Forman School
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The Forman School is a boarding and day school in Litchfield, Connecticut, for 170 college-bound students in grades 9 to 12. Founded in 1930 by John and Julie Ripley Forman, it began as a very small school that gave individual attention to young boys who hadn't had a history of academic success. The Formans began with three students and Mr. Forman later said, "Of one thing, I am certain -- that the first year, with three boys and two teachers beside ourselves -- was our busiest."
The school grew over the years into a highly regarded gateway to college for learning disabled students. Most of the students were bright with language-based disabilities, most notably dyslexia. In the 1980s, Forman was written up in Time magazine and counted two children of comedian Bill Cosby among its students.
But in the 1990s, as mainstream boarding schools established programs addressing the needs of the learning disabled, Forman stagnated and the quality of the student body suffered as a result of the brain-drain to more prestigious schools. Students with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder became the order of the day. Some had a history of fighting; others were straight out of drug rehab.
By some accounts, the school has recovered since those days and is attempting to return to its core mission. Mark B. Perkins, a former dean of students at Holderness School, has been head of Forman since 1995. Perkins announced in March 2007 that he will retire at the end of the 2007-08 school year.
Forman continues to serve students with learning differences who wish to attend college. The school is distinguished by its professional development training which includes, but is not limited to, work with the Center for Research on Learning at the University of Kansas and Dr. Mel Levine's Schools Attuned program. Recent campus speakers include Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Marsha Glines. The school focuses strongly on translated research into practice and is presently building a community life program to compliment its academic offerings.
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[edit] Notable Alumni:
Blake Miller, professional lacrosse player
Annette Jenner, Ph.D. Harvard University, neuroscientist and researcher
Eli Gestner, founder Zoo York
Seward Johnson, bronze sculptor
[edit] Notable Former Faculty
Joe Bouchard, founding member of the Blue Öyster Cult rock band.
Ron MacFarlane, father of Seth MacFarlane, creator of the animated television series Family Guy.
[edit] Matriculation:
American University, Beacon College, Boston University, Babson College, Northeastern University (Boston), Bryant University, Culinary Institute of America, Curry College, Roger Williams University, Davis & Elkins College, University of Denver, Fairfield University, Lynchburg College, Ursinus College, Southern New Hampshire University, Hofstra University, Marshall University, Lynn University, New York Institute of Technology, Paul Smith's College, Suffolk University, Syracuse University, Unity College, University of Arizona, University of California, University of Connecticut, UConn-Torrington, University of Massachusetts, University of Montana, University of Advancing Technology, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont.
[edit] External links
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