1. Is it time for Dana Hall to embrace co-education?
Dana Hall must remain in its mission as an all girls’ boarding school despite its enrollment and financial instability. Embracing co-education may be one of the alternatives that can be considered to address its enrollment and financial instability but it will distort the historical mission of institution where it has been known for. Dana Hall, as an institution founded for girls’, must not change its orientation. The board of trustees and administration must reconsider finding other alternatives to make it more stable aside from selling its properties and inviting boys to enroll in the institution.
2. Develop a strong rationale for or against the notion of introducing co-education at Dana Hall. Is it a good idea?
Times are changing and many single-sex boarding schools have now opened their doors to co-education. Embracing co-education means transforming its teaching and learning styles, facilities and school policies. The school will automatically adapt to the change that would affect the thoughts, attitudes, and the existing relationships of students and their mentors. Bringing change to Dana Hall perhaps may be a good decision; however, this does not guarantee that the financial pressures and enrollment problems would be addressed. It will only cost Dana Hall more and may even cause more instability to the institution. The severity of its financial woes is a reflection that the school has an unstable leadership. Strengthening the leadership must be prioritized to ensure that right decisions are made without changing the mission that Dana Hall has been known for over the years.
3. What are the pros and cons? Provide a strong argument with evidence to back up your position.
Dana Hall has been struggling since its destabilization brought about by the turbulent years. The shrinking demography and financial troubles are attributed to leadership issues that hounded the school. The better opportunities for coed schools also adds as a factor on Dana Hall’s declined performance through the years.
Dana Hall considers co-education as among the alternatives for the school to survive. Significant changes are expected to happen at the school should it open its doors to coeducation. As funding opportunities are more open to coed schools, the option to change the school’s mission may help the school to generate more income to sustain its operations. Inviting boys to study at Dana Hall may increase the enrollment of the school. If it will consider partnership with other exclusive schools for boys, the administration and board of trustees will be strengthened. This will pave way for new ideas on sustenance and improvements to emerge. The selling of properties will be the least of the options as the network of donors and funders will widen in scope. The diversified school setting will become more marketable that will increase its advantage among its rival schools.
However, adapting a coeducation system will not guarantee the school’s survival. Implementing changes at Dana Hall entail additional investment and procurements. In order to maintain its high standards, the school has to adapt to the needs of both students and faculty. It will have to change its teaching styles, facilities and school facilities and introduce a new environment to the school. It may be pushed spend more than what it should spend especially if the administration and the board will not be able to close a deal with another exclusive school. There is no guarantee that a merger will occur with the growing number of private schools. In fact, the impact of recession pushes more parents to enroll their children to state-owned schools to save money and allocate it to their daily needs.
Dana Hall has been known for its historical mission for girls that fosters excellence in various fields inside a “vibrant and caring community.” It provides its students a “unique opportunity” that will enable them to face the challenges and choices of the real world. Dana Hall, therefore, must remain true to its mission. The reputation that it has built over the years must be its guiding path to strengthen its leadership. It has to employ strategic management to increase enrollment and gain more funding. Selling properties and opening to coeducation do not guarantee survival; instead, the administration must aggressively create a demand for an exclusive education encourage more parents to enroll their girls at Dana Hall. Investing for improvement rather selling-out the school will gradually lead to more benefits and sustain the school.
References:
Dana Hall School (n.d.). Dana Hall School: Mission Statement. Retrieved from http://www.danahall.org/about-us/mission-statement/index.aspx
Mael, F., Gibson, G., Alonso, A., Rogers, K., & Smith, M. (2005). Single-sex versus Coeducational Schooling: A Systematic Review. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/other/single-sex/single-sex.pdf
McFarlan, F. Warren, Herman B. Leonard, and Melissa Tritter. "Dana Hall: Funding a Mission (A)." Harvard Business School Case 306-090, June 2006. (Revised January 2007.)
