History of Thompson Island
THOMPSON ISLAND’S EDUCATIONAL TIMELINE
A Unique Educational Tradition:
click here to read Learning by Doing History
1626
David Thompson, for whom the island is named, establishes a trading post on the island. Previously the island had been inhabited by Native Americans. During the next two centuries, ownership of the island changed several times. It was used primarily for grazing sheep.
1833
The Boston Farm School is established by a group of Boston philanthropists who purchase Thompson Island for $6,000. The Farm School is conceived to instruct young, at-risk boys (principally orphans or boys with single parents) in “agriculture, gardening, or other useful occupations as would contribute to their maintenance and tend to form in them habits of industry and order.”
The inaugural class of 14 boys lives first in the old Farmhouse and in the fall of 1833 they move to the newly constructed school building, inaccurately attributed to famed architect Charles Bulfinch.
1835
The Boston Asylum for Indigent Boys, an orphanage in the North End, merges with the Farm School. Re-named the Boston Asylum and Farm School for Indigent Boys, the school serves approximately 70 boys aged 5 to 11. Boys divide their time between farm work, study, play and chores.
1830’s to 1930’s
The addition of various farm infrastructures is an indication of the development of a broad farming program designed to both sustain the school community and prepare young men for useful occupation. Stock barn 1861, orchard expansion 1862, hen houses 1885, corn crib 1887, root cellar and hot beds 1903, compost shed 1906, new cow barn 1927, new poultry house 1929, chicken hatchery 1931.
1857
Superintendent William Morse overhears a group of students entertaining themselves by singing and creating a makeshift “orchestra.” He purchases a small collection of instruments for them and establishes the first school band in America. Six alumni go on to become members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
1881
The new Industrial Building, named for Board President George Augustus Gardner, was built to house carpentry, printing, blacksmithing and paint shops. These trades were added to the curriculum in keeping with changes brought on by the Industrial Revolution. Students perform jobs for the school as well as for mainland clients.
1888
Superintendent Charles H. Bradley encourages boys to develop the play village they created out of scrap materials. Applying the skills they learned in the woodworking shop, they build 12 small playhouses and dub the community “Cottage Row.” They create their own government, including elected officials, town meetings, and a justice system. It is one of the first civic education programs in America. It survived until 1939.
Circa 1900
As the industrial program is established, the boys start a newspaper, “the Beacon,” which records details of island life. By now, school enrollment hovers around 100 and accommodates boys aged 10 to 14. Electricity, telephone and water systems are installed early in the new century. Boys run a weather observatory, collecting, recording and telephoning data to the U.S. Weather Bureau.
1907
The school is renamed The Boston Farm and Trades School.
1936
The school embarks on an ambitious campus expansion to improve accommodations, adding new dorms, kitchen and dining facilities, and staff housing. Adams House 1936, Bowditch Hall 1939, and dormitories 1941.
1941
In Europe, renowned educator Kurt Hahn develops the first Outward Bound course, emphasizing character development and hands-on learning. His vision leads to the eventual establishment of more than 50 Outward Bound Schools in 35 countries.
1956
The school becomes a six-year secondary school and is renamed Thompson Academy. The farm program is significantly reduced. Students begin wearing coats and ties. Thompson Academy becomes renowned for its broad athletic program. The Gymnasium was added in 1960.
1961
The first Outward Bound school in the US is established in Colorado.
1975
The destruction of the main building by fire in 1971, adds to the school’s mounting financial difficulties and the board decides to graduate Thompson Academy’s final class in 1975. Under the new name of Thompson Island Education Center, the island hosts short-term educational trips to supplement Boston Public Schools’ curriculum. Female students are welcomed for the first time. The programs combine elements of two educational movements – Outward Bound and environmental education – with both ropes course and initiative challenges and explorations of the natural habitats of the island.
1988
The island’s Board of Trustees selects Outward Bound as a partner to operate the island, creating a new entity — Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center. The island continues its mission to serve underprivileged Boston youth with programs that instill teamwork, self-confidence and compassion, and that encourage learning by doing.
1992
Connecting with Courage, a 2-week Outward Bound expedition for adolescent girls, is created based on research by Dr. Carol Gilligan and others. This becomes the model for other summer expedition programs including Passages for boys, Intercept for at-risk youth, and Environmental Expeditions.
1994
Thompson Island Outward Bound opens an independent middle school for boys, called The Hynes-Willauer School. During its 12 years of operation, the school incorporated Outward Bound expeditions and Expeditionary Learning curriculum. In 2006 the school was closed.
1996
The Boston Harbor Islands, including Thompson Island, are designated a National Park Area.
1997
Thompson Island Outward Bound launches Choices, a school-based program centered on provision of week-long expeditions on Thompson Island for Boston Public School students and teachers at the middle school level. Over the next decade the program serves thousands of middle school students from over a dozen schools with activities that develop confidence, motivation, compassion, problem-solving and conflict resolution skills and which instill a commitment to diversity and social justice.
2005
Environmental education re-emerges as an opportunity to use the island to directly support academic learning. In response to requests from schools and school districts, curriculum-based activities are developed using the islands habitats and landforms. Thompson Island Outward Bound begins partnering with the National Park Service to develop and deliver these programs and to link student activities to research and stewardship projects sponsored by the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area.
2008
The island’s trustees formalize their commitment to integrate character and leadership development with curriculum-based environmental education. Harbor Connections, a long standing curriculum-based program, is absorbed into Thompson Island Outward Bound and the organization begins developing activities that are tied to Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks in science and math. Special attention is given to supporting critical learning objectives of Boston Public Schools in grades 5 – 8. By 2009 over 4,000 students from over 50 schools in greater Boston are participating.
