Planned Unorganization

Friday night at Cardinal Gibbons: the gymnasium, filled with hundreds of teenagers, playing an all-out version of loosely officiated dodge ball. It's the grand finale to a night with games against teachers and other class teams in volleyball, basketball and now dodge ball. In many schools, these events can develop into a highly organized class competition, with many hours devoted to the planning, rules, and structure of the evening.

For many years Gladiator Night has resisted the temptation to transform into the kind of high school event that is organized to the hilt … instead, the school has worked hard to keep it unorganized (very different from “disorganized”). I remember the dodge ball finale a couple of years ago where a single remaining freshman fended off 20 seniors for a full five minutes. The entire gym, including and especially the seniors were cheering him on – a spontaneous, playful moment, instead of organized entertainment.

We need more play in education. St. Thomas Aquinas, the patron saint of Catholic education, asserted that "it is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes." Among the final exams, state championships, fine arts competitions, we must reserve time for play.

Martin Buber said that “play is the exultation of the possible.” Organization is the enemy of play, because organization is the limitation of what is possible. Who would organize an event where one freshman takes on 20 seniors? And who would think it possible that it would be the best moment of the night?

Personal disclosure: I really like organization. I'm OK with clutter (check out my office desk as proof), but I can’t stand disorganization. My colleagues and mentors here at Cardinal Gibbons, deserve all the credit for showing me the educational and cultural value of unorganization.