- Mailing Address
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5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, California 93023 - Phone
- (805) 646-4377
- Email address
- admission@thacher.org
- Website
- https://www.thacher.org/
- School Information
- "The philosophy of The Thacher School is rooted in the wisdom and work of its founder, Sherman Day Thacher, who embraced the extraordinary natural venue of his school and sought above all else to train his students “in the art of living for their own greatest good and for the good of their fellow citizens.” He believed the most worthwhile education combined a vigorous academic life with rugged outdoor activities that engendered self-reliance, concern for others, and fidelity to four principles: honor, fairness, kindness, and truth" (Source: https://www.thacher.org/explore/philosophy-and-mission). Thacher was founded in 1887. Thacher has 259 students and a student to faculty ratio of 4 to 1.
- General Information
- Thacher has engaged in the movement for anti-racism on numerous levels. Thacher has incorporated DEI and anti-racism into its curriculum. Events, programs, and initiatives surround these concepts at Thacher. Furthermore, Thacher has instituted student, faculty, and staff training on these concepts through affinity groups and workshops. See developments below:
Actions Taken
- Curriculum Changes and Requirements
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Thacher will "engage an external DEI consultant to provide a full audit of our institutional policies and practices, as well as conduct a complete inventory of our curriculum."
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On October 1, 2020, Thacher announced that, "Visiting Anacapa Scholar Dr. Gaye Theresa Johnson is leading faculty professional development in building curricula that actively oppose racism and other forms of oppression and working with the history department to develop an ethnic studies curriculum for all students. All faculty will work with Equity Meets Design on a full DEI inventory of our curriculum beginning this winter."
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- Faculty/Staff Requirements
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On February 2, 2021, Thacher announced that "the faculty is participating in a year-long course aimed at developing anti-racist practices and curriculum." In addition, "faculty, administrators, and students have started training sessions in equity-based design."
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On October 1, 2020, Thacher announced, "We have engaged Stratégenius, a placement firm specializing in recruiting historically underrepresented groups to independent schools, to audit our hiring, recruitment, and retention processes; provide anti-bias training to all those involved in recruitment and retention work; and to design and run a national search for our next dean of students. We have expanded our group of counselors to include three additional BIPOC therapists specializing in issues of race and identity."
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On August 22, 2020, Thacher released a statement on Facebook discussing faculty workshops for inclusion and "restorative justice." This post was also featured on its Instagram and Twitter accounts.
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- Symbolic Actions
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Thacher will "hire additional BIPOC faculty and increase their representation in leadership roles."
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Thacher will "assemble a DEI task force to guide our ongoing work and to hold the school accountable."
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On June 5, 2020, Thacher responded to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery by releasing a statement saying, "We must condemn the racism and anti-black violence that is all too common and stand in solidarity with those who challenge it."
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On July 28, 2020, Thacher released a statement saying, "In our recent alum forums and through the alum-created Black, Indigenous, People of Color at Thacher (BIPOC@thacher) Instagram account, I have listened and read as Thacher students and alums of color share their experiences enduring discriminatory and racist acts on our campus perpetrated by adults and fellow students, often tacitly or explicitly condoned by onlookers."
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On November 12, 2020, Thacher held an event titled, "Understanding and Disrupting Racial Battle Fatigue." Thacher has also held numerous other events incorporating the concepts of anti-racism.
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On July 24, 2019, Thacher announced that its MayHEM courses would have a DEI emphasis.
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In September 2017, Thacher hired its first director of diversity and inclusion, and on March 6, 2018, Thacher conducted an interview with the aforementioned.
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On April 22, 2021, Thacher released a statement in response to Derick Chauvin's verdict.
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On August 18, 2020, Thacher released a statement on Facebook saying, "Our School's mission is to train young men and women in the art of living in a diverse and changing world. As the voices of many in our community have made clear, we have not always been the inclusive and caring environment that we aspire to be. To that end, School leadership and our Board of Trustees are embarking on a process of institutional self-examination with concrete actions to do better for our current students and the generations of students to come." This post was also featured on its Instagram and Twitter accounts.
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On June 2, 2020, Thacher released a statement on Facebook stating, "The Thacher community strives to live by the values of honor, fairness, kindness, and truth. In the ugly face of anti-black racism and injustice in our country - its long history and current force - we must begin by telling the truth or there can be no fairness, no kindness, no honor, no change." This post was also featured on its Instagram account.
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