User:IanBruceMontgomery/St. Edmund's Academy

St. Edmund's Academy is an independent, non-sectarian, coeducational school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for pupils from Pre-Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.

The School of Yesterday Founded in the Episcopal tradition and with the approval of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1947 as Ascension Academy the school was housed in the Parish House of the Church of the Ascension during its early years. At first it was a self-described "bootstrap operation" starting with only a nursery, kindergarten and a first grade and adding one grade each year.

Soon after its founding the school had out grown the space available at Ascension and moved to the Parish House of the Church of the Redeemer in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh. While housed at Redeemer (and for many years after) the school used athletic facilities (the Church Gym), art facilities (an area above the Gym over the old bowling alley) and Chapel -- the nave of the Church. The School assembles for Thursday Chapel services to this day in the nave of the Church of the Redeemer -- its next door neighbor.

In 1954, thanks in large part to a donation of land by (the widow) Mrs. Edmund Seeley Mudge, a purpose-built building was erected on a plot of land adjacent to the Church of the Redeemer and a re-christened St. Edmund's Academy opened its doors at 5705 Darlington Road where in expanded facilities it still stands today.

Named after St. Edmund the Martyr the boy king of East Anglia who was killed by Viking invaders when he refused to become their vassal and turn his back on God to serve those who worshipped pagan deities, the spirit of the early school is captured by the Alma Mater -- written by choir master and first Head Master, Dr. J. Robert Izod --  and the school prayer.

Alma Mater St. Edmund's Academy We sing forth thy praise. We cherish the memories Of these happy days. In classroom and playing field With teacher and with friend Our loyalty will never yield But staunch be to the end.

So proudly the chorus raise Sound off with a cheer. As proudly we seek the ways To life without fear. We pledge our fidelity all honor unto you St. Edmund's Academy Our Alma Mater true

Prayer Take into Thy hands, oh God, this School and each member of it. Make it a place after Thine own heart, and help us to cast out all that is false or unclean. Give us a true desire to serve our fellow man, that shall grow in days to come into a wider desire to serve others the world over. Make us lovers of our homes, loyal to our country, and faithful to our Church. Grant that all of us, young and old, may fight onwards towards that perfect manhood that lies in front of us, that through us, Thy Kingdom may be built on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The spirit was one of the English prep school. Formality, Religious/Anglican/Episcopalian life and instruction, classical education, and patriotism. A quasi-praefect system with older boys assuming leadership roles and, in a limited way, leadership over younger boys (exemplified in the RSCM training in the choir room) was a central part of school life. However, the formality was peppered with fun, games, and a newer American focus on small classes, and individual attention.

These were things that were no longer possible in the growingly over crowded Pittsburgh public schools of the middle of the 20th Century but were ideals which many parents felt were essential in the education of boys [fighting] onward toward that perfect manhood that [lay] in front of [them].

The School of Today St. Edmund's has much the same purpose today as it did in 1947. It's Mission and Philosophy Statement illustrate this and its statement of core values point to a school looking to educate the whole young person to be prepared to take his or her role in a diverse modern society while still grounding itself in the spirt, if not the creeds, of the faith and tradition of the past. (See statement on Diversity and Chapel)