Berkshire School

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Berkshire School
Location
Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA
Information
Religion None
Head of School Michael J. Maher
Enrollment

372 students
220 Boys, 151 Girls
(9-12, PG) 87% Boarding
Faculty 62 teachers
Average class size 12 students
Student:teacher ratio 7:1
Average SAT scores (2006) 1700
Type Co-ed Private, Boarding
Campus 500 acres
Athletics 27 interscholastic sports teams
Motto Not just for school but for life, we learn
Mascot Bear
Color(s) Green and Grey
Established 1907
Homepage www.berkshireschool.org

Berkshire School is a private, co-ed boarding school located in Sheffield, Massachusetts, USA.

Contents

[edit] History

Berkshire School was founded in 1907 beneath the "dome" of Mt. Everett by Seaver Burton Buck, a Harvard graduate who had taught at Hackley School. Mr. Buck interwove appreciation for and exploration of the mountain with classical classroom teaching.

Upon Mr. Buck's retirement in 1943 the school went on a war footing. Depleted by the call to arms, Berkshire nonetheless remained in session throughout the calendar year, with small groups graduating every twelve weeks. Many of the students became seasoned pilots through the school's Education with Wings program at the nearby Great Barrington Airport.

Headmaster John E. Godman, led the school from 1951 to 1970. During his tenure, enrollment increased to 330 boys and the faculty expanded to 35 teachers, among them the school's first female faculty members. By 1970, there were 16 major new structures, six of them dormitories, as well as a laboratory science wing added to Berkshire Hall.

In 1969, near the end of Mr. Godman's leadership, Berkshire School become coeducational.[1] In the fall of that year, nine girls (all day students) took part in what Mr. Godman described to them and their families as "an experiment." The school graduated its first female in 1972.

In the 1970s and 1980s the school restructured its scholastic mission by adding new disciplines, including computer science, ethics, health and environmental science, as well as a formal counseling program. A new, 38,000-square-foot athletic center was built and the former gymnasium renovated to house a modern library which today boasts over 40,000 volumes.

The 1990s saw the construction of a new student center and dining hall. Also in that decade, the curriculum broadened further and innovative academic and co-curricular programs were introduced, including the Ritt Kellogg Mountain Program, a Chinese language program, and a leadership and character development program.

As a result of the school's Berkshire 2000 capital campaign, three faculty chairs were established, two new girls' dormitories were built, dorms and classrooms were fully wired, and the school's endowment nearly doubled. Other improvements included a computer-controlled observatory, an all-weather track, a new maple syrup house, and a renovated hockey rink.

On December 21, 2000, a sexual harassment lawsuit was filed against the school. An employee claimed that then-Head of School Paul Christopher had sexually harassed her in his office.[1] This incident resulted in extensive media coverage. Christopher resigned in June 2003.[2]

[edit] Student life

Students and faculty develop a close rapport living together under the mountain. In addition, student prefects work closely with dormitory faculty to create a safe and supportive environment. The leadership development and community service programs promote a sense of ownership among the students. Students can choose from over a dozen clubs and activities - including Berkshire's own 237-watt radio station (91.7 WBSL), The Dome (student literary magazine), Maple Syrup Program, and Investment Club. On the weekends students can hike the Appalachian Trail, visit New York City or Boston, or attend a performance on campus - whether a student production or an up and coming band. Saturday classes occur weekly and formal dress is required for all classes.

[edit] Statement of mission

"The mission of Berkshire School is to provide young men and women with the intellectual and moral foundations and the leadership skills that will enable them to flourish as members of a family and a community as they confront the challenges of college and beyond."

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Judith Gaines, School for Scandal, Boston Globe Magazine, January 13, 2002
  2. ^ Nadia L. Oussayef, Harvard Headmaster, Hockey Player Dies at 51, Harvard Crimson, October 23, 2003

[edit] External links