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By NM '20
Being sibling schools, NCS and STA have remarkably similar curriculums, with requirements and core courses varying only slightly. However, it is these slight differences that I’ll examine here, differences which often arise in debates regarding school restrictions and culture. 1. Credit Requirements One way in which the STA and NCS curricula differ is the minimum amount of academic credits required to graduate; while STA requires 17.0 credits, NCS only requires 16.5. While some argue that the STA requirement ensures that students remain rigorous in their studies, ensuring that their academic course load is sufficient throughout their high school career, others argue that it is overly restrictive, and that the NCS requirement allows students to have more choice with their time, whether they want to take an elective of their choice or devote more energy extracurriculars. One student remarked that the distinction can be “frustrating,” as she believes that it creates disparity with class selection; an STA student might not be able to take an elective he wants, while a similar NCS student could, because the STA student must fulfill a credit requirement in specific fields. 2. AP Restriction NCS limits the amount of AP classes a student can take to two per semester (special permission notwithstanding), while St. Albans doesn’t. While some feel the NCS limit prevents a student from overburdening themself, and provides a necessary safeguard lest someone find themselves in over their head with coursework, others see it as overly burdensome, preventing students who can handle the workload from taking the classes they’d like to. One NCS student expressed this discontent, arguing that students who have a “clear understanding of themselves” and “know when they are able to push themselves and when to not overburden themselves” should be given the opportunity to take on a tougher schedule. Another student agreed, arguing that he prefers the STA policy, especially the NCS policy “makes it really difficult” for students interested in schools that require a minimum amount of APs to meet those requirements. 3. Religion Courses In the Religion department, STA requires at least three semesters of courses; The Bible in Form III, Ethics in Form IV, and Encountering God in Form VI. NCS, however, requires only two semesters of courses, including Living Religions of the World and one elective class. While some argue that the NCS requirement indicates a lack of interest in the religious studies, others argue that it allows students to focus on a specific area of religious studies that interests them, and thus gain greater insight into a specific topic. Indeed, one St. Albans student remarked that he’s “really enjoyed” the religious classes he has taken, but questioned whether they should all be required. He also rebutted the idea that the NCS requirement displays a lack of interest in the religious studies, as several STA religion electives are primarily composed of NCS students. Overall, no clear resolution arises as to which school has better curriculum policies, as each takes a different approach, an approach lauded by some and disliked by others. In the end, the similarities far outweigh the differences, and students generally seem satisfied with their schools’ policies and curriculum guidelines.
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By Luke Mott '19
“I want my sweatpants back,” yells Isabella Houle ‘19 from across the lawn of the Washington National Cathedral. Here at the Cathedral Close, dress codes are a controversial topic. When discussing the issue of a dress code in education, people usually turn to studies and science that compare school dress and academic performance. Many studies argue that a dress code leads to academic prosperity. Many studies disprove such a link. There is no consensus on the matter. There is certainly no consensus on the Close. At St. Albans, students must wear a blazer or sportcoat, a tie and a collared shirt, a belt, and solid-color pants or shorts. Turtlenecks are also acceptable. Instead of clothing requirements, NCS prohibits specific articles: leggings, yoga pants, pajamas, and sweatpants. Some people enjoy their schools’ dress codes. Nolan Musslewhite, a sophomore, loves the STA dress code. Eleanor Boomhower, an NCS freshman, says, “I like the dress code. It allows me to wear what I want. I don’t really own sweatpants.” Richard Davies-Van Voorhis, a freshman, enjoys the STA dress code because “it creates opportunities to emulate your own style while remaining within the tradition of formal dress, giving the student body an aura of gravitas.” Many more despise the codes. “Damn the dress code.” Over the course of my research for this article, fourteen people screamed this or some profane variant at me. “I hate the dress code,” says Sarah Muoio, an NCS freshman. “I don’t own clothing that fits the dress code, not because I like to dress ‘scandalously,’ but because I happen to not own five pairs of denim non-ripped jeans.” “What irritates me the most,” reflects Katharine Boasberg, an NCS senior, “is trying to find shorts with a five-inch inseam, which very few companies produce.” “The new dress code has cut my wardrobe in half,” says Taliyah Emory-Muhammad, an NCS junior. Most people are ambivalent about the dress code. Noah Kang, an STA junior, says he is “fine with the dress code,” but he thinks “changes need to be made.” Kang feels that sometimes STA students should be allowed to wear polo shirts and sweatshirts. “I appreciate there being boundaries,” he says, “but those boundaries are often too strict.” Zoé Contreras-Villalta, an NCS junior, says she thinks the dress code is “irrelevant to how [she] functions at school,” adding, “I like jeans. I don’t need pajamas in class.” Mady Jones, an NCS senior, thinks that “either you should have a uniform or no dress code at all. You can’t restrict some things [e.g., ripped jeans, leggings] but not others. There are many opinions on the dress code, but, overall, most NCS girls want sweatpants. Most STA guys don’t care. By Stokley Voltmer '18
Last Monday, the Episcopal School of Dallas announced that they would be welcoming David Baad, STA Class of ‘83, as their third head of school, effective July 2018. Mr. Wilson confirmed this news in a letter to the St. Albans community the following day. The Episcopal School of Dallas, a school for ages three through grade 12 located in the heart of Texas, bears striking similarity to St. Albans, with only one glaring difference: it is co-ed. Founded in 1974, the school aims to “prepare young men and women for lives of intellectual discovery, integrity, and purpose.” Coming from a similar school with similar goals, Mr. Baad is extremely well qualified for the responsibility that he has accepted. Mr. Baad will be sorely missed at St. Albans. He has proven to the boys, and to the school, time and time again just how instrumental he is to this institution. While at St. Albans, Mr. Baad has done everything from teaching terrified freshmen in Cities and Civilizations to terrifying Landon baseball players with his more than impressive coaching record. In addition to fulfilling his traditional roles, Mr. Baad has gone above and beyond the call of duty, filling in as acting head on multiple occasions. In short, Mr. Baad is an integral part of St. Albans, and we will all be sad to see him go. Mr. Baad’s departure nods at a larger theme of senior administrators departing the Close in recent years. In 2016, NCS Upper School Head Dr. Sarah Pelmas left to become the Head of the Winsor School and STA Lower School Head Mr. Paul Herman retired. At the end of this school year, STA Headmaster Mr. Vance Wilson will retire and, at the end of next school year, NCS Head of School Ms. Kathleen Jamieson is set to depart. Exchanged would like to congratulate the Episcopal School of Dallas on their wonderful new headmaster, and would like to wish Mr. Baad good luck in the years to come. |
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