Looking for Adventure

Posted February 05, 2010 in News, Rigney's Rant by John Rigney | Comment

“MEN WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS.”

Would you sign up?  Seriously.  Read it again.  Over the years this advertisement has been (dubiously) linked to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famed polar explorer who in 1914 sailed the Endurance to Antarctica only to have the ship caught in and crushed by polar ice.  Following this turn of events, he provided the vision and leadership needed to keep all twenty-eight men disciplined, directed, and safe during their three year ordeal. While this advertisement is most certainly apocryphal, it raises the question of how do you wish to spend your time and where do you wish to put forth effort.  If you know anything about Shackleton and specifically the story of the Endurance, then you know at least part of what defined this rugged explorer.

This advertisement came to mind earlier today in a discussion about the experience of attending Hyde.  It is challenging and difficult, but with recognition and honor for the effort.  What do we hope for our students and families?  What do we hope for our community? On one hand, we strive to teach students perseverance, or as Kurt Hahn, founder of the Outward Bound School’s states, an “indefatigable spirit.” Each man on the Endurance needed to find that spirit from within with help from those around them. Many struggled, but they propped each other up. On the other hand, we ask that students see themselves as the leader Shackleton was: disciplined, unwavering, action-oriented; able to step into the position when life’s situations called upon him.  His presence and commitment kept his crew alive.  While he did not reach his goal of the crossing Antarctica, Shackleton did leave an example and legacy. His lesson is one of courage and tenacity in the face of life’s greatest challenges, of compassion and commitment for those around you.   

Sir Ernest Shackleton earned “Honour and Recognition” for the effort and leadership he exhibited.  Perhaps we can remember this as the success of his greatest achievement.  Here at Hyde we are dedicated to uncovering that courage, compassion, and leadership and uncovering the Shackleton within. 

Best, John

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About the Author

Born in 1972 in New Haven, CT, John Rigney grew up in Guilford and graduated from Providence College in 1994. From 1993 to 1999 John worked seasonally for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine, and in 2001 he spent the year at Outward Bound in Hua Hin, Thailand. Rigney received his Master’s Degree from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education in 2005. John began his Hyde School career in the English-Dept of the Woodstock campus in 1996. In 2002 he married former Science-Dept. faculty member Kirsten Paquette. John and Kirsten live on the Woodstock campus and have two children, Fiona, age 3 ½ and Owen, age 2. John is currently Assistant Head of School, English Dept Chair, co-director of the Senior Curriculum, and directed the 2009 Woodstock Summer Challenge program. Rigney is passionate about many things, including bees and beekeeping, gardening, mountain biking, and whitewater paddling. Without hesitation his favorite novel is Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables: “It’s a fascinating and timeless story about character and transformation.” John’s most recent iPod favorites include James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, and he has seen the comedy classic Princess Bride “at least twenty times.” John’s favorite thing about teaching and coaching is “being part of those 'aha' moments when both the student and I learn something about ourselves.”

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