I recently watched Join or Die on Netflix, a documentary that examines social scientist, Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone theory. The key messages resonated with me and set me thinking more and more about Putnam’s theory that declining civic engagement has created a civic crisis. Putnam focuses on the decline of democratic and civic thinking in America and the subsequent decline of social capital and belief in and respect for government.

Social capital refers to the connections among individuals’ social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them. Putnam distinguishes between two types of social capital: bonding capital – networks that are inward looking and tend to reinforce exclusive identities, such a country clubs; and those that are bridging – outward looking, that bring diverse groups together. From these two areas, there is a decline in most types of ‘belonging’. Putnam gives many examples from Church attendance to the significant decline in those belonging to civic service clubs such as Rotary. Many of us would be able to think of similar patterns here in Australia.

Driving into local areas and country towns, we used to see evidence everywhere of civic connection points – particularly in road signage – however this is now rare. How did we get to a point where individualism has become more important than community and where lives have become solitary and insular rather than ones where we belong? Putnam points to the impact of television and home entertainment. Of course, today we would also add, the internet and false communities through social media are framing individualism and breaking down civic structures.

At Kincoppal-Rose Bay, one of our Five Goals – Building Community as a Christian Value – asks us to consider how, as a microcosm of the larger world, the School community becomes a place where staff, students, parents and alumnae can be made aware of the power of love to transform society. It acknowledges that in our fractured world, a Sacred Heart Community is seen as a living tradition, where a sense of belonging to a greater whole gives meaning and purpose.

Being part of our Sacred Heart Community is both bonding and bridging – what a gift for our students who, through their education, are given an opportunity to be forces of good in our world. Our already strong opportunities for volunteerism, our promotion of inclusivity and the fostering of civic responsibility and trust, are just a few ways we continue to build a more positive and connected future.

Erica Thomas
Principal