Midland School, Los Olivos, California
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2016) |
Midland School | |
---|---|
Location | |
![]() | |
, | |
Information | |
Type | Private, Boarding |
Motto | In Robore Virtus |
Established | 1932 |
Head of school | Christopher Barnes |
Faculty | 20 |
Enrollment | 90 total (co-ed) 100% boarding |
Average class size | 11 students |
Student to teacher ratio | 4:1 |
Color(s) | Green and black |
Athletics | 5 Interscholastic Sports |
Mascot | Oak Tree |
Website | www |
Midland School is a small, co-ed, college preparatory boarding school[1][2] near Los Olivos, California, founded in 1932, by Kent School and Harvard graduate Paul Squibb.[3][4][5] Squibb envisioned a small, rural community reliant only on the work of its inhabitants to meet its basic needs.[6][7] This ideal still forms the center of the School's philosophy; every student who attends Midland assumes a responsibility to the community while joining a great tradition of service.[8] Squibb and his wife, Louise, founded Midland in the midst of the Great Depression, believing that the only essentials of education are a student, a teacher, and an idea.[9][10][11][12][6]
Reflecting Squibb's opinion on the requirements of education, a core philosophy of the school is encapsulated in the phrase "needs, not wants".[7] Additions to the school and its program are evaluated with respect to this philosophy, and only that which is truly essential to the educational mission of the school is implemented.[3][13]
Campus and surroundings
The School is located on 2,860 acres (12 km²) of largely undeveloped ranchland characteristic of central California's coastal hill country.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Students live in cabins,[21][citation needed]which are heated by small woodstoves.[3] (For students' safety, their cabins have sprinklers.)[22] Students chop wood to make fires to heat their shower water.[23][3][24][1] Some 25 percent of Midland’s electricity needs are met with grid-tied, student-installed solar arrays.[25][26][27][28][29] While the library[30] is wired with high-speed internet connections,[2] several campus buildings were constructed decades ago by students and faculty. Cell phones are not allowed on campus. The non-religious campus "chapel," a structure that predates the school itself, was converted from its original use as a dairy barn.[31] The campus is located across the road from the former site of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch.[32]
Midland is approximately 45 minutes by car from Santa Barbara. It is 2.5 hours north of Los Angeles and 5 hours south of San Francisco. The property neighbors the Los Padres National Forest, the largest national forest in California, and is also adjacent to the San Rafael Wilderness Area, home of the Manzana River and its tributaries.[33]
Academics
The School's academic philosophy is: "Live Your Education."[34][35][36][37][38][39][40] According to its website: "Midland School is first and foremost a rigorous college preparatory boarding school. While we value experiential education as an integral part of our approach, we are not a shop school, trade school, or an adventure school. The fundamental rigor of Midland’s curriculum isn’t watered down with trips or projects that don’t put learning at their core."[41][42]
Each year, the School publishes a Curriculum Guide. Midland features several interdisciplinary courses, such as Midland 101/102,[43] World and American Studies, and a range of provocative electives in science,[44] art,[45][46][47][48] and the humanities.[25][49][50][51]
Student jobs
An integral part of Midland's philosophy is self-reliance, and students and faculty perform much of the work that goes into maintaining the school.[22][43] All students have daily jobs[6] that help maintain the school -- carpenters, cooks,[52] classroom cleaners, plumbers, librarians, etc.[citation needed][53][3]
In addition to daily jobs, faculty and students gather on Sunday mornings to hear a senior give a talk on a subject of personal interest.[3] Following this non-religious “chapel”,[3] the community breaks into small work crews for 2–3 hours.[54] These crews might clean the assembly/dining hall, venture into the hills to gather firewood, harvest vegetables in the garden, brush down the horses or muck the corral.[55][56]
Organic garden
One of Midland's distinguishing features is the 8-acre (32,000 m2) organic garden.[57][58] Students help with planting, cultivating, and harvesting the fruits and vegetables[59] that are delivered to the school kitchen.[60][43] Grass-fed beef cattle are also raised in the garden, and native shrubs, trees, and grasses are cultivated for use in campus restoration and landscaping projects.[61][3][25]
Athletics
The athletic program is based around fall, winter and spring seasons. Students are required to participate in two team sports per year, in order to promote cooperation and athleticism. Soccer,[62][63] lacrosse, volleyball, cross-country running,[64] and now basketball are offered as competitive options. Midland School competes in the private, college preparatory Condor League. The Midland school's baseball field is known for its pitching rubber, affectionately dubbed "the work bench" for its unusual size and depth. The baseball field is also named "Gopherdome" for the number of gophers (and the holes) within the field.[65]
During one of the seasons, a student may elect to spend time in one of Midland’s alternative programs. Students may work in the campus’ 8-acre (32,000 m2) organic garden, or join the school’s equestrian program of Western and English riding and horse care.[66] As an additional option, students may choose to work in Ranch Management, through which students participate in the upkeep of the infrastructure of the campus as well as the 2,860-acre (12 km2) ranch.
