VTT has incorporated into its educational philosophy the teaching and learning of critical thinking and analytical skills. One of the derivatives of these skills is an approach to situations and texts that urge an individual to think deeply and to raise thoughtful questions. In the academy, this approach is called "skepticism," a word that may come as a bit of a surprise to us as a result of its negative connotations. Skepticism is perceived to mean that one possesses a lack of faith and does not trust that which is presented to him or her. However, in academics, skepticism has a very positive side. It means that one approaches people and information with a degree of doubt or suspicion, that one is a critical thinker, a person who desires to seek out the truth and does not take what is presented as truth for granted.

This understanding of skepticism is a powerful one in this "information age." Whether it be on one of the hundreds of channels of satellite television, on the printed pages of our daily newspapers, or embedded within the millions of websites and/or blogs available on the internet, we have access to more information in this generation than in all previous generations combined. All subjects are literally "at our fingertips." So, the question is...How do we approach this information?

Student representatives from Grade 7 will be participating in the celebration, and were thrilled to be asked. As budding philanthropists just completing this year's Mitzvah of Valuing Philanthropy program, they are excited to be helping to acknowledge Mr. Segal's life-long commitment to bettering the community and lives around us.

VTT is deeply grateful for Mr. Segal's generosity and leadership over the years. He has helped to build all areas of our school - programming and operations, support for students and families, and our infrastructure.

We hope that everyone will join us in wishing him mazal tov on this acknowledgement and todah rabah for his many tremendous contributions to the VTT community at large.