The 1945
CARDIGAN CHRONICLE Summer1993
Commencement 1993 Noel Perrin:
Urges grads to consider "Planet Earth"
The Keynote Commencement speaker at this year's graduation ceremony was Professor Noel Perrin. With degrees from Williams, Duke and Cambridge University, Perrin taught English at Dartmouth before taking on his current role as adjunct professor of environmental studies. Perrin is the author of a number ofbooks, the most recent of which, Solo: Li fe WithAn Electric Car, was published last year. He also is a contributor ofarticles, essays and reviews for The New Yorker, Harper's, The Smithsonian, and VermontLife.
Perrin, in addressing the graduating class, told seniors that he had four true stories to tell them, as they leave the familiar environment of Cardigan Mountain School, and move into the larger "environment of Planet Earth." He then related four stories which were focused around our "deeply threatened" planet and how some concerned individuals are taking responsibility for our environment. One story involved a ninth gradernamed Christopher Miller who moved to Florida with his family. Chris, a lover of wild animals, was shocked to find dead baby sea turtles on the beach outside his new home. He learned that baby sea turtles have great difficulty returning to the ocean after they hatch and are prey for man who uses them for food or for their shells. When Chris tried to help the baby turtles he was stopped by a Fish and Game officer and told he had to have a perm it to rescue them . Although Chris's · first petition-for a permit was denied, he persisted and after a year's training, was granted one. Since he received the permit in 1991, Chris has rescued 3500 baby turtles. Perrin's last story told about an environmentally concerned Th e Class of 1993 gather on the steps of Clark Morgan for some last minute pictures. 6th grade class at the Anderson School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The students there were worried about pollution and decided to evaluate packaging and recycling at 12 fast food restaurants in Cheyenne. After visiting the 12 sites, they determil}ed that people respond best to praise, anp that they woµld organize a "positive picket" for the restaurant with the best environmental record. The local Little Caesar's won and the students paraded in front of the restaurant with signs reading "Friend of the Planet" and "Cleanest Restaurant in Cheyenne." They made the evening television news, and made their point as well. continued on page 2
Cardigan's '93 Summer Session Provides Outstanding Program For Students Fifty-three faculty with 22 holding advanced degrees, offered strong academic and enrichment programs to enrollment of 180 students. An afternoon program of summer sports provided a perfect balance for the students total summer experience. Jim Burnett, Director of Summer Session, who also serves as Cardigan's Assistant Headmaster year round is pleased to report that this year's Summer Session operated at full capacity and had a student body representing 23 states and 9 foreign countries.Burnett highlighted the special academic programs and many enrichment Cardigan 's Summer Session provides a top-notch enrichment program . activities, which he believes contribute to the tremendous popularity of the Summer Session among parents and students alike. Academic skill building programs such as Reading and Study Skills, the Language and Learning Lab, English as a Second Language, and Library Skills development augment the regular academic offerings and help students strengthen their performance. Enrichment programs offered by faculty included such activities as work on the staff of the student literary publication, also called the Summer Chronicle, sculpting, painting, designing projects and the staging of two one-act plays. Students also had the opportunity to try fly fishing and rock climbing. Special faculty led trips to summer stock theatre, local fairs and the New Hampshire seacoast for deep-sea fishing, whale watching and body surfing were also offered. Randy Macdonald, AssistantDirectorof Cardigan's 1993 Summer Session and a member of Cardigan's winter school faculty who worked very closely with the summer faculty, spoke highly of members. His goal was to empower the faculty through clearly defined organizational structures, good inter-communications and relations among their working groups and through recognition and appreciation for jobs well done. Havingacoregroup offacultywhoarealsoon Cardigan's winter school faculty, was particularly helpful, as was having several repeat summer faculty who have previously taught in the Cardigan Summer Session. The new summer faculty, Commencement Close-up ....2 therefore, had plenty of support and were able to fully utilize their fine talents and teaching skills to make this year's Summer Session one of exceptional excellence. Spring Sports Report ...~ ....... 3 Macdonald also stated that he was extremely pleased to have the opportuFall Registration: Winter School Students ........... Sept. 15 nity to interact not only with the individual faculty members, but also with many of the students. A significant number of Cardigan's Summer Session boys enrole Faculty Feature .................... 4 in Cardigan's Winter Session. Alumni Reunion .......... Oct.1-3 Parents of summer session students, and other prospective parents may 1992-93 Annual Report....... 6 obtain information on the winter program by contacting Director of Admissions, Parents' Weekend ..... Oct. 9-10 Carl Lovejoy at 603-523-4321 ext. 22.
INSIDE
Dates to Remember
Alumni Spotlight ................. 10