Kent School - Review #25

Mandatory jobs program overseen by seniors (mostly janitorial duties). Episcopal tradition that welcomed all faiths. Dress code. Small classes with invested faculty and students who wanted to learn. Intellectual curiosity was supported.

Boarding school can be difficult for some. You are away from your family at the age of 12 or 13, never to be with them for more than a summer's vacation again for the rest of your life. There will always be immature students who bully or intimidate to compensate for whatever their own issues are. You need some measure of inner strength and resiliency to rise above that, find your friends, find your passions, focus on the work. I found solace in rowing and school and the life lessons learned have served me very well.

Clothing. My family was not from New England, and there was a definite "preppy" clothing culture that I simply wasn't aware of. I did not have the benefit of visiting the school prior to attending, and pretty much started out on the wrong foot because I didn't dress like everyone else. Invest some time and effort in learning about the school's current culture and take steps to blend in.

Uncompromising approach to its motto. Simplicity of life, self-reliance, and directness of purpose.

Small, beautiful campus is easily explored. Climb the short (steep) hike to Numeral Rock, which overlooks the campus and valley. Check out the falls and rapids south of campus under the covered bridge.

Small classes, less lecture and more discussion, outstanding faculty In 1970s, more focused on liberal arts but today there is an excellent STEM program.

A focus on competing with honor. Winning with humility and suffering disappointments with grace. The school was very proud of constantly being recognized for sportsmanship while maintaining standards of excellence in sports. Classic triad of instruction, faith and athletics was required. If you didn't wish to compete at a interscholastic level, there were club programs and other activities available.

Wasn't my cup of tea, but there were plenty of programs in these genres.

I recall one in particular - a forest fire response unit that was integrated with the town of Kent that I enjoyed because it forced young people to think outward and beyond themselves.

No locks, spartan conditions, gang showers. Part of the school's motto is "Simplicity of life", and they meant it. It was good for the soul. "Late night food access?" - laughing out loud. This was not a country club experience.

Single large dining hall where we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rotating table assignments meant no social pressure as to seating. Two students from each year, eight to a table. Underclassmen rotated grabbing a serving tray and fetching food for the table. Meals where the primary vehicle for announcements. Faculty dined with students. Food was EXCELLENT.

Classic, small New England town. Lovely.

There wasn't much. In that era, the girls had a separate campus (since integrated). There were Friday and Saturday night dances, films, etc. An occasional event with another boarding school.