Governance, accreditation and endowment
The School is a non-profit organization governed by a 16-member Board of Trustees.[67] The estimated value of Midland's property is $15,000,000 and the School's growing endowment is currently approaching $4,000,000. Annual giving generally yields $300,000, the bulk of which helps fund Midland's substantial financial aid program. In 2015-2016, Midland awarded over $1 million in need-based financial aid to 47% of the student body.[68] The School's approach to budgeting and use of financial resources differs from most other boarding schools in that its limited funds are focused on people and programs, rather than facilities. Midland thus teaches its students frugality and generosity by example.
Midland is accredited through 2016 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the California Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)[4], the Western Boarding Schools Association, A Better Chance, Inc., The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the California Interscholastic Federation, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
Awards
In 2012, and again in 2015, Midland was awarded a multi-year Edward E. Ford Foundation Grant in order for students to install solar power on campus.[8] In 2009, school was awarded a Governor's Award for Environmental and Economic Leadership (GEELA), California's highest environmental honor.[69][70][7][71][72] In 2005, Midland received the Santa Barbara County Green Award.[73][74] The same year, the Character Education Partnership awarded Midland the "2005 Promising Practices Award," an award to K-12 schools nationwide demonstrating outstanding character education.[75]
College acceptance and matriculation
Typically 100% of Midland seniors enroll in 4-year colleges or university. Since 2010, Midland graduates have been accepted at and/or chose to attend a wide range of universities and colleges, including: Amherst College, Bard College, Berklee College of Music, Bennington College, Bowdoin College, Bryn Mawr College, California College of the Art, Carleton College, Case Western Reserve, Chapman University, Colby College, Cornell College, Emory University, Grinnell College, Harvard University, Harvey Mudd College, Haverford College, McGill University, Middlebury College, New York University, Otis College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, Reed College, Savannah College of Art and Design, Sonoma State University, Stanford University, Swarthmore College, Tufts University, UC Berkeley, UCI, UCSD, UCSB, University of Arizona, University of New Mexico, University of Oregon, Vassar College, Wellesley College, Whitman College, Whittier College and Williams College.[76][77]
Noted alumni and faculty
- Steve Baer, Class of 1956. Baer is the Founder, Chairman of the Board, President, and Director of Research at Zomeworks Corporation.
- Bill Bertka, former basketball coach at Midland.[78] Retired NBA assistant coach and NBA executive.[79]
- Billy Childs, Class of 1975, jazz pianist and two-time Grammy winner in 2006.
- Mathias Craig, Class of 1996, founder of BlueEnergy, a non-profit organization with the mission of providing sustainable, low-cost energy to marginalized communities around the world.[8]
- John Dreyfuss, Class of 1952, Los Angeles Times Architecture and Design Critic.[80]
- Winter D. Horton, Jr. (1929–2009), Class of ?, co-founder of Los Angeles public television station KCET[81]
- George M. Martin (1917–1999), Class of 1933, founding editor of the Midland Mirror. Modern broadcast journalism pioneer and recipient of lifetime achievement award from the Society of Professional Journalists.[82]
- Carl Munger, former headmaster. Educator and Community Activist.[83]
- Richard Nevins, (1940–2007), Class of ?, democratic politician in California who became known as the "encyclopedia of tax policy"[84][85]
- Michael Clarke Rubel (1940–2007),[86] Class of 1957, builder of Glendora's Rubel Castle, an unconventional monolith of stone and recycled materials.
