An Interview with the Yearbook Staff

10 questions for Mr. Trower

Asked by the 2022 Yearbook Staff

Mr. Trower with the Yearbook Staff How has your own education influenced your leadership at Allen-Stevenson? My father was in the Navy, so we moved to lots of different places. This meant my education took place in lots of different contexts. I was also a scholarship student in college and attended public high school. I think my liberal arts college education led me to have the capacity to take in lots of different subjects and to pursue lots of different passions. I think my experience led me to appreciate diversity, how important it is for people to feel they belong in a community and for a school to feel like a family.

Is there any person, past or present, you would like to meet? Well, there would probably be a lot of people on that list, but if you look in the corner, do you know who that is? (a bust of Abraham Lincoln). When I was a high school head at The Collegiate School, there was a bust like that of Lincoln. When I left that job to come to AllenStevenson, I gave that bust to the man who became head. I said, “This is Abraham Lincoln; take good care of him. I care about him a lot.” And a few weeks later, that bust arrived in the mail. I’ve always admired Lincoln because he had to deal with many conflicts in society and people. I admire his writing; The Gettysburg Address and his inaugural address. There are lots of people on the list, but he would be one.

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? I have lots of favorites. I like to be outdoors. I like to hike. I used to run 6 miles a day and would swim pretty regularly. I don’t do that anymore, but I love to walk and listen to music. I love to read. I putter at being a golfer – although I’m not a very good golfer! And I really enjoy talking to people.

What type of music do you like to listen to? I like all kinds; classical music, rock and roll, contemporary music, and crossover music. It might surprise you to learn that when I exercise I listen to House and Techno. I like discovering new music. I’m still discovering new music all the time.

Do you have a favorite TV show? There was a program about a teacher many years ago on Channel 13 called To Serve Them All My Days about a young teacher named David. I really liked that program until he protested something the head of school did and almost got fired. So I thought I can’t identify too much with that. But I don’t watch that much TV. I mostly watch the news. I like news that presents a variety of perspectives.

What are you looking forward to about retiring? I’ve worked in schools for 52 years. That’s probably older than your parents! I’m most looking forward to doing some of the other things I really love. Walks in the city. Visiting museums. Those kinds of things. And I don’t want to plan it all. People ask, “What will you do when you retire?” and I say, “Take a nap.” I don’t mean that literally. I’m just not going to plan everything because for 52 years I’ve had to be very well organized. Retirement will be a different chapter. I’m looking forward to seeing what it feels like.

What was your favorite subject in school? I was a history major in college and studied philosophy, religion, and theology. I was good at math and science too. But as I think about it, perhaps my favorite subject is human nature. When I taught, I’d tell my students, "This is the question I want you to think about for the whole course. According to the readings we have done this semester, what is the nature of human nature?” There’s no right answer. What makes humans tick? Do good things, help others, or conversely, what makes them do awful things. Human psychology, I guess you could call that.

Which book would you say is your favorite or which has inspired you the most? Great question; there are lots of favorites here! I think, for me, teaching the Bible was a wonderful experience. There are so many stories in that book of books. There is also a book (points to the bookshelf) from when I went to Brown University. It’s a companion to the book Ryder R. interviews Mr. Trower

to its left, “Gospel Parallels.” It puts the gospels of Mathew, Mark, and Luke, in columns so you see what’s the same and what is different. I found that fascinating.

What is the biggest change you’ve noticed since you joined Allen-Stevenson? There was an alumnus (Class of ’80) walking around school recently who said he barely recognized anything! The School was much smaller when he went here, as it was in 1990 when I joined. So, there are lots of things that have changed in terms of the building. You’ve seen some of those changes. I think more important than the building are the changes in the faculty. It used to be that everybody taught with their doors closed. Don’t bother me, don’t interrupt. Faculty are more collaborative and there are more hands-on projects for you boys. There’s much more work that engages you in conversations, and I think it’s something that’s changed a lot.

What is one thing you would like to be remembered for at Allen-Stevenson? Well, that’s a tough one! One of the things I’ve cared about most is that you boys develop not just as intellectuals but as really good people. That you develop a moral sense of right and wrong—not just manners, although I think very often you are well mannered. I hope I have shared the importance of helping others and being kind. This is what’s important to me and important in the education of boys. Philip N. identifying a book