From August 25-27, 1999, the seven teams of researchers and teachers participating in the Maxims Research Grant Program, invited speakers, honored guests, and representatives from the John Templeton Foundation converged in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The goals of the Maxims Research Retreat were threefold:

• To create a network among the seven research teams;
• To develop a shared level of knowledge regarding teaching and learning maxims;
• To collaboratively explore current or anticipated challenges.

Dr. Diane Berreth, Associate Director for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and Dr. Arthur Schwartz, Director of Character Development Programs at the John Templeton Foundation, co-facilitated the retreat.

Participants in the Maxims Research Retreat
To find out more about each person, click on them with your mouse.

Far back row from left to right:

Debbie Holmes, Melanie Mitchell, Edith Beatty, Sterling Freeman

Middle row from left to right:

Wolfgang Mieder, Arthur Schwartz, Phyllis Smith-Hansen, Diane Berreth, Carol Ingall, Sol Schimmel, Rebekah Dunlap, Diana Van Lancker, Ben Samuels, Jim Johnson, Bob Colesante, David Borg, Don Biggs.

Front row from left to right:

Matt Davidson, Renée Ghert-Zand, Peggy Veljkovic, Elizabeth Kiss, Linda McKay, Larry Nucci.

Not pictured:

Tom Lickona

During the retreat, each of the seven teams presented their research and took questions, comments, and suggestions from their colleagues. Also included on the retreat's agenda were presentations by invited speakers. The expert speakers included Dr. Tom Lickona, who talked about the relationship between maxims and character education, Dr. Wolfgang Mieder, who provided a comprehensive overview of proverbs scholarship, Dr. Edith Beatty, who facilitated a discussion on developing good action research questions and measures, and Dr. Diana Van Lancker, who shared current neurolinguistic research on proverbs.

The Maxims Research Retreat more than accomplished the goals it set out to achieve. Participants shared ideas, learned from each other, and began conversations that continue to evolve through frequent e-mail communication on the researchers' listserv, which was established by the John Templeton Foundation. The retreat's activities were infused with a real spirit of camaraderie, a lot of laughter, and a sense of a shared mission. Following the retreat, many of the participants contacted the Foundation to offer their thoughts on their experience. We share with you some of their comments below:

"I can rarely remember leaving a conference feeling so energized. What a great bunch of people!"

"Thanks for welcoming me to the conference on maxims. Every bit was so worth my time and my head has been spinning since I returned with how to share the information with more people."

"Right from the airport on we just enjoyed our company with each other so much. As we got to know each other during the two days, strong bonds of common interest and friendship were formed."

"I enjoyed meeting everyone, and I look forward to what we will all discover as the year unfolds!"