Keeping the Giant Alive: Nurturing Hope and Imagination in Challenging Times
Writing amidst the ongoing war and genocide is an incredibly challenging task. Daily, we are confronted with heartbreaking news of the violence and suffering endured by our people in Gaza and across the West Bank. The impact on our school community is profound; checkpoints have become increasingly unbearable, with many of our staff enduring long waits, often arriving home well past 9:00 PM after inching through car by car. Our days are frequently disrupted by sudden incursions, adding layers of stress to our already difficult lives. Yet, despite these overwhelming circumstances, we persist in our efforts to provide the best education possible for our students. In the face of such adversity, hope remains a guiding light for us. This hope, along with our unwavering faith in justice, fuels our belief that humanity will ultimately prevail—and that our children will grow to lead a better world.
Recently, I stood before a reproduction of N.C. Wyeth's painting "The Giant," which now hangs in one of our offices. The painting carries a poignant history: it is displayed at Westtown School since1923 in memory of William Engle (1891 – 1916), a talented student and artist who tragically died young from tuberculosis. Wyeth created "The Giant" as a tribute to Engle's love for the sea and his imaginative spirit. In the artwork, children gaze up at a massive cloud shaped like a giant figure, capturing their imagination and evoking a sense of wonder about something beyond their reach.
Reflecting on "The Giant" during these turbulent times led me to ponder what it might symbolize for our own children. In the painting, those children look up at this mysterious, towering figure with awe and curiosity, perhaps envisioning hope, strength, or dreams that extend far beyond their immediate reality. For them, the giant may represent a promise of something larger and better just out of reach. In considering the minds of our own children—both in the West Bank and in Gaza—I find myself questioning whether that “giant” still exists for them. Do they dare to dream of a life beyond the constraints imposed by separation walls, checkpoints, and daily violence? Or has the weight of war and hardship dimmed that vision?
As a Quaker school, it is our mission to keep that “giant” alive within each child. It is essential that they continue to imagine, dream, and believe in something grand and bright beyond today’s struggles. We are committed to providing an environment where imagination and hope can flourish—a space where each child’s Inner Light can shine brightly, encouraging them to dream big and believe in their capacity to create a brighter future. We believe that within each child lies the potential to nurture seeds of change and cultivate a world where they can thrive with dignity. This mission resonates deeply with the foundation of our values-based education, which is interwoven into every aspect of our curriculum and activities. It brings to mind this season when we embrace programs like our cherished White Gifts tradition. Through this annual event, students come together as a community to give back and share in meaningful ways. This practice instills empathy, connectedness, and responsibility within them; it demonstrates that even small acts can illuminate darkness for others.
The magic of "The Giant" parallels this sentiment by instilling in them an understanding that they are part of something much greater than themselves, a community grounded in care and mutual concern. It serves as a reminder that they possess the capacity to create change, inspire hope, and build a future rooted in kindness and resilience. By preserving these traditions and values, we create a sanctuary within our school where imagination, hope, and compassion can thrive even amidst adversity. We teach our students that although the world may appear daunting, they have the power not only to envision but also to create a brighter future.
The dreams of children remind us that even during the most difficult times—amid war and genocide—there is an urgent need to nurture the “Giant” of imagination and hope within each child. Our White Gifts tradition exemplifies one way we cultivate this spirit, teaching our students that they too can be beacons of light and agents of change.
In Friendship,
Rania Maayeh
Head of School
