Hyde School (Maine)

Hyde School is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 and postgraduate in Bath, Maine, United States. It was founded in 1966 by Joseph W. Gauld who wanted to "set up a school devoted to developing self-confidence and self-discipline."[3]

Hyde School
Address
616 High Street

,
Maine
04530

United States
Coordinates43.904945°N 69.822927°W / 43.904945; -69.822927
Information
TypePrivate, college-preparatory boarding school
MottoBe The Best Possible You
Established1966 (1966)
FounderJoe Gauld
NCES School ID00563551[1]
Head of School and PresidentLaura Gauld[2]
Teaching staff33.0 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades
  • 9–12
  • PG
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment129 (2019-2020)[1]
Student to teacher ratio3.9[1]
Campus size145 acres (59 ha)
Campus typeRural
Color(s)Blue and gold   
Athletics conferenceNew England Preparatory School Athletic Council
MascotWolfpack
Websitewww.hyde.edu

History

Hyde was founded in 1966 by Joe Gauld, who had previously worked for 13 years in public and private schools.[4][5] Concerned by "sentimentalist attitude[s]" about child-raising,[6] he discerned that "society is blind to the reality that teens need to face and overcome difficult challenges if they are to become confident, productive, fulfilled adults."[7] He was inspired to create a curriculum focused on "development of character and a deeper sense of purpose" than just achieving good grades, going to a good college, and having a good job.[8] He first took this vision to Berwick Academy when he was appointed headmaster there.[5][9] Gauld recounts how conflicts with the trustees about his educational innovations led to his resignation, although one reporter writes that he was dismissed.[5][9]

Gauld went on to establish the Hyde School at Elmhurst (commonly known as the Hyde Mansion), formerly the estate of "John Sedgewick Hyde, the son of Bath Iron Works (BIW) founder Thomas W. Hyde".[10][11] Loans from friends and family, as well as "donations from the three heirs of the Hyde family", funded its purchase.[12] The site included the Hyde Mansion with its indoor swimming pool, an educational wing built by the interim owners, the Pine Tree Society for Crippled Children and Adults, and 145 acres of land.[13] The school is named after the Hyde family, the original owners.[13]

Opened as a school for boys, Hyde went co-ed in 1971.[7] Initial expansion plans began in the 1970s, with the school considering sites in the Midwest.[14][15] In the 1990s, the school was also considering a "satellite school" on the West Coast, since a quarter of the student body at the time was from California.[16] When a site became available in Woodstock, Connecticut in 1996, a second campus, known as Hyde-Woodstock, was opened on the campus of the former Annhurst College.[16] In 1996, Hyde also purchased "a 700-acre tract of western maine woodland" in Eustis, ME, that is used as its wilderness campus.[17][18]

Hyde has had some impact in the public school sector.[19] Hyde ran a charter school in Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2011.[20][21] It currently has a K-12 charter school in the Bronx (Hyde Leadership Charter High School) and a K-6 charter school in Brooklyn (Hyde Leadership Charter School).[22][23][24]

By 2016, like other boarding schools, both the Bath and Woodstock campuses were facing declining enrollment.[25] It was announced in January 2017 that the 127-acre Woodstock campus would be closed and sold to nearby Woodstock Academy for $14.25 million (USD).[26] The consolidation of the two campuses moved Woodstock students and many faculty to Bath, allowed for an expansion of the curriculum and student financial aid, as well as leading to plans to renovate some of the facilities.[27][25]

Educational model

Mission

The mission of Hyde is to build character and "reach students that nobody has been able to reach before" due to behavioral problems.[5][28] Due to this, the school focuses on character education, leadership development, and developing student potential.[6][29] In an interview in 1975, Joseph Gauld told a reporter that "he prefers not to see students academic transcripts before he starts school at Hyde. Instead, the school conducts extensive interviews with both the students and parents 'to see how they look at life and what the student wants to do at Hyde."[5] In another interview in 1996, Gauld reiterated that transcripts were not examined until after a student's admission: "Grades are used as a placement tool, not an admissions tool."[16] The current admissions page for the school does ask for transcripts, however.[30]

Student Body

A 1994 government report listed Hyde as one of the schools that "acknowledge that youths' problem behaviors are often related to family problems and disfunction" and asserted that "[m]ost of Hyde's students have a history of family problems." The "[p]rimary reasons for referral are rebelliousness, lack of respect for authority, and poor performance in school." This 1994 report also said, [a]bout 10 percent of the students have been in drug rehabilitation programs.[31]

Curriculum

As part of the character-building curriculum, all students are required to participate in academics, performing arts, athletics, and community service.[5][16] As a recent article describes, Hyde believes that "character, attitude and effort are factors that contribute to academic excellence and personal fulfilment. Hence, their character-based programming is incorporated in their regular curriculum spurring students to work on their leadership skills, public speaking confidence, and building meaningful relationships."[32]

Hyde's students evaluate themselves against the school's five principles of Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Curiosity, and Concern.[33] Regular visits from parents are required; they also participate in regional groups away from campus.[16][33] Honors and Advanced Placement courses are offered, though graduation is based on personal development more than academics, with individual degrees being determined by community assessment.[5][34]

Hyde also runs a leadership program in July for students ages 13–18. The program takes place on campus in Bath, Maine and on the school's Black Wilderness Preserve in Eustis, Maine.[35][36]

