Page 5 - The EDGE Winter 2024 WEB
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about the strength in broadening our relationships schools can either foster or inhibit trust, solidarity,
relationships through an organization such as ours. and a shared commitment to the common good.
They can also set boundaries that define who is part
Eric Klinenberg is a sociologist and researcher of of the community and who is excluded. They can
urban studies and culture. He published a book in integrate or segregate, create opportunities or keep
2018 titled, “Palaces for the People: How Social people in their place.”
Infrastructure can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization,
and the Decline of Civic Life”. The book proposes a Let us expand on Klinenberg’s scope here to include
few important concepts, one of which is the role of our business offices and professional organizations,
schools where, “...educational institutions do far more such as ours, that support our schools as their own
than teach individual students. From childcare centers microcosms of agoras. That sense of belonging is vital
to research universities, schools create social worlds for sustaining our teams and collaborations, as well as
that shape and sustain entire communities. They’re reinforcing the purpose behind our collective mission.
our primary public institutions for establishing
democratic ideals and instilling civic skills. Schools Klinenberg also says, “Social cohesion develops
are our modern agoras, gathering places where we through repeated human interaction and joint
make and remake ourselves and develop a sense of participation in shared projects, not merely from
where we belong.” a principled commitment to abstract values and
beliefs.” What better example of participation in
He goes on to say, “Schools are organizations, but shared projects do we have than the offerings made
they’re also social infrastructure. The way they’re for and by our AASBO members and staff! Keep
planned, designed, and programmed shapes the building that infrastructure – enjoy the professional
interactions that develop in and around them. For and personal benefits they impart and find ways to
students, teachers, parents, and entire communities, keep it going for others, too.
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