My previous post violated the terms of the website, but did want to make the community aware that Lisa MacFarlane will be leaving Exeter at the conclusion of this school year and returning to UNH. Hers is an awfully short tenure, having only been at the school for 2.5 years.
More information can probably be found on the website. The announcement today contained a note from the BoT and a note from Principal MacFarlane.
Wow. Short tenure!
A lot of head of school positions to fill - this, SPS (leaving in 2019), NMH. Any others?
Excellent news I am sure for many who have been extremely disappointed with her tenure. No doubt the recent MLK Day fiasco played a role.
@SatchelSF what happened on MLK Day?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Let’s not derail the thread, but to answer the question:
https://www.factsoverfeelings.org/blog/activist-lourdes-ashley-hunter-loses-control-verbally-abuses-student-during-high-school-keynote
Further discussion warrants a separate thread. But keep in mind that the previous thread on the MLK topic got out of hand quickly and another mod deleted it for ToS violations.
Oh boy, thanks for the scoop @skieurope :-S
Thanks for posting this @momof3nyc
This type of information is very important to know. For some families, it will impact decisions. Where you send your child and what information they are “taught” is going to be a big issue ahead. I’d personally like to know about something like this. Must have been really uncomfortable for the student.
@Happytimes2001 this occurred in front of the entire assembly and a faculty member was also involved. It was a horrendous situation and the leadership is at fault–well beyond the primcipal alone but of course she sets the tone
Very interesting link provided to give the story. 10 seconds reading that site should be enough to heavily discount the facts presented there. Now I wonder what really happened…
Why do I suspect the student was doing his best to cause a problem because of the nature of the event? I wonder what Ben Shapiro thinks about this??
@GnarWhail actually what happened was far worse than what is outlined on that link. The student was not agitating: his question was in response to comments made by the speaker which made little sense.
Hotchkiss now has a solid, strong, capable head of school in place who has elevated the overall atmosphere. After several years of transition, it is good to be on the other side, with a steady leader at the helm, buckled in for the long haul. Transitions are scary but that doesn’t mean bad.
My child’s first hand account of what happened in the keynote was worse than is stated in the article. However he knows someone who was in the breakout session and that was horrendous as well.
No student ( or admin) should be subjected to militant/radical/ANY opinions that cannot be questioned. Shutting others down with diatribes is not democratic or inline with intellectual discourse. Though it seems to be acceptable to some. Listening to others opinions and responding in a polite manner is the way to go. That’s across the board in school, work, socially, everywhere. Wow, I see parents voting with their feet. As parents we need to decide what the environment at a specific BS is like. I cannot see 300 smart kids sitting there and listening without asking questions in any presentation. Glad the issue was taken care of and I hope the student didn’t suffer any negative feedback from asking a simple question. I remember fierce discussions in college followed by beers afterwards as friends. What happened to respecting differences of opinion?
Wonder if the increase in these kinds of incidents had anything to do with ousting her:
http://www.unionleader.com/Jury-sides-with-PEA-student-fighting-expulsion-over-sexual-encounter
Can you confirm 100% that she was actually ousted or is that just speculation?
Lisa MacFarlane is returning to UNH in some unspecified role. Even the President of the entire UNH system earns about 30-40% less than the Principal of Exeter. And MacFarlane is not going to be running anything again I bet.
David Hume pretty much settled the debate about what is 100% knowable almost 300 years ago, but I suspect that even he would have had little reason to be skeptical that MacFarlane was forced out. I wonder if the kids at Exeter today have any time to learn about Hume, what with all the pressing social justice issues to mull over?
Someone please let Choate’s headmaster know there is an opening. I think both schools could benefit with a change.
I wouldn’t assume all folks make a decision purely on $$. I wouldn’t take a headmaster job right now even if they doubled the current salary.
As an example, you have to deal with crap like this that would predate your tenure yet you still get the fallout:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180206/ex-phillips-exeter-teacher-accused-of-sexual-misconduct
According to the 990’s, the base salary for each is comparable. Analyzing the “other” (housing/retirement, etc) is a bit of apples and oranges. But I get the point that she is certainly not returning to UNH for the money.