The Lion and the Mouse: Early Education Graduation Address
June 17, 2009

As I do every year, I will begin my comments this morning by telling you a story. It’s one of Aesop’s fables, and it begins with the familiar words “once upon a time.”

Once upon a time, there was a lion and a mouse.  The lion, tired from a day of hunting, lay down for a nap under the shade of a large tree.  Not long after he fell asleep, the lion was woken up by a family of mice who decided to take a short cut by scrambling over him.  Annoyed by the fact that the mice had interrupted his nap, the lion caught one of the mice under his paw and was about to crush him The poor little mouse responded by begging for mercy and asking the lion to let him go.  Moved by the mouse’s plaintive little voice, the lion changed his mind and let the mouse go unharmed.

Some time later, the lion was out for a walk when he was caught in a net laid by some hunters.  Unable to free himself after many hours of futile struggling, the lion began to roar at the top of his voice in the hope that another lion might come and help him. Much to the lion’s surprise, however, it was not another lion who appeared, but rather the mouse whose life he had previously spared.  Using his sharp little teeth, the mouse gnawed the net, and in no time, set the lion free.  After thanking the mouse for his kindness, the lion asked him why he had come to his rescue.  The mouse paused for a moment before saying in his high-pitched voice:  “I set you free because it was the right thing to do.  Besides, don’t you know that one good turn always deserves another?”

There is a lesson here for all of us, including our Junior School and Montessori School graduates.  Students, you have accomplished much in the past few years. You have learned to read and write. You have developed a whole range of mathematical skills.  You have discovered much about nature, about your planet and about human history.  You also have learned much about yourself.

We are proud of you for all of your accomplishments.  However, we are most proud of you when you are kind—when you make the conscious decision to do good and to help others.  Just as the lion decided to spare the mouse; the mouse decided to save the lion.  They were both moved by kindness, and in doing so, did their bit to help make the world a better place.  As you continue your studies next year, keep this story in mind.  We want you to develop academically, and to get involved in a variety of co-curricular activities.  But we also want you to be a kind and caring members of our community, able and willing to help others.  In doing so, you will be fulfilling the College’s Vision of inspiring its students to realize their potential and to better the world around them.

Thank you, students, for an excellent year and congratulations on your accomplishments.  Thank you, parents, for supporting your children and for working in partnership with the College.  Thank you, Mrs. DeFrietas and Mrs. Lazier, along with the entire faculty and staff, for your dedication and commitment.  I wish everyone a safe, restful and thoroughly enjoyable summer.  I look forward to seeing you in September!