6 minute read
Head of School
From the Head of School
EXAMINING OUR PRIVILEGE
The question of Andover’s “privilege” is a recurring theme in my conversations with alumni. Independent schools are, by their nature, for the few and privileged. How do we justify these resources that benefit only a few select students?
This is not a new struggle for schools like ours. In April 1963, President John F. Kennedy was also thinking about privilege and obligation when he accepted an award from his alma mater, Choate.
Our schools play a significant role in American education, he said, adding, “they will merit that role only as they continue to steadily increase their contributions to American life.” Kennedy knew that diversity played a vital role. “These schools will not survive if they become the exclusive possession of a single class or creed or color.” He also challenged graduates “to see beyond the horizons of their own immediate life…The inheritance of wealth creates responsibilities. So does privilege in education.”
For Andover’s part in this conversation, nearly 60 years later, I will start with a few facts. More than 3,600 students applied to Phillips Academy last year, 9 percent were admitted, and 84 percent of these students said “yes” to an offer of admission. While a single digit admit rate signals high demand for this education, it also perpetuates the notion of privilege and is something we must examine when we talk about retaining access for “youth from every quarter.”
Are we morally obligated to increase the size of our school? If so, would having more students change the experience? To be clear, there is no current plan to increase school size, but it would be irresponsible to ignore the question. Are we adequately responding to demographic trends, seeking applicants from rural communities, for example?
Need-blind admission requires a significant investment in financial aid, currently $25 million a year. Is this enough, when nearly half of the student body receives aid?
These questions impact everything from faculty and class sizes to residential programs to what we spend to educate each student—more than $90,000—which far exceeds the tuition we charge.
The question of privilege also extends to our responsibility beyond Andover Hill. Our four Outreach programs include (MS)2, a summer experience founded in 1977 that connects African American, Latinx, and Native American public-school students with a rigorous STEM curriculum, and Andover Bread Loaf, founded in 1987, which brings the literary arts to underserved communities. These programs are free to students and supported by generous donors and the Academy.
On our campus, we have an archaeology institute with more than 600,000 objects and an art gallery that holds some of the world’s finest American works. Both the Peabody and the Addison offer resources that are free and open to the public.
While these community investments are noteworthy, we can do more—more to create and share curriculum materials and more to make the arts and cultural opportunities widely available to educators, schoolchildren, and research scholars anywhere in the world.
This question of privilege remains timely and was raised by school co-presidents Sean Meng ’22 and Mary Muromcew ’22 in their Commencement remarks. Just as President Kennedy hoped future generations would, they linked the privilege of their education to a personal call to action.
They challenged the Class of 2022 to make use of their gifts “in a world that needs to be different than it is now.” Mary and Sean articulated a trait that alumni often describe was essential to their student experience. They grew to expect and demand more of themselves and, in turn, they went on to lead and serve in ways that “see beyond the horizons of their own immediate life.”
Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24 Head of School
Andover magazine reinforces the special connection alumni have with Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy. Through thought-provoking stories, contemporary design, and inspiring profiles of alumni, students, and faculty, we aim to highlight the school’s enduring values, recognize our unique history, and celebrate the rich diversity of our community.
PUBLISHER
Tracy M. Sweet
EDITOR
Allyson Irish
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Rita Savard
DESIGNER Ken Puleo
CLASS NOTES DESIGNER
Anne Marino P’19
CONTRIBUTORS
Jill Clerkin Christina Erickson ’88, P’19 Katie Fiermonti Nancy Hitchcock Amy Kellogg ’83 Avery Stone ’10 Christine Yu ’94
© 2022 Phillips Academy, Andover, MA All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Andover, the magazine of the Phillips Academy and Abbot Academy community, is published four times per year. It is produced by the Office of Communication at Phillips Academy, 180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810. Main PA phone: 978-749-4000 Changes of address and death notices: 978-749-4269, alumni-records@andover.edu Phillips Academy website: www.andover.edu Andover magazine phone: 978-749-4677 Email: magazine@andover.edu Postmasters: Send address changes to Phillips Academy 180 Main Street Andover MA 01810-4161
ISSN-0735-5718
EDITOR’S NOTE
I still remember the smell of the gym— sweat mixed with floor polish. And the sounds—sneakers squeaking incessantly, balls being dribbled up and down the court, the whir of giant fans.
I grew up in Connecticut right around the time the UConn women’s basketball team was starting its ascension to basketball glory. I went to their youth camps every summer, sweating it out with all the other middle school girls and marveling at the skill of the female collegiate stars, my role models.
I also remember, around the same time, hearing stories from my mother and godmother about their sports experiences. Pre-Title IX, their athletic opportunities were limited to gym class, where girls played anemic variations of sports, like half-court basketball wearing their gym uniform skirts and shooting underhand only.
As Andover Athletics Director Lisa Joel says, “We have come so far since those who fought the fight to see Title IX pass. We stand on their shoulders and have the opportunities we have because of the path they paved.”
Our cover story salutes the many female athletes of Andover who paved the way for today’s generation to compete. It has not been easy and it certainly is not perfect, but by all accounts our current female athletes have more competitive opportunities more readily available than a just a few generations ago.
This issue also includes photos from the historic investiture of our 16th Head of School Raynard S. Kington and a farewell to longtime teacher Nick Kip ’60, as well as a fun look at Clan MacPherson, several alumni profiles, and a collection of images from Reunion 2022.
Enjoy!
Allyson Irish Editor magazine@andover.edu @andovermagazine
COURTESY PHOTO
AMY KELLOGG ’83
PAGE 44
JARED SLATER
BRIAN ZEGER ’74
PAGE 40
ON THE COVER:
Andover athletes Kennedy Herndon ’23, Kiley Buckley ’23, and Myra Bhathena ’22
SUMMER 2022
Volume 115, Number 3
JOHN GILLOOLY
ALL SCHOOL
10 Buzz 11 New Leadership 13 On Campus 15 Bookshelf
18
DEPARTMENTS
1 Head of School 4 Voices 38 Alumni Up Close 42 Philanthropy 44 At Issue 84 End Note
HENTY MARTE
FEATURES 16
For the Love of Teaching
After an astonishing 54 years in the classroom, Nick Kip ’60 retires.
18
Invested
The Big Blue community came together this spring to celebrate our 16th Head of School.
26
Game On!
Fifty years after the passage of Title IX, we look at the impact it has had on Andover athletes—past and present.