- Arent H. "Barry" Schuyler, Jr. (1923–2011), Class of 1941, distinguished UCSB lecturer emeritus who helped found the school's environmental studies program.[87][88]
- Robert E. Sharkey (1926–2016), Class of ?, a physician and radiologist who was instrumental in establishing a birth defects clinic at New York Hospital.[89]
- Charles Webb, Class of 1957, the author of the novel The Graduate. Webb donated the principal funds for a wing of the school library in the late 1970s.
Noted donors
- Bill Kimpton, Class of 1954, founder of the Kimpton Hotels Group.[90] The athletic field is named after him (Kimpton Field), as is the Kimpton-Schuyler Endowment for Scholarship Fund.[91]
- Rick Sawyer, Class of 1970. Founder of www.hollisterranch.com and www.ricksawyer.com.
References
- ^ "5 Best Boarding Schools in California". Insider Monkey. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Don't Miss These Eight Small Yet Superb Boarding Schools!". www.admissionsquest.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lieber, Ron (2016-10-28). "The School of Wants and Needs — and Wood-Fired Showers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "The founding of Midland School oral history transcript /". www.oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Norris, Jim (2008-02-20). Los Olivos. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439635988.
- ^ a b c "Sustainable Seasons: Getting Back to Nature at Midland | Santa Barbara SEASONS BLOG | Celebrating Local Life and Culture". sbseasons.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ a b c "Refuge", Ming Holden Author of; Girls", "The Survival (2010-03-18). "Schwarzenegger, Solar Power, and Midland School". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
{{cite web}}
:|first=
has generic name (help) - ^ a b c "Edward E. Ford Foundation: Projects of Interest » Midland School". www.eeford.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Philosophy Webpage".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Orange Coast Magazine, April 1997".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Midland School History Webpage".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ Herald, University (2016-11-01). "Midland School: A Santa Barbara Prep School that Prepares You for Life". University Herald. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ VENANT, ELIZABETH (1992-04-03). "School in the Wilds : Far away from urban distractions, students hit the books and stoke the fires. They learn self-reliance". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Ranch". The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School's Wilderness Protected". www.independent.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Jan 19, 2017 at 7:43pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 21, 2016 at 5:29pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Educatius | Midland School". Educatius. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "The 40 Most Beautiful High School Campuses in California". Aceable. 2016-09-13. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Goddard, Jeffrey. "Conservation Importance of Midland".
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ "Midland – InsideSYN". www.insidesyv.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ a b Lieber, Ron (2016-10-20). "The School of Wants and Needs — and Wood-Fired Showers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-25.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Feb 3, 2017 at 10:20pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 1, 2016 at 4:24pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ a b c "TABS Mobile - School Profile". www.boardingschools.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 10, 2016 at 1:22am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Education in "Closing-the-Loop" | Cool California". www.coolcalifornia.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Writer, Raiza Canelon/Staff. "Midland School students install campus solar panels". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Orion Magazine | A Sun-Powered Campus". Orion Magazine. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 25, 2016 at 2:15am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Midland School (Los Olivos) (2015-09-03), About Midland School (Los Olivos, CA), retrieved 2017-02-04
- ^ "USATODAY.com - At Neverland, they believe". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Midland School Webpage. "Visiting Campus".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Oct 3, 2016 at 10:22pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Oct 1, 2016 at 3:49pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 28, 2016 at 8:37pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Santa Ynez Valley Online : Midland School Hosts "Run for the Sun"". syv-online.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Dec 10, 2016 at 11:47pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "blueNews". bluenews-blueenergy.blogspot.hk. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Scaling Grass Mountain". www.independent.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Website".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ Midland School Webpage. "Introducing Midland: What is Midland's Story?" (PDF).
