The Index
The student voice... since 1888
Ευταξια Σωζειν Δοκει
February 2018
Volume LXXX, No. 5
Haverford, Pennsylvania
www.havindex.com
SAMUEL TURNER ’18 With the first pick in the 2018 Upper School Head draft, The Haverford School selects Mr. Patrick Andrén from St. Mark’s School of Texas. If anybody knows boys’ schools, it’s Mr. Andrén. He graduated from Brunswick School and continued his studies at Lafayette College and Columbia University. In the early stages of his career, Mr. Andrén developed his passion for education at The Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut, Blair Academy in Blairstown, New Jersey, and the Brunswick School, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He then served as Director of Residential Life, History Department Chair, and Director of College Counseling at the Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, Connecticut. Mr. Andrén next took his talents to the Pomfret School, serving in many positions (Form Dean, History Department Chair, Dean of Teaching and Learning, Dean of Academics), developing his love for education, and refining his leadership. He spearheaded a course called “Global and Sustainable Development,” a travel-study class unique to Pomfret. He also implemented “Project: Pomfret,” an academic winter mini-term. Mr. Andrén brings a slew of out-of-the-box academic experiences, and the community will likely benefit from his expertise, knowledge, and practice. At Pomfret, Mr. Andrén instructed a wide variety of academic and athletic activities. He has taught subjects ranging from Modern Intellectual History to the Modern Middle East. Outside of the classroom, he coached varsity football and wrestling. He can joust with the intellectuals and tough it out with the athletes. Recently, Mr. Andrén transitioned to St.
Mr. Patrick Andrén joins Haverford from the St. Mark’s School in Dallas, Texas.
Mark’s School of Texas, a Dallas analogue to Haverford. Among many other responsibilities as Upper School Head, he taught a “Foundations of World Societies” course and sponsored the UNICEF Club, a club Haverford will consider next
year. Mr. Andrén should fit right in to our school community, and the students, teachers, and administrators on the search committees recognized just that. The search process for the new Upper School
PHOTO COURTESY OF MR. PATRICK ANDRÉN
Head, led by Assistant Head Mr. Mark Thorburn, has spanned the last four months, involving a faculty committee, a student committee, and independent consultants. cont pg. 8
School rethinks role of women Green rolls out new schedule NEETISH SHARMA ’19
MATT SCHWARTZ ’21
Haverford is an alll-boys’ preparatory school with the tagline: “Preparing Boys for Life.” The administration argues that an all-boys academic and community atmosphere fosters strong bonding and intellectual growth among students, propelling them to be the best versions of themselves. In addition, the school claims that numerous studies have favored learning potential and creativity in a single-sex environment as opposed to its co-educational counterpart. But along with certain benefits arise specific drawbacks, some trivial, others controversial. One drawback is students’ the lack of understanding of girls and women.
INTEL CHEN ’19
Ms. Susan Lambour teaches Spanish at Haverford.
Although Haverford does its best to teach students about such important matters, inevitably the lack of women in the student body engenders a different type of culture amongst students — unfortunately, not always constructive. “Haverford is a school for boys,” Upper School Spanish Teacher Ms. Susana Lambour said. “I believe there is great value in single-sex education for both women and men, but one of the downsides is that it leaves the voices of one of the groups out of the discussions that happen daily in our community. Not hearing the ‘other side’s’ voice and opinion can create an environment where change happens slower.” Haverford students can find themselves surrounded by a societal culture favoring undesirable perspectives on women that can be found in the media, in language, within social groups, in politics, and in music. As a result, students will inevitably absorb what they see and hear, but this sentiment can often become amplified in an allboys setting. “Unfortunately I believe it is a systemic problem,” Ms. Lambour said. “Our society continues to value males and females differently. Young people, Haverford students included, receive messages from their communities, music, the media, entertainment and sometimes from the adults in their lives that perpetuate this. We as a school need to work hard to help boys identify these messages, understand what can result in them having biases toward others (in this case women) and prioritize the importance of working to change the society that continues to value some more than others.” cont. pg. 8
INTEL CHEN ’19
Matt Mignucci ’20 dives into the hockey season on pg. 10
Fifteen years after it was first implemented, the upper school schedule has evolved and adapted to the growing needs of students in the 21st century.
The official schedule for the 2018-2019 Haverford School year is under construction. cont. pg. 6
Mr. Green will explain next year’s schedule to students of each Form later this month.
MR. JIM ROESE
Eusha Hasan ’18 reflects on the Advanced Lab program on pg. 4
MR. MATT GREEN