to positively affect the lives of the students.
In 2002 Xavier High School celebrated its 50th
anniversary. The alumni and families celebrated the accomplishments
and recognized the hard work of the teachers. People could proudly
claim that Xavier had contributed to the human resource development
in the region; it had produced top quality and fine leaders in
education, business, government, and the religious sectors. Xavier
had truly made a big difference in the nation building efforts
over these past years.
The anniversary celebration also gave the community an opportunity
to reflect on what they had learned and experienced during the
process of reaching the destination. This reflection allowed people
to ask hard questions like: what is the future of the school?
Some claim that apart from financial worries, Xavier faces an
identity crisis regarding its role in the Micronesia of today.
Shall it continue to graduate competent Micronesians who move
to mainland USA seeking jobs and tertiary education? Can the school
possibly, succeed in educating compassionate persons committed
to the service of their fellow Micronesians rather than to the
receipt of their bi-weekly paycheck? Can the students make moral
choices based on Christian values rather than be influenced by
the desire for power? Some have even asked the taboo questions:
Can Xavier continue? Should it continue? What if?
Two years later and with a new administration, these hard questions
are raised again without fear. This courage comes from the narratives
of committment of numerous Jesuits and lay volunteers. The unique
experiences of Xavier’s 1200 plus alumni is also part of
the motivation to continue to provide quality education in Micronesia.
There is a Xavier spirit that reaches into the future and accepts
these questions as a challenge rather than threat. Like our patron,
St. Francis Xavier, we are not afraid to search the horizon for
a better future. We will negotiate the changes that will have
to be made, keeping the traditions, customs and values that have
helped shape this school.
We will allow ourselves to dream about the future of Xavier High
School to see if we can honestly address some of the questions
mentioned above. We will creatively envision what Xavier might
look like in the future. In other words, is there a story that
we can tell about the future of Xavier?
The creation of a new website is an attempt to answer the questions.
You will have the opportunity to come from the “past into
the future.” We invite you to join us as we attempt to write
the paragraphs of chapter two of the XavierMicronesia story. The
launching of this website is analogous to the launching of the
traditional canoes. With hope and determination our master navigators
have steered the course for the canoe. It sets sail into the great
Pacific Ocean. Welcome aboard!
