| TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas | ||||||
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Nihil Supra Mores
Ducit qui Servit |
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| Location | ||||||
| San Antonio, TX, USA | ||||||
| Information | ||||||
| Type | Preparatory, Boarding | |||||
| Religious affiliation(s) | Episcopal Church in the United States of America | |||||
| Established | 1893 | |||||
| Founder | James Steptoe Johnston | |||||
| Chairman of the Governors | The Rt Revd Gary R. Lillibridge, DD | |||||
| Headmaster | Walter Spencer (Interim) | |||||
| Faculty | 46 | |||||
| Enrollment | approximately 405 | |||||
| Average class size | 12 students [1] | |||||
| Student to teacher ratio | 7:1 | |||||
| Campus | 80 acres (320,000 m2), exburban | |||||
| Color(s) |
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| Athletics | 19 Interscholastic Sports | |||||
| Mascot | Primo the Panther | |||||
| Average SAT scores | V=680, M=630, W=660 [2]
CEEB Code: 446255 (2009) |
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| Annual tuition | $19,625.00 (day students)/ $37,740 (American boarding students)/ $39,900 (international boarding students). [3] | |||||
TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas (in full Texas Military Institute) is a selective coeducational Episcopal college preparatory school in San Antonio, Texas for boarding and day students. It is the flagship school, and sole secondary school, of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.TMI is the oldest Episcopal school in the American Southwest and one of the oldest independent schools in the State of Texas.
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Founded in 1893 by the Rt Revd James Steptoe Johnston, DD, first Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese in the southwestern United States as the West Texas School for Boys, the name was almost immediately changed to West Texas Military Academy. At the time of the school's foundation, San Antonio lay on the edge of the American Old West, and Bishop Johnston was used to traveling about his diocese by horse or stagecoach as there were not yet any railways.[1] In such an environment, Bishop Johnston saw the need for a school that would provide young men with a classical education that would enable them to go on to careers in the Church, the civil service, and the officer corps of the United States Army, the occupations needed to administer the Southwest and, as he put it, to develop "Christian character amongst the rising generation ... for character is the only true wealth." The school was largely funded by donations from wealthy residents of the eastern seaboard, many of whom had been inspired by speeches Johnston had given on the importance of academic and moral education for all young men.[2] When the school first opened, there were just six teachers and twelve students.[3] The first headmaster was the Revd Fr Allan W. Burleson, who served until 1899.
In 1926, during the headship of Dr W. W. Bondurant, the school briefly separated from the Diocese for financial reasons, merged with the upper school of San Antonio Academy and enjoyed an unofficial relationship with the Presbyterian Church and Austin College, although the chaplain remained an Episcopal priest and the Book of Common Prayer continued to be used. It was at this point that the name "Texas Military Institute", almost universally abbreviated to "TMI," was adopted.[4] By the 1930s, the school was considered by some to be the finest secondary school in the State of Texas.[5] Although Bishop Johnston had, in part, intended the school to train young men for seminary and eventual ordination in the Episcopal Church, the school has always been open to students of any religious faith or lack thereof. The JROTC or Corps of Cadets, has been optional for girls since their admission in 1972, and for boys since 1974. Since 2005, the school has presented itself by the current name of TMI — The Episcopal School of Texas.
Three Presidents of the United States have visited the school. The first was William Taft. The next was John F. Kennedy, who visited on November 21, 1963, the day before his assassination. The most recent was George W. Bush. Future President Theodore Roosevelt also visited when he was in San Antonio recruiting for the Rough Riders.
In the Summer of 2009, Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, visited the school and gave a speech on the importance of Episcopal schools to the overall mission of the Church.[6]
TMI has moved three times, each time moving to the edge of an expanding city. The first campus was on Government Hill (next to Fort Sam Houston), the second in Alamo Heights, whilst the current campus, dating from 1989, is in far northwest San Antonio, on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. The campus is modern in architecture and built almost entirely from local limestone. Features on the campus include:
There are currently around 400 students. Students come mostly from South Texas and Mexico, but others also from other areas of the United States and from foreign countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, Nigeria, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
TMI had an informal honor system from the beginning, with the current formal system originating in 1908. All students sign their name to the school's Honor code at the start of each term, and from then on write the word "pledge" on all their tests and papers, signifying their pledge to uphold their promise. The Honor Code reads, "Because I believe integrity is essential, I promise not to lie, cheat, or steal." Students suspected of being in violation of the Honor Code are sent before the Honor Council, which is an elected body of students that holds confidential hearings and, where appropriate, assigns disciplinary measures, including community service . It can also require that the student write a letter of apology. Repeat offenders may be referred to the headmaster.
Like most prep schools, TMI has developed a not insubstantial canon of traditions and idiosyncrasies . These include:
Approximately one third of TMI students are members of the corps of cadets. The TMI corps, under the command of Major Douglas D McVey (USA, Ret), is affiliated with the United States Army's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and is ranked as an Honor Unit with Distinction, the highest ranking for a school JROTC program.[8] Due to its high ranking, TMI cadets can apply for places at United States Service academies without the congressional recommendation usually required. The battalion is organized into three companies: Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Companies are completely organized by the students. Each company has a senior company commander and a junior first sergeant. The companies are divided into two platoons with two or three squads in each platoon. The corps is run by a staff consisting entirely of junior and senior cadets and sponsors a bagpipe band, a color guard, a saber guard, a drill team and a rifle team.
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross
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