Lynn Yoakum Taylor - Ojai Valley School

The Campus History Series

OJAI VALLEY
SCHOOL

OJAI VALLEY SCHOOL. The seal of Ojai Valley School (OVS) was designed in 1982 by Mary Tilbury. The oak tree stands for strength and courage. As noted by Edward Yeomans, the words Integer Vitaemeaning wholeness of life, symmetry of life, soundness of life, and therefore, poise and strength of lifeare the principles on which he based his school. This book celebrates the first 100 years of Ojai Valley School and its predecessor, the Bristol School. It also recounts the schools progress into the second decade of the 21st century. (Courtesy of the Ojai Valley School.)

ON THE COVER: Children built a replica of Caernarvon Castle in Wales as an English project in the 1930s. The castle was designed by faculty member John Phillip Ascott. The children made cement blocks at a scale of one half inch per foot for the castles construction. (Courtesy of the Ojai Valley School.)

The Campus History Series

OJAI VALLEY
SCHOOL

LYNN YOAKUM TAYLOR

Copyright 2014 by Lynn Yoakum Taylor
ISBN 978-1-4671-3264-0
Ebook ISBN 9781439648711

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014941888

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This book is dedicated to my classmates from the class of 1966, the second graduating class and to my husband, John, whom I met at a Thacher dance in the fall of 1961, when I was in the eighth grade at OVS.
We were married in Thachers outdoor chapel in 1987.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

The contributions that OVS alumni have made, both to the school and to the communities in which they live and work, are greatly valued. Each year, new graduates venture into the world and join a global alumni community that is united by warm memories of OVS.

Having celebrated its centennial year in 2011, and preparing to celebrate 50 years at Upper Campus in 2015, the school has reached important milestones and has much for which to be grateful. Thanks to generous alumni and families, there have been many positive developments in programs and facilities over the years, but much also remains unchanged.

The hallmarks of the education that our students experiencehigh academic standards; supportive teachers; and a small community where young people learn to build character, integrity, and confidencesolidly endure and can be succinctly stated in two words: Integer Vitae, meaning wholeness of life, symmetry of life, soundness of life, and therefore, poise and strength of life.

Such was the vision of our founder, Edward Yeomans, and it was further reinforced by his successors, including my mentor and predecessor, Mike Hermes (L53), who embodied the essence of what it means to be a loyal alumnus: dedication to family and community.

Special thanks go to another loyal graduate and alumna, Lynn Yoakum Taylor (L63, U66), who worked tirelessly and diligently with our alumni office staff in creating this wonderful pictorial history of Ojai Valley School. All of us can take great pride in the images and descriptions she selected to represent the fascinating story of the schools growth and development. From such rich and fertile soil, the family tree of Ojai Valley School has grown and flourished, now with a broad and diverse network of loyal alumni, families, and friends branching out each year.

I encourage you to stay connected to your alma mater, and to one another, by keeping Ojai Valley School updated on your family, career, educational and volunteer pursuits, and other news. Please contact OVS today and be sure to visit campus whenever you find yourself in Ojai.

Michael J. Hall-Mounsey
President/CEO

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The foundational historical work on the school by Patricia Fry, A Thread to Hold, and her book on the Ojai Valley, The Ojai Valley: An Illustrated History, were invaluable in the preparation of this book. Two additional books on the Ojai Valley written under the auspices of the Ojai Valley Museum and published by Arcadia Publishing (Images of America: Ojai and Postcard History Series: Ojai) provided additional images and historical information. OVS publications such as Family Tree and various alumni newsletters were also very useful. Edward Yeomanss educational treatise, Shackled Youth, provided insight into the founding principles of the school.

Reviews and suggestions by Dok Smith (U65), Spencer Garrett (U65), Ruth Huyler Glass (L63), Kirk Warren (U65), Anne Gottsdanker (U67), and members of the schools administrative team, especially Tracy Wilson, were also much appreciated. (Note that the designations L63, U65, and so forth throughout the book refer to the completion of studies at either the Lower or Upper Campus.)

The author wishes to extend special thanks to John Taylor for his assistance, edits, and advice on computer issues in the development of this labor of love. I also wish to thank the Ojai Valley School alumni staff, led by Will Wyman, and including Malory Taylor and Stacey Sheets, for assisting me in gaining access to the school archives and photographs. My thanks go to each of you for helping me tell this story of a place and time near and dear to me.

All photographs are courtesy of Ojai Valley School unless otherwise noted. Images drawn from the Ojai Valley Museum collection are noted with the initials OVM.

INTRODUCTION

In his 1921 book Shackled Youth, Edward Yeomans lays out the educational philosophy he envisioned and implemented when he founded Ojai Valley School. Yeomans believed that outdoor life was far more stimulating than a structured classroom environment. He dreamed of instilling in students a love of nature, music, shop work, and art by experiencing instead of telling. He believed that children should live the lesson: if teaching the parts of a horse, use a barn as the classroom; if teaching landforms, take a child mountain climbing and show him or her the layers of the earth in rock formations. Each teacher personified the philosophy of the school as exemplified by the words from Psalm 1:3, carved by Yeomans over the main arch of the old assembly hall: And he shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. Building on this, OVS continues to demonstrate excellence in education. This book chronicles the history and development of this remarkable educational institution.

A FOUNDERS THOUGHTS. Shown here is a model of Caernarvon Castle created by students as an example of Yeomanss philosophy.

One

A LITTLE HISTORY

THE THRESHOLD. Over the course of OVSs first 100 years, more than 5,340 children have enrolled to be educated by dedicated teachers who measure their own success by the success of their students. Students from 34 countries have come to seek the academic and social guidance that would allow them to contribute to the diverse global community. More than 2,400 students have come from the United States, with the remainder from as far away as China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea. From its roots in 1911, the school has followed the same motto: Nothing less than your best. Each student is encouraged to reach his or her full potential, both academically and socially. This book describes the experiences of those students during the schools first century. Over this span of years, there have been 23 heads of school at the Upper and Lower Campuses. Karen Morse, seen here at the threshold of the Lower Campus, became the new head of school of the Lower Campus in 2012.