Hyde School (Maine)

Hyde Schools are character education focused high schools in Bath, Maine and Woodstock, Connecticut.

History

Hyde was founded in 1966 by math teacher Joseph Gauld. Mr Gauld was interested in providing education based on character development rather than academic achievement. The organization, based in Maine, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences. Outdoor activities are incorporated into the educational scheme and a Outward Bound like experience is provided to many if not all students. That is a place where well to do families can send their children who are having difficulty in other educational environments. Many students are there because their parents believe in the educational theory of character before performance.

Curriculum

Although Hyde is typically categorized as a college preparatory school, the school administrators regard their primary purpose as preparation for life. Hyde helps students learn, embrace, and adopt a character compass that will guide them for the rest of their lives. This compass has four points [1]

1. An explicit philosophy of character in the form of the Five Words: Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Curiosity and Concern.
2. The most dynamic student peer culture in American education;
3. A dedicated faculty that will go to the ends of the earth to help kids and families connect with their potentials;
4. The opportunity for the parents, the primary teachers, and the entire family to participate and gain individual and collective strength.

Emphasis is placed on performing arts and sports. Participation in athletics and performing arts is mandatory. Hyde believes that one (students, parents, teachers) needs to expose themselves to group and community interactions as part of the growth process. Competitive sports are played year round and have lead to many state and New England championships . There are the typical high school classes and academics. Many Advanced Placement courses are available and encouraged. Most students are accepted to four year colleges and universities.

In the media

In recent years, Hyde has received national recognition. In 1993, Joseph Gauld’s experiences were published in his book Character First: The Hyde School Difference. Television shows, such as ABC’s 20/20, CBS’s 60 Minutes, and NBC’s The Today Show have aired full segments on Hyde, and the Hyde character concept has been featured in publications such as Education Week, Insight, The New York Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, and The Wall Street Journal. Hyde techniques are controversial. A forum for critics of Hyde can be found at fornits.com [2]

The Hyde of today continues to uphold its Five Words as the core values on its boarding campuses in Maine and in Woodstock, CT, as well as in its public school initiatives in New Haven, CT; Washington, DC; and the Bronx, NY.

Links

Official site