A Message from the Director - The Putney School

Back in October, a group of intrepidstudents and faculty thought itwould be a good idea to get upearly one Sunday morning (or lateone Saturday night, depending onyour point of view) and race thesunrise up Mt. Monadnock. Fromleft are Student Co-Head of SchoolJack ’12, Kitt ’13, Academic DeanAnn-Marie White (seated), AndrewMorrison, Ellie ’13 (yellow jacket),and Noah ’12, who has worked hardto establish a weekend outdooradventure program. The sunrisecame in second, but everybody won.A Message from the DirectorDear Putney alumni, parents, and friends,Emily JonesDirector ofThe Putney SchoolSeven quotations are written on the walls of thelibrary building hallway. Two of my favorites arethese:“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you,then they fight you, then you win.”—Mohandas Gandhi“If you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em‘Certainly I can!’ and then get busy and find outhow to do it.”—Theodore RooseveltBoth quotes speak to the kind of gumption wehope to find in Putney students. The place seemsto have turned out many graduates with gumption,and in this issue you will find stories ofseveral of them. Most students don’t leave hereknowing what they will take on in their lives,what kinds of jobs they will have, or how theywill choose to make themselves useful. Readingthe stories from Steve Heyneman ’61, NathanWilliamson ’95, and many alumni taking onclimate change and other environmentalproblems, it is clear that it is more importantto have an enterprising attitude and generalcompetence than it is to already know the particularskills you’ll need. Skills can be learned asneeded, but casting character takes more time.Although Putney’s academic program is a primaryfocus for me, my guess is that both gumptionand competence come to a great degree fromour work program. American society typicallykeeps teenagers idle far longer than adolescentsfrom other cultures or other periods of history;most 16-year-olds through the ages have beenworking, apprenticed, or starting families. Thefrontal lobes are the part of the brain wherejudgment resides, and they are the last part of thebrain to finish developing. This crucial wiring isachieved by practicing the control of impulses,by experiencing the natural consequences ofdecisions, and by needing to accomplish thingsin real time. You can’t learn judgment by sitting2 Putney post

in a classroom anymore than you can learn to ski there.The decision-making brain is shaped by experience. TomKardel writes in this issue about his first term as dean ofstudents, and about the beginning of his understanding of howPutney is different; it is no wonder to me that he writes of thework program. Having been here nearly five years now, I amno longer surprised by the ways that Putney is different fromother schools, but the fact that Putney alumni consistentlyprove the worth of this education continues to be a delight.—EmilyPutney PostThe Putney SchoolElm Lea Farm418 Houghton Brook RoadPutney, VT 05346802-387-5566www.putneyschool.orgThe PutneySchool’s Wish ListThere are a few things we need.If you’re downsizing or justclearing clutter, please keepus in mind.n Piano: Large grand (9')n Piano: Smaller grand (6')n Kayaksn Camping equipmentAll donations would need to be in goodcondition. Scratches and dents are fine.Please contact Christie Baskett for moreinformation at 802-387-6272 orcbaskett@putneyschool.orgEmily H. Jones, Director2011–2012 TrusteesTonia Wheeler P’99, ChairIra T. Wender P’77, ’89, Vice ChairRandall Smith, TreasurerPat Dodge, ClerkKevin Feal-Staub P’15, Faculty TrusteeJanine Hamilton ’73, P’11, Faculty TrusteeLyssa Jackson ’12, Student TrusteeChava Lansky ’12, Student TrusteeLakshman Achuthan ’84Wilfredo Benitez ’81Jill Carr P’09Tim Daly ’74, P’07Joan Williams Farr ’49Freddy Friedman P’12Dana Hokin ’84Margaret L. Jemison ’78Emily H. JonesPeggy King Jorde ’76, P’10William P. Kellett G’02Josh Laughlin ’82Christopher Lehmann-Haupt ’52William New, M.D.Franz W. Paasche ’79Marni Rosner ’69, P’04,’07Anne S. StephensJames E. Thompson ’74The Putney Post is published twiceyearly for the alumni, parents, and friendsof The Putney School. We welcome yourcomments and ideas. Please direct yourcorrespondence to: The Editor, Putney Post,Elm Lea Farm, 418 Houghton Brook Road,Putney, VT 05346; 802-387-6238;email: putneypost@putneyschool.orgEditorial Board: Christie Baskett, Rick Cowan,Don Cuerdon, Alison Frye, Emily JonesPublisher: Don CuerdonDirector of CommunicationsEditor: Alison FryeAlumni Relations ManagerAlumni Relations Manager: Alison FryeDirector of Development: Christie BaskettPhotographs: Don Cuerdon, Alison Frye,Annie Petersen, The Putney School ArchiveswoodwardesignPlease send address corrections andnew phone numbers to the Alumni Office,The Putney School, Elm Lea Farm,418 Houghton Brook Road,Putney, VT 05346;phone: 802-387-6213; fax: 802-387-5931;email: cfogg@putneyschool.orgfounder:carmelitahinton