5
ideas in SPS classrooms. He made a clear
distinction between a student’s knowledge
(memorized facts) of a topic versus under-
standing; the ability to take knowledge
and apply it to relevant situations. Teach-
ers sat by department and discussed
developing assessments based on these
principles – how to provide assessments
that are part of the learning process. The
workshop sparked many ideas for faculty
to apply to their classrooms.
Stand Up to Violence
When Byron Hurt asked each male in
Memorial Hall to stand up if he had a
woman in his life about whom he cared,
every
male student and faculty member
rose in acknowledgment.
“Most people tend to believe that vio-
lence and aggression against women is a
women’s issue,” said Hurt, a documentary
filmmaker, published writer, anti-sexist
activist, and lecturer.
Hurt, the keynote speaker on a day
devoted to celebrating the life of Martin
Luther King Jr., admitted that he had not
considered violence against women to be
an issue that would impact his life until
news of a serial rapist near his Long
Island home put his mother and sister
on high alert. He became a voice against
violence and sexism when asked by a
mentor if he considered himself a leader
and began to question his own beliefs.
Hurt was brought to St. Paul’s after
Dean of Students Chad Green and other
faculty members heard him speak at a
conference last year. “The topic of sexual
violence and violence against women is
not an easy one to address,” said Green.
“It was wonderful to have him here to
engage our community in such an open
and honest way.”
Implicit in Hurt’s message was the idea
of sexism in society, particularly as it
impacts the growth of boys. Hurt stood
in front of an easel on the Memorial Hall
stage, writing down all the words shared
by male students and faculty that boys
associate with being a “man’s man.” Words
ranged from “tough” to “honorable” to
“strong” to “powerful” to “fearless” to
“womanizer.”
Hurt continued by talking about the
“different realities” faced by men and
women. When he polled the men in the
room about what they do in their daily
lives to protect themselves from sexual
assault, the only response was “nothing.”
But asked the same question, the women
in the room responded with a series of
actions, including carrying pepper spray,
traveling in groups, keeping tabs on their
beverages in public, avoiding eye contact,
and dressing modestly.
Squash Tech
One visit to the McLane Squash Courts
reveals the impact new head coach Chris
Smith is having on the St. Paul’s School
squash program.
Smith was brought in to help take the
Big Red’s squash program to the next
level. And he’s already doing that, in part
through technological advancements to
the School’s facilities.
TV scoreboard and venue displays,
iPads, and a building-wide sound system
were added to the halls of McLane this
fall. The changes allow Smith to make
practices more efficient and offer student-
athletes the ability to make on-the-spot
technique adjustments. The technology
is also designed to enhance game-day
experiences for spectators, which, Smith
says, is unique to St. Paul’s.
“We now have one of the most technol-
ogically advanced venues in the country,”
explains Smith, a former top-15 Profes-
sional Squash Association tour player.
“Now you’ve got a live update on every
court – at two venue displays – and no
one else is doing that yet.”
Smith’s coaching and playing back-
grounds have prepared him for success
as an independent school coach. He is a
product of Tabor Academy, who played
his college squash at Hobart, captaining
the team as a senior. He built his coaching
r
é
sum
é
at the college level, where he was
instrumental in establishing the North-
eastern University squash program in
2004 before moving on to roles as assist-
ant coach and head of recruiting at
Harvard (2007-11). While at Harvard, he
helped lead the 2010 women’s team to a
national title. From 2004 to 2006, Smith
coached the U.S. Junior Men’s National
Squash Team.
“It was wonderful
to have him here to
engage our community
in such an open
and honest way.”
– Chad Green, Dean of Students
Coach Chris Smith uses innovations in tech-
nology to analyze his players’ techniques
in real time.
JANA F. BROWN
KAREN BOBOTAS
