NewsUpper SchoolFaculty/StaffPre-K to 8Academics
Darlington Committee Approves Creation of ITC Department
Feb 23, 2001 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
“Technology and communication courses have grown tremendously at Darlington largely because talented faculty have taken the initiative to develop them. Now it’s time to give these courses their own academic integrity,” Dean of Studies and College Guidance Sam Moss said in announcing Darlington’s newest academic department, the first added in 30 years. “Once again Darlington is setting new standards by creating the information, technology, and communications (ITC) department.”
The School’s Academic Committee unanimously approved the creation of the ITC department, on February 21 and named Rick Buice, who currently serves as technology coordinator and teaches AP Computer and Computer Science in the Upper School, as department chair. The following courses will be moved from the math and fine arts departments into the ITC department: Computer, AP Computer, Keyboarding, Computer Applications, Word Processing I & II; Communications, Computer Art, Desktop Publishing, Introduction to Journalism, Photojournalism, Video Production I & II; Web Authoring, and Yearbook Production. Creative Writing will move to the English department as an elective.
For the present and through the Class of 2004, fine arts graduation requirement will be fulfilled by completion of any full credit course(s) from the fine arts department or from any of the courses that are being moved to the ITC department. Beginning with the Class of 2005, an additional graduation requirement in the ITC department will be added, and students will be required to take one course (one credit) in both the fine arts and one course (one credit) in ITC, thus strengthening the integrity of both disciplines.
President David Hicks shared his thoughts regarding the philosophy behind the creation of the ITC department, after the announcement was made to the faculty. “I think it's fair to ask, ‘What business has an independent school like Darlington establishing a technical or professional department like ITC? Is Darlington now about career preparation? Has the School abandoned its liberal arts philosophy and traditions?’ The answer to these last two questions is a resounding, No!,” Hicks explained.
“The source and center of any liberal arts education, dating back to ancient times, is the trivium: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric. These are not merely subject areas. They represent a universal paradigm for learning. Every subject has its grammar (basic facts for knowledge), logic (procedures of organization and analysis for understanding), and rhetoric (the application or use of what one knows and understands to inform or persuade others and to define meaning).
This new department, like all others, must embrace this ancient paradigm of the liberal arts if it is to succeed in educating our students. Information is the grammar; technology provides the organizing logic and software tools for analysis; communications may be multi-media, but this is no less rhetoric than the elaborate rules for persuasive speech taught in the ancient schools of rhetoric. ITC is simply the 21st century’s trivium.”
The School’s Academic Committee unanimously approved the creation of the ITC department, on February 21 and named Rick Buice, who currently serves as technology coordinator and teaches AP Computer and Computer Science in the Upper School, as department chair. The following courses will be moved from the math and fine arts departments into the ITC department: Computer, AP Computer, Keyboarding, Computer Applications, Word Processing I & II; Communications, Computer Art, Desktop Publishing, Introduction to Journalism, Photojournalism, Video Production I & II; Web Authoring, and Yearbook Production. Creative Writing will move to the English department as an elective.
For the present and through the Class of 2004, fine arts graduation requirement will be fulfilled by completion of any full credit course(s) from the fine arts department or from any of the courses that are being moved to the ITC department. Beginning with the Class of 2005, an additional graduation requirement in the ITC department will be added, and students will be required to take one course (one credit) in both the fine arts and one course (one credit) in ITC, thus strengthening the integrity of both disciplines.
President David Hicks shared his thoughts regarding the philosophy behind the creation of the ITC department, after the announcement was made to the faculty. “I think it's fair to ask, ‘What business has an independent school like Darlington establishing a technical or professional department like ITC? Is Darlington now about career preparation? Has the School abandoned its liberal arts philosophy and traditions?’ The answer to these last two questions is a resounding, No!,” Hicks explained.
“The source and center of any liberal arts education, dating back to ancient times, is the trivium: Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric. These are not merely subject areas. They represent a universal paradigm for learning. Every subject has its grammar (basic facts for knowledge), logic (procedures of organization and analysis for understanding), and rhetoric (the application or use of what one knows and understands to inform or persuade others and to define meaning).
This new department, like all others, must embrace this ancient paradigm of the liberal arts if it is to succeed in educating our students. Information is the grammar; technology provides the organizing logic and software tools for analysis; communications may be multi-media, but this is no less rhetoric than the elaborate rules for persuasive speech taught in the ancient schools of rhetoric. ITC is simply the 21st century’s trivium.”
