We began the “Values in American Thought” program at Mount Madonna School in 1991. The initial inspiration came from a book by Bill Moyers’, based on his acclaimed PBS series "A World of Ideas", which we used as a text. Mr. Moyers’ interviews with leading thinkers in our society created the perfect framework to begin a discussion of values and meaning with my students. Over the years this class has been an ideal vehicle for encouraging students to be more thoughtful about the possibilities for their lives in these changing times. Through the study of great ideas from leading thinkers our students gain an understanding of many important life concepts, which helps them better interpret and respond to the events of their own lives.

Eventually, through a series of happy accidents, Mr. Moyers heard about our program and allowed me to create a curriculum around his work. About the same time I made contact with Mr. Moyers we began taking the students to Washington, D.C. to interview those engaged in public service as part of our government studies program. Having grown up as the son of a Congressman, I could never reconcile what I witnessed first hand with what I saw represented in the media. I wanted to give my students a look behind the scenes to understand the human aspect of public service. We began our interview process with a focus on those in government service but over the years we have branched out seeking those who have achieved excellence in other fields as well, and who are contributing in a meaningful way to the advancement of our society. It has been my observation that the students learn values best from those who are living them.

There are several aspects of the program that are especially significant. First was the discovery that the process of preparation for the journey, its enactment, and return would take on all the attributes of an important rite of passage for our students. Learning to work together under pressure, commitment to a larger goal, the inevitable surprises, disappointments and accomplishments of such an endeavor have consistently produced extraordinary results that have been powerfully transformative. There is also something alchemical that happens when our young people engage with those living a life of deep purpose. It opens the door to possibilities that were previously unimaginable. The students see first hand that by self-discipline and following one’s own best instincts extraordinary things can happen in a life.

For several years we have been recording our conversations and we are now preparing the transcripts for a new curriculum called Exploring a Life of Meaning. This project began when we went to Boston to interview a number of the people from Mr. Moyers World of Ideas such as Professor Michael Sandel and Professor Tu Wei Ming at Harvard University. We are close to completing this book of interviews that includes an amazing array of thinkers and contributors to our culture.

-Ward Mailliard, Program Director