Letter to the editor: Kiski's values will never change

Kiski Prep, moving beyond its all-male student body, is changing in a way that reflects the realities of America today. This is not some shrouded attempt for Kiski to become “woke.”

Kiski needed to adapt and change to reflect important financial and social realities. While this change has caused an emotional response by some alumni, I believe that the addition of girls to the student body will be a new and dynamic chapter for Kiski Prep.

Kiski’s headmaster will retire next year after more than a decade of tenure. With a new headmaster, Kiski will embrace its 2024 co-ed students and will continue to adapt and change to an ever-increasingly dynamic educational environment. For current and future students, Kiski will remain true to its fundamental, traditional core values, which represent the best of what America is today. They will thrive and become leaders as they have done for some 135 years.

Some 50 years ago, while at Kiski, one of my math teachers told me as we debated a more liberal school policy, “Sure, you want changes now, but the day you leave Kiski, you’ll want everything to stay the same. And that’s not possible.”

He, like most of my teachers, was wise. I hope the same is true today of Kiski’s teachers and alumni.

Truth be told, if Kiski’s founders were alive today, they’d say that Kiski changed every year since 1888 — some years more than others — but the core values of the school have remained steadfast. That’s what matters.

Jeff Birrell

McLean, Va.

The writer is a member of Kiski’s Class of 1976.