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ a b c THOMAS, JEREMY. "Growing opportunity | News | Santa Maria Sun, CA". www.santamariasun.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Dec 8, 2016 at 7:19pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Flora and Fauna: Midland School". Wildling Museum. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "2016 Teen Arts Mentorship Exhibition - Arts Fund SB". www.artsfundsb.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 24, 2016 at 3:25am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 26, 2016 at 4:44pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 30, 2016 at 8:44pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 29, 2016 at 4:13pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 28, 2016 at 9:00pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 20, 2016 at 5:41pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Jobs Program".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ Midland School Webpage. "Jobs Program".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 7, 2016 at 5:52pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Sep 26, 2016 at 1:15am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram video by Midland School • Oct 14, 2016 at 7:33pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Oct 13, 2016 at 4:12pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Jan 24, 2017 at 7:38pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Farm | CCOF - Organic certification, education and outreach, advocacy and leadership since 1973". www.ccof.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "California Boarding School With Farming Program | Midland School". www.midland-school.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Jan 25, 2017 at 7:20pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram video by Midland School • Jan 10, 2017 at 12:26am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Oct 21, 2016 at 9:27pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Athletics".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Instagram photo by Midland School • Nov 14, 2016 at 10:05pm UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Board of Trustees".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Midland School Financial Aid".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Midland School Awarded California's Highest Environmental Honor". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Report, Staff. "Center for Ecoliteracy honors Midland School". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Report, Staff. "Midland wins top honor". Lompoc Record. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Goddard, Lise|Hahn. "Changing the Story: Making Renewable Energy Central to Learning". Independent School. 71 (3). ISSN 0145-9635.
- ^ "It is Easy Being Green at Midland School, California Association of Independent Schools, Faculty Newsletter" (PDF).
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "2005 Green Award Winners - Less Is More". www.lessismore.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ ": Midland School Receives National Schools of Character Award". www.enn.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School College Profile 2016-2017" (PDF).
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ "Midland Students Honored, Edhat, Santa Barbara".
{{cite news}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ jbailey@santamariatimes.com, Joe Bailey / Sports Writer /. "A legend's long-lasting roots". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Going BuzzFeed on Bill Bertka". www.independent.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Thurber, Jon (2004-08-24). "John Dreyfuss, 70; Former Times Architecture and Design Critic". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Reynolds, Christopher (2009-11-14). "Winter D. Horton Jr. dies at 80; co-founder of L.A. public television station KCET". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Awardees | SPJ / LA". spjla.org. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Carl Munger -- minister and activist". SFGate. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ OLIVER, MYRNA (2001-08-01). "Richard Nevins; Tax Policy Official". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 107th Congress First Session Vol. 147 Part 11. Government Printing Office.
- ^ "Mike Rubel, builder of area castle, dies at 67". Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Arent H. "Barry" Schuyler, Jr. | Department of Environmental Studies - UC Santa Barbara". www.es.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Arent H. "Barry" Schuyler 1923 – 2011". www.independent.com. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Brown University Alumni Magazine. "Obituary: Robert E. Sharkey".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help) - ^ Levere, Jane L. (2001-04-05). "Bill Kimpton, 65, the Chairman Of a Group of Boutique Hotels". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "Midland School Endowment Fund Webpage".
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=
(help)
External links
- http://www.midland-school.org Official Website of Midland School
- Summary of alumnus George Martin's work in broadcast journalism
- The Association of Boarding Schools profile
"Santa Barbara County, California" is an invalid category parameter for Template:Coord missing.
The problem is usually caused either by a spelling mistake or by an-over-precise category.
For a full list of categories, see Category:Unclassified articles missing geocoordinate data and its subcategories.
- Santa Barbara County, California articles missing geocoordinate data
- Boarding schools in California
- High schools in Santa Barbara County, California
- Preparatory schools in California
- Private high schools in California
- Santa Ynez Valley
- 1932 establishments in California
- Educational institutions established in 1932