This is an independent QBE Education Project
Founded by Will Sutherland and Aiglon Alumni
MISSION STATEMENT
OUR COURSES
ETHOS MATTERS
THE PROJECT
FINANCE
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
THE FOUNDATION
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HOW TO HELP
ALUMNI
ETHOS DNA
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QUOTES FROM PAST STUDENTS AND ALUMNI:
During the conception and development of this project we have spoken to many of the Alumni and friends and below we have a few quotes which we have had permission to put up on line.
Please email your points of view on the project to ws@qbeglobal.net and we will put them on this page.
Eric Gibson:-
"Your proposal is very exciting. It's clear (or should be) that young kids aren't meant to sit in classrooms and libraries all day, that they learn best by doing. Certainly I've seen this with my own children. Yet we're stuck with a one-size-fits-all system everywhere that just isn't serving them. Something like this offers real hope...."
"But thinking about the DNA and Ethos and your "QBE Education Study At Sea" project, it seems to me that the DNA could be boiled down to three things, two of which you already have in here:
First, growth through forcing you to confront and overcome your fears and/or sense of limitations in a physical environment. At my school of course this was Expeditions. To this day I remember doing my first abseil with you and thinking as I edged toward that cliff edge that, despite all the ropes and buckles linking me to safety, that what I was about to do would definitely kill me, then making my way down and, at the bottom, feeling on top of the world. I also know that that I would not be where I am today had I not had that experience. So many alumni have told me the same thing.
Second, mentoring. I came to the school after five years in a British boarding school, where the staff treated their charges as lower life forms, not human beings. At our school, the staff were your partners--they knew you better than you knew yourself and wanted to work with you to help--make--you fullfill your potential. You, the Parsons, Teddy Senn and others were all more than teachers to me, which is why 30+ years later we're still in touch.
Both of those you have in your program. The third one, which you need to add somehow, is what I call the Inner Life, by which I mean the habit--and I stress the word habit--of reflection, of looking into yourself and thinking something over, whether it be an experience you've just had or an issue or problem you're trying to get your arms around. I probably remember two Meditations out of the hundreds I heard in my six years. It doesn't matter. I got something bigger out of the practice of morning Meditation. I'm not suggesting you institute meditations in your program but I do think you need to build in something that trains the kids to look inward. That habit is so lacking everywhere nowadays and it's essential. If you don't do your own thinking you don't figure out who you are and you're hostage to groupthink, which is a really dangerous place to be...."
Steve McCrea (Conger):-
"This type of classroom will engage the minds and hearts of students. If one kid isn't in step, the ship won't sail efficiently. What a great place to build a team."
George Thenault:-
"Hi Will, congrats on your school it looks great. My dad owned and we raced several Wianno Sr.s down on Cape Cod Ma. The Sr. is a 24" gaff-rigged sloop that powers though the 3" chop on Nantucket sound.loves 12-18 kts of wind."
On Leadership
Thursday, 22 April 2010 at 21:16
Leaders choose paths
Before a person can lead they must learn to follow
Leaders dont' choose who follows them only the path that they will take
When one leader follows another at the same time the result is teamwork
In any given situation, the best leader is the person who is best prepared and willing to lead
To be a good leader then you must prepare
When presented with difficult choices in life, usually the hardest choice is the path of strength
The path of strength is always the best path
Lead yourself and those who follow you along the path of strength because the life you live is either its own reward or its own punishment the choice is up to you!