Eighth-Graders Tour Washington, D.C., with Ethics and Tradeoffs in Mind

Kent Place eighth-graders recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for a two-day experiential learning trip designed to challenge them to think critically about leadership, history, and decision-making. The theme of the trip was Leading with Ethics: Considering Tradeoffs.

Upon their arrival, students enjoyed a picnic-style lunch before heading into the National Portrait Gallery. There, the focus was on women in leadership, as students explored portraits of influential figures such as Temple Grandin, Pocahontas, Toni Morrison, Marian Anderson, and Susan B. Anthony. As they moved through the gallery, students considered how the voices of these women have been elevated over time and what ethical values guided their actions and legacies.

Later that evening, the group visited the World War II and World War I Memorials, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. They examined the symbolism embedded in each site, reflecting on where ethical values were evident in leadership decisions and pivotal moments in history.

Says Clara Kurkciyan ’30, “D.C. was amazing! My favorite experience was the walking tour of the National Mall. Getting to see all of the historic memorials and learning about their significance to the country was incredible.”

The second day of the trip included a guided tour of the Library of Congress. There, the group explored the building’s history, art, and architecture while learning about its role as a repository of knowledge. Students were prompted to think about how access to reliable and diverse information shapes a leader’s ability to make thoughtful, ethical, and effective decisions.

Says Ellen Chen ’30, “In every new location, we were all amazed by the architecture and how inside every building they all held their own story.”

The group concluded their tour with visits to the Supreme Court and the Capitol, where they reflected on which lessons from history today’s leaders should prioritize to build a better future over the next 250 years. Then, after a celebratory lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, the group returned to campus.

By examining leadership through the perspective of ethics and tradeoffs, the eighth-graders better understood the complexities that shape decisions — past, present, and future.