Discipline and Corporal Punishment

Articles from the 1980s and 90s reported that strict behavioral rules were enacted and enforced by administrators and the community at Hyde.[5][6] Students can stop classes and call "concern meetings" to challenge peers they feel are underprepared.[37][38] Examples of past disciplinary procedures include corporal punishment such as slapping and public paddling, a student being thrown in a duck pond, a student being ordered to box a teacher, labor on the school grounds and nearby farms, living in isolation, digging a pit as a metaphorical grave, and receiving a masculine haircut.[3][39][40][37][6][41]

In 2010, the Woodstock campus experimented with banning the use of technology on Tuesdays, in an attempt to increase face-to-face communication.[29]

Publications

References

  1. "Search for Private Schools – School Detail for Hyde School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. "Faculty Staff Directory". Hyde School. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. "Education: School of Hard Knocks". Time. 1976-08-09. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  4. "Hyde School | History". Hyde School. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  5. Gallas, Bob (April 28, 1975). "A-1 students - or your money back". Chicago Daily Herald. Chicago, Illinois. p. 7. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  6. Plagenz, George R. (August 22, 1980). "What Would Prayer in Schools Really Mean to Us?". Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. p. 9. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  7. Gauld, Joseph W. (1993). Character First: The Hyde School Difference. Bath, Maine: Hyde Foundation. p. 16. ISBN 1-55815-262-8.
  8. Gauld, Joseph W. (1993). Character First: The Hyde School Difference. Bath, ME: Hyde Foundation. p. 4. ISBN 1-55815-262-8.
  9. Gauld, Joseph W. (1993). Character First: The Hyde School Difference. Bath. ME: Hyde Foundation. p. 14. ISBN 1-55815-262-8.
  10. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form (1978) https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/78000197_text. Section 8, "Significance."
  11. Cox, Peter W. (19 May 1966). "Hyde School Breaks with Tradition". Biddeford-Saco Journal. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  12. Gauld, Joseph W. (2012). Hyde: Preparation for Life. The Hyde Foundation. p. 8. ISBN 978188418650-9.
  13. "Hyde School at Bath Set to Open Doors in September". The Bangor Daily News. 17 February 1966. p. 15. via Newspapers.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  14. Blecha, Mike (15 September 1974). "School Dwells on Character, Not Books". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, WI. p. 5. via Newspapers.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  15. Corty, Julianne (13 December 1974). "Maine School Interested in Racine College Facility". The Journal Times. Racine, WI. via Newspapers.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  16. Ferreri, Eric (February 12, 1996). "New private school's curriculum places emphasis on character". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. B4. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  17. "Hyde School Buys Maine Land: Woodlands to Provide Classroom for Character-Building Program". The Bangor Daily News. p. 13. via Newspapers.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  18. Marinaccio, Amanda (17 May 2009). "Into the Wild for Hyde Charter School". The Bronx Times. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  19. "Hyde School Becomes a Model". The Bangor Daily News. 7 February 2006. p. 16. via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Overview". Perry Street Preparatory Public Charter School. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  21. Koh, Eun Lee (10 July 1999). "Charting Another Course". The Boston Globe. p. 3. via Newspapers.com. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  22. "Hyde Leadership Charter High School". Insideschools.org.
  23. "About Us". Hydebronxny.org. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  24. "Hyde Leadership Charter School". Niche.com. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  25. Megan, Kathleen (January 4, 2017). "Woodstock Academy Expanding". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. B1. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  26. MEGAN, KATHLEEN. "Woodstock Academy Plans To Purchase Hyde School With Federal Loan". courant.com. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  27. "Hyde School plans to expand in Bath, grow enrollment". Press Herald. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  28. Plagenz, George R. (August 22, 1980). "What Would Prayer in Schools Really Mean to Us?". The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, IL). Retrieved February 18, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  29. "'No-Tech Tuesday' promotes human connection at Connecticut school". Dunn County News. Menomonie, Wisconsin. September 8, 2010. p. 8. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  30. "Apply - Hyde School". www.hyde.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  31. United States General Accounting Office (January 1994). "RESIDENTIAL CARE Some High-Risk Youth Benefit, But More Study Needed" (PDF). Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate. Retrieved 19 May 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  32. "4 US Boarding Schools Breaking Traditional Stereotypes". Study International. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  33. Bromberg, Maria (2015). "Sponsor Insight: Hyde School". newsweek.com. Newsweek. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  34. "Character First: The Hyde School Difference". kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Reviews. July 1, 1993. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  35. "Hyde School - Summer Leadership Challenge". Hyde School.
  36. Mediawize (12 November 2021). "Hyde School's Leadership and Character Education Goes Outdoors". OCNJ DAILY. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  37. Gately, Gary (June 5, 1994). "Innovative school puts character first". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 21A. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  38. Traub, James (2006). "The Moral Imperative". Education Next. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  39. Peterson, Iver (1974-03-20). "New Prep School View: Kid's Character' Comes First". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  40. Nanengast, Larry (April 19, 1974). "An Educator Seeks Characters to Build". Wilmington News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. 34. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
  41. Berkow, Ira (April 12, 1976). "New Kind of Prep School Aims to Develop Character". Wilmington News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. p. 24. Retrieved November 3, 2019 via newspapers.com.
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