Bruce Entwisle
OPC ’72, Parent

I would consider myself to be a “traditionalist” by nature, and have fought hard over the years on a variety of subjects to resist change for the sake of change or convenience. I was one of a few in my day that didn't want to change the dress code from the traditional blue blazer and PC tie to first “blazer, but no tie,” and then to “no tie, no blazer,” and so on...I used to get laughed at because Ed Enoch and I were the last to wear bell bottoms (in retrospect, we were right). Having said that, it would be no surprise to learn that I was not in favor of the move to coeducation, but I was not in touch with the school in any significant way, and certainly didn't voice any objections. My thoughts, at the time, turned to sports, where I assumed we'd never be able to compete in the Inter-Ac in football, or any of the other “traditional” sports ever again.

Fast forward to the 90's where all of a sudden I'm faced with a family of 2 girls and 1 boy, as well as a public school system that is/was broken.

Long story short, I now have all the kids enrolled at the school, and couldn't be happier with my choice. More importantly, my kids love the school and are prospering nicely both academically and athletically. The coeducation aspect is vital to their enjoyment of the school which, among other things, eliminates the awkwardness adolescents often feel around people of the opposite sex. The school is still winning Inter-Ac championships (girls and boys), and the academic standards are still high.

In retrospect, I wish it had been coed in the late 60's, early 70's...So much for tradition!