Indian Springs School: Difference between revisions
m (Typo) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
Indian Springs School was founded in [[1952]] by Birmingham businessman [[Harvey G. Woodward]], who left the funds and instructions for creating the school in his will at his death in [[1930]] | Indian Springs School was founded in [[1952]] by Birmingham businessman [[Harvey G. Woodward]], who left the funds and instructions for creating the school in his will at his death in [[1930]]. | ||
Indian Springs opened with ten staff members and 60 students. The first director of the school was [[Louis E. Armstrong]]. He made several changes to Woodward's original plans for the school, most notably Woodward's request that the school not be prepatory. | Woodward wanted to make the school available to both Alabama's elite and rural poor (though he stipulated that only white male gentiles should be admitted). These restrictions have all been challenged and abolished. | ||
He also instructed that the school should champion a holistic approach to learning (the school's motto is "''Discere Vivendo'''," or "Learning Through Living"). During its first years, students tended to the 350-acre working farm on the property when not in class. Though the farmwork was soon eliminated from the curriculum, the concept of integrated learning remains central to the school's mission. | |||
Indian Springs opened with ten staff members and 60 students. The first director of the school was [[Louis E. Armstrong]]. He made several changes to Woodward's original plans for the school, most notably Woodward's request that the school not be prepatory. History teacher [[Mac Fleming]], still teaching in [[2007]], was part of the original faculty. | |||
By the 1970s, the school had grown to include equal numbers of day students and boarders. An 8th grade was added, and the school became coeducational in [[1975]]. | By the 1970s, the school had grown to include equal numbers of day students and boarders. An 8th grade was added, and the school became coeducational in [[1975]]. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 17: | ||
==Notable alumni== | ==Notable alumni== | ||
* [[ | * [[Daniel Alarcon]], author | ||
* [[John Badham]], director | * [[John Badham]], motion picture director | ||
* [[John Green]], author | * [[John Green]], author | ||
* [[Daniel Hess]] | * [[Daniel Hess]] | ||
* [[George A. LeMaistre]], Alabama Civil Rights activist | |||
* [[James H. White III]], founder of [[Porter, White and Company]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 33: | ||
[[Category:Private high schools]] | [[Category:Private high schools]] | ||
[[Category:1952 buildings]] | |||
[[Category:Woodward Drive|190]] | [[Category:Woodward Drive|190]] | ||
[[Category:Indian Springs Village]] | [[Category:Indian Springs Village]] | ||
Revision as of 14:09, 10 May 2007
Indian Springs School is an 8th-12th grade boarding and day school at 190 Woodward Drive, at the base of Oak Mountain in Indian Springs Village, Shelby County. As of 2007 the school has 289 students. School director Mel MacKay has announced that he would resign in June 2007 after five years at Indian Springs. His replacement has not been named.
History
Indian Springs School was founded in 1952 by Birmingham businessman Harvey G. Woodward, who left the funds and instructions for creating the school in his will at his death in 1930.
Woodward wanted to make the school available to both Alabama's elite and rural poor (though he stipulated that only white male gentiles should be admitted). These restrictions have all been challenged and abolished.
He also instructed that the school should champion a holistic approach to learning (the school's motto is "Discere Vivendo'," or "Learning Through Living"). During its first years, students tended to the 350-acre working farm on the property when not in class. Though the farmwork was soon eliminated from the curriculum, the concept of integrated learning remains central to the school's mission.
Indian Springs opened with ten staff members and 60 students. The first director of the school was Louis E. Armstrong. He made several changes to Woodward's original plans for the school, most notably Woodward's request that the school not be prepatory. History teacher Mac Fleming, still teaching in 2007, was part of the original faculty.
By the 1970s, the school had grown to include equal numbers of day students and boarders. An 8th grade was added, and the school became coeducational in 1975.
Indian Springs School was the first boarding school in the U. S. to be recognized by the Malone Family Foundation, which provided a $2-million grant to underwrite tuition and other expenses for gifted students whose families could not otherwise afford an independent school.
In 2005, Indian Springs School had 274 students from 12 states and 7 countries, 76% of whom were day students and 24% of whom were boarders. There were 136 girls and 138 boys.
Notable alumni
- Daniel Alarcon, author
- John Badham, motion picture director
- John Green, author
- Daniel Hess
- George A. LeMaistre, Alabama Civil Rights activist
- James H. White III, founder of Porter, White and Company
References
- Jones, Pam (Summer 2005) "Where There's a Will: The Story of Indian Springs School". Alabama Heritage Magazine, Number 77, pp. 26-33. - accessed July 25, 2006
- Taylor, Kelli Hewett (March 17, 2007) "Indian Springs school director, MacKay, resigns." Birmingham News.
External links
- Indian Springs School website
- Indian Springs pages compiled by M. D. Smith (Class of 1959)]