VIEW FROM ABOVE
Fr. Jim Joyce, S.J. • President: 1990-94 Also: former trustee, faculty member, assistant football coach The following has been edited and condensed from Fr. Joyce’s broader reflection on his years at Prep. His complete essay can be found at spprep.org/ViewFromAbove. In 1990, I was asked by the Provincial to apply for the position of president of Prep to succeed Fr. Edward Salmon. The intent was that my tenure could be for just a few years, during which there would be a search for someone with more educational administrative experience than I had. I certainly committed to do my best. I loved the school and the students, but certain parts of the job I could have done without. In most ways, Prep was sound. Academics, by any objective measure, continued to be outstanding. Advanced Placement offerings were broad, and modern language achievements were great. Acceptance at quality universities was very high; however, parents still had expectations of possible academic scholarships at good colleges, but these had already begun to disappear as collegiate tuition assistance based on need became the main focus. Latin was still a vibrant part of the curriculum, and many students continued beyond the minimum requirement. Greek continued to be offered as an elective, with a small number of students taking it seminar-style each year. However, science courses did not have all the up-to-date laboratory equipment that they would have liked, and computers for the classrooms needed to be updated, as did the entire library computer system. There was also a need for safety improvements—e.g., non-skid stairs, crash bar safety doors, and increased handicap accessibility. So, a serious campaign for much needed capital improvements was begun, called Keys to the Future. With the great contribution of trustees, alumni and the Development Office staff, as well as very good consultants, it ended up being quite successful and was completed by the next president, Fr. Jim Keenan. Remuneration for faculty and staff was another issue of concern, with the result including a revised benefits package that was more family-friendly. Also, merit-based scholarships and need-based tuition assistance required a boost to both attract top students and to serve families who had quantifiable financial need. The school’s ethnic diversity increased, and the trend toward greater diversity proved not only desirable but productive in all parts of educating the whole person—academically, socially, physically and spiritually. At one point, a serious incident occurred when an African American student had a racial slur written on one of his textbooks. His parents were outraged and reported the incident to the school authorities, along with their expectations of what should happen. When the incident was investigated, it was confirmed and the culprits were identified. With great counsel from Rev. Ercel Webb, P’81,’83,’89, local pastor, part-time faculty member and Prep dad, our student handbook was updated to include issues such as “hate speech” and similar unacceptable behaviors that were not in accord with the values of a Jesuit school. Also, the all-Jesuit Board of Members, as well as the Board of Trustees, was a major factor in the school continuing to thrive, headed by lay folks stepping up in their responsibilities—especially chairman Don Moriarty, ’48, followed by Vince Butler, ’45 and Tom Sullivan, ’53, P’93. As to other such changes, for the first time in its history a lay person was hired as principal. He was Jack Raslowsky, an alumnus (’79), as well as a former teacher and coach, with all the advanced academic degrees in the field of education that were appropriate. In addition, he was very well versed in all things Jesuit. And so, Saint Peter’s Prep “marches through” sub umbra Petri, under the shadow of its patron, St. Peter, in the place it was planted, the heart of downtown Jersey City.
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