Remembering the Merger 24
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BY HI L ARY C AR L SON , U P P E R S C H O O L FAC U LT Y ( 1 969– 1 997 )
n the late 1960s, early '70s, many schools and of adults, not students. As the two faculties began to colleges were becoming co-ed. Kent and Denver trust and appreciate each other, the school became a Country Day were part of that trend. Yale and stronger one—athletically, artistically, financially and Princeton admitted relatively small numbers of even academically. first-year women in 1969. In 1971, Pembroke ceased to What about graduation? Graduation Day would exist as a college; all students admitted were going to be both symbol and challenge. Luckily both schools Brown University. Similarly, in 1973 Abbot Academy took advantage of the beautiful May/June mornings became part of a merged school in Andover called in Colorado and had Commencement outside. So, we Phillips Academy, which had been the ancient name knew where to have the ceremony. Each school had of the boys’ school. The issue of what a few “graduation prizes,” including to call merged institutions was always one named for Miss Bogue and fraught; often the name of the girls’ another awarded to the “ideal DCD school was sacrificed. But not at Kent boy.” We kept them as they were; Denver Country Day School; we kept slowly others were added, and in 1997 that mouthful. the faculty modified them so there Fussing over what to call a school was gender equity and less gender would have been funny if it had not stereotyping. Beautifully wrapped been so serious. The first stationery books and newly engraved bowls and for the new school in 1974 read “Kent trophies were awarded as part of the . Denver Country Day School,” with ceremony. Eventually the awarding of a red dot between the names in the prizes moved to the afternoon before HIL ARY CARLSON IN 1976 middle of the line. Nice, except no graduation in the new air-conditioned typewriter (yes, we used typewriters then) could Anschutz Family Theater. A relief for all. make a dot of any color in the middle of the line. So we Those of us who planned for the new Kent Denver were “Kent Denver Country Day School” (all in black). were more worried about offending folks committed to But as Mike Churchman pointed out—when he no Kent or DCD than we were able to think of “traditions.” longer needed to be circumspect and lived far away in Kent had rich traditions, but in the middle '70s they Virginia—it wasn’t even an honest name: there was still seemed too “girly” for women who wanted to be boarding for girls, and we were not located in Denver. taken seriously. Too bad at least some of them did Then we needed school colors and a logo, which, not survive. And some of the DCD rituals ignored amazingly enough, have lasted. DCD’s color was deep state laws; that couldn’t continue. Students wrote a red; Kent’s was a lovely, but hard to reproduce, soft blue constitution in which much governance was shared green. We settled on a simple, patriotic red and blue. by students and teachers. ('70s idealism.) Pranks How is the school known today? Its official name, and senior skip days were embraced. There were since 1987, is Kent Denver School. In the years also experiments with “experiential learning” and following the merger, Kent faculty members were a January term. We kept looking for better ways to rebuked for saying “Kent” without “Denver Country educate teenagers. Day.” And similarly chided were those who referred to The most impressive initiative was the Middle “DCD.” This fuss seemed really important at that time School. The Kent School buildings could accommodate when the school was creating a new identity. the college prep high school program, so the less Truth is the schools had been merging before they traditional spaces of Denver Country Day were merged. There were shared facilities, coordinated available for a new kind of 7th and 8th grade classes, a single business office, and, already, an curriculum. In the '60s and '70s, much was being identical daily schedule. Students were way ahead of written about the mismatch between classrooms and faculty in embracing the new configuration. the developmental needs of young adolescents. Bert Worries about “girls being overshadowed Moore, Head of the newly merged school, was eager by boys” or the “pioneering spirit of for Kent Denver to be part of this educational reform. DCD being quashed” were concerns He trusted the energetic and idealistic young faculty, BUT TON CRE ATED FOR TH E 1974–1975 SCHOOL YE AR, THE FIR ST YE AR OF THE MERGER