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News & Views - Sept 2000 Issue #73
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IN MEMORY OF JOHN PADGETT
By Jane Samuels, Admissions
New Leaf Academy, Bend, Oregon
541-317-0844
On Saturday, August 12, many old time friends from the emotional
growth schools (both those working in and those referring to...) joined together to grieve the passing of John Padgett. To many of
us who were in this field as it began to develop, we were trained with stories of John Padgett and the magic that he performed in
groups and workshops, changing the lives of young people. John was one of the “grandfathers” of emotional growth education as we know
it today and his presence will be missed even though his influence is still with us in the form of a multitude of special purpose
programs for youngsters.
The varied people who came to pay their final respects and to celebrate
John’s life all had some choice story to relate about how John’s well-place humor had allowed him to deliver an important bit of wisdom.
The friendships and associations spanned some 25 plus years and crossed an ocean. It was an impressive gathering, indeed, all with
a link through this powerful and loving man.
It occurred to me that emotional growth schools have become a “community”
in and of ourselves. Many of us talk to our young students about the importance of building a supportive community and learning to
give back. John’s life should serve as an example of how this occurs. Staff and students alike first come to an emotional growth
school to learn about a new way of living and being. It begins with respect for others and being accountable for our actions and
how they might affect others. We look inward, finding and defining our values. We continually ask ourselves about what kind of people
we really want to be. Is is any wonder that staff members also change and grow, and, thus make decisions to move on to something
or somewhere new? If John’s life is to be of any example, it is that in spite of change and conflict, true friends are always with
us. In fact, friendships seem to grow stronger.
We all owe a prayer of thanks to John for being who he was; for
teaching the lessons he could see so clearly; for giving us the opportunity to see each other once again, thus, allowing us to see
our own growth by talking with those who were met earlier on the our pathways.
We have a responsibility to the work that we do. We must always
remember why we do this work and safe guard the process that we all know works. In this frenzied time where many only see the opportunity
to earn vast amounts of money, let’s make the time to reevaluate what is truly important in our work. Let’s learn to cooperate rather
than compete; keep focused on our missions and values; make decisions that are best serve each child and his or her family. It’s
time to get back on track and do what we do best: Love the children of this world. It’s what John did best.
Copyright © 2000, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced
without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
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