Everyone knows--in theory--that to truly excel, we need to take reasonable risks. In business, potential dividends often escalate with the degree of risk we're willing to assume. As little children, unfortunately, we learn that we can minimize exposing shortcomings by not risking; (don't try hard, and you can always excuse underperformance). Perhaps education is a set of experiences to overcome fear, and the mediocrity that it guarantees. Proctor is a school that takes lots of good, exciting risks. Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of 22 students came together on the decks of the 130-foot schooner Westward yesterday in Gloucester, Massachusetts, to say good-bye, and celebrate the risks that are inherent to Ocean Classroom.

At 1700 hours, program director Dave Pilla addressed the throng, and specifically thanked them for taking the risk of having their loved ones participate in this once-in-a-lifetime ocean-going learning adventure. Could any experience better capture this school's values toward education and life preparation?

The risks aboard ship as they sail to the Caribbean over the next eight weeks go beyond obvious dangers. The discomforts of (very) tight quarters, rough seas and seasickness will effect all. The protocols of life at sea, with four-hour watches, work without rest and common chores have an almost military rigidity that makes life in Andover, New Hampshire seem easy. Below, Dave (right) explains some rigging to a parent.

The rewards, however, come with an intensity rarely experienced by adolescents today: Bahamian sunsets...real world teamwork...arriving under full sail at San Juan, Puerto Rico on November 17. The students of Ocean Classroom will return to us changed, more alive, mature in a manner that can not be described in words. Here, Charlie strikes a pose at the helm:

The hugs and tears that were exchanged Wednesday were not prompted by fear of risk. They were expressions of exhilaration, celebration and pride that these boys and girls chose to go.