MVS Student Culture Concerns

By: Patience Peterson and Ethan Cottrill

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writers. The article also includes opinions from people interviewed about this topic. The intention is not to call out any group or person, but to remind all Upper School students of our shared responsibility to keep MVS a safe and welcoming space for everyone. Student interviews have been anonymized and paraphrased to protect privacy. 

Built upon our four core values of Integrity, Grit, Celebration, and Kindness, the Miami Valley School’s Upper School Division has had a long history of a positive and welcoming student culture. The school’s mission to “challenge young people of promise to become self-sustaining learners and compassionate global citizens” has helped in creating a safe space where students are encouraged to question, grow, and build mutual trust and respect. 

Recently, however, many students have noticed a shift in our community. Some feel that newer and younger students show less regard for those around them. One student shared that they often see younger students being rude toward teachers and peers, making the student feel uncomfortable at school. Another student mentioned a persistent lack of respect for teachers’ boundaries. These conversations left us wondering: What might be causing this perceived change in our culture?

Some students believe this shift might stem from an excess of social media usage, which they theorize disconnects people from real-life interaction and human connection. Others point to a lack of accountability for inappropriate actions. But is this really the case? Could there be another reason for many feeling a shift in our culture?

To explore this further, we spoke with two teachers who have agreed to be named: Señora McEwan, who has been part of MVS for 11 years, and Mrs. Ugwummadu, a faculty member who joined this year. Both teachers agreed that such transitions occur every year when students adjust to new environments, especially one as unique as MVS. They added that as upperclassmen, we may be noticing this because we play a larger role in shaping the school’s culture. They also suggested that today’s constant stream of negative news can influence how people perceive their surroundings: when we feel pessimistic about the world, we tend to notice flaws more readily than positives. 

These interviews made us consider questions about the proper way to address these negative behaviors through discipline. Although discipline might not be a word often associated with our community, small corrective actions are necessary to maintain respect and balance. Teachers noted that these consequences need not be harsh; instead, they should serve as gentle reminders that certain actions are unacceptable without damaging shared trust. That said, habits will continue to remain unchanged when no action is taken. Finding the right balance is difficult, and MVS is continuing to navigate this. 

Recently, the revocation of gym privileges raised concerns about fairness. Some students felt it was unjust to hold everyone responsible for the behavior of a few, comparing it to docking all employees’ pay because one team member made a mistake. When consequences apply to everyone, those who followed the rules may become frustrated, while those who made a mistake feel isolated by students blaming them for the change. Moving forward, a balance needs to be struck to properly respond to grievances from the student body. 

While discussing with the teachers we interviewed, they noted the importance of being kind to all, reminding us that kindness is one of our four core values. They also said that students act out as a way to test the boundaries when they are in a new place. By welcoming them, we can help new members understand our community, and find their place in it.