The Mysteries of Beaver: The Courtyard of Dead Teachers

MADDY KIEFER '08

After seven years at this school, I have noticed dozens of random, curious, sketchy and frankly plain-old-creepy things about our school’s campus, be it a blocked-off room, a weird comment scratched into a table, or an unexplained storage cabinet that almost nobody has ever been in. My new weekly column is dedicated to finding, investigating and solving the mysterious secrets that Beaver holds within its walls. While it has taken me seven years to discover this much, you, lucky reader, will have a head start. And remember, if you have discovered any more mysteries or oddities at Beaver, send me an email and I’ll make sure to look into it. So, without further ado, I now present the first Beaver Mystery.

The Courtyard of Dead Teachers
It is likely that many students have noticed the dog statue located next to the weeping willow in the courtyard at Beaver, which commemorates Shelley Tyre, the Head of the Middle School from 1977 to 1987. The statue is apparently modeled after Corey, Tyre’s Bernese Mountain Dog, who used to sit in her office during the day. In 1987, Tyre moved to Thayer Academy, where she was also the Head of the Middle School until she died tragically while scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands in 1999. According to witnesses, her husband, David Swain, surfaced without his wife after being underwater for about thirty minutes. Not long after, someone discovered Tyre’s body eighty feet below. The question was: why did Swain abandon her, and how did she drown? Both Swain and Tyre were expert scuba divers, so not only is it surprising that she drowned, but it is also unclear why he never even attempted to revive her. Most experienced scuba divers would be familiar with CPR in case of emergency, but Swain didn’t even bother to bring her ashore.

A few years later, Tyre’s parents brought the case to court. Evidence showed that Swain had cut off Tyre’s air supply, and Swain was found liable and fined $3.5 million in February 2006. On one website, someone (presumably a former student of Tyre at Thayer) commented, “[Swain] is a f-ing weirdo, shelly was my middle school principal... he made a speech to the school a few days after her death w/ a grin on his face, giving thumbs up- ‘wasn't shelly a neat character?’ not a drop of sadness in his voice... just creepy... we were all suspicious even then.”

Tyre’s influence at our school remains, even beyond the dog statue in the courtyard. Every year, a handful of Middle Schoolers are awarded the “Shelley Tyre Good Stuff Award” in her memory.

While Tyre’s story is likely the most dramatic, and while the dog is the most prominent memorial in the courtyard, she is not the only teacher being remembered there. There are a number of plaques throughout the area, prompting Mr. Gow to call it “the Courtyard of Dead Teachers.” Mary L. Clendenin and Constance Churchyard both taught English at Beaver from the mid 1920s until the late '40s. Vivienne White is honored for her service as School Secretary from 1930-1966, and Emily Walle Harris, founder of Beaver’s music program, is appreciated for her 23 years of teaching music. Although these teachers’ histories may not be quite as captivating as Tyre’s is, and while they don’t have a cute dog in memory of them, they are nonetheless appreciated for their dedication to our mysterious school.

Sources:
Interview with Mr. Gow
http://www.jamestownpress.com/news/2006/0302/News/010.html
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/04/22/parents_suspicions_spur_criminal_probe_in_drowning/
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view.bg?articleid=1064926
http://www.divester.com/2006/02/27/david-swain-found-guilty-of-drowning-his-wife-on-dive-trip/

Image of statue by Maddy Kiefer
Image of Tyre from: http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20060221_swain21.d9bdb09.html

Correction March 11, 2008: corrected a little legal wording; Swain was found liable, not guilty.

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SNOW DAY!!! (1/14)

DAN KATZ '08

At approximately 10:23 pm, Peter Hutton made the decision to cancel school for Monday, January 14th. Hundreds of eager Beavers were glued to their computer and televisions screens, awaiting the prompt updates. Anger spilled out immediately over the delay of the announcement, shown by the comments on the post previous to this one. We, as Beaver Students, are well aware of the administration's hatred of "unneeded" snow days, and we were worried that this storm would fail to phase Mr. Hutton on his 300 ft walk to school. However, the recent announcement of Hutton's decision rekindled our love for our headmaster, only lost during a brief period of doubt.

We at the newspaper were prepared to attack any refusal to cancel school on Monday. As staff member Maddy Kiefer wrote: "As a new driver, I feel that I am compromising my safety in coming to school, so, if we don't have a snow day, I will be forced to choose: my education, or my safety?"

However, now all that is left to do is rejoice! Happy first snow day of 2008!

In honor of snow days of the past: (brought to you by Toph & Willy Tucker)

Read more for "Top Six Things to do During a Beaver Snow Day."

TOP SIX THINGS TO DO DURING A BEAVER SNOW DAY

6. Come to the realization that your local library has a digital checkout system that allows each patron to take up to 99 books out at once. 99 books! Mountains of books! Wonderful books! NO, NOT TO READ! This is a snow day! When you're settled from the excitement, print a list of the 60+ books you somehow carted home and spread them around town: in the snow, in the dumpster, under the car. Then send everyone on a scavenger hunt. Hand out prizes for first book found and most books found in total. Reserve a special last place award for anyone who spontaneously decides to read a book. Double Grand Prize goes to you, in the end, when they all head out to return the books. Then you won't owe $112.50 per day when they all become overdue at once.

5. Take a jog over to Beaver and knock on Peter Hutton’s front door. Ask to come in, and he should comply. Sit him down, and explain to him the need for a school day despite the weather. Let the tears shed as you explain to him all of the knowledge you missed from his decision, and because of that your entire future has been compromised. Today’s lesson on Algorithmic Art could have led to a successful career and fulfilling life. BUT NO! You were forced to stay home and drink hot chocolate, and now all has been lost. In addition, you lost the $165 it costs for a school day at beaver, and you expect someone to refund your money. THANKS A LOT PETER HUTTON!

4. Bundle up and find something--or someone--to ride around on, and force them to make weird squawking noises. Speak into your wrist from time about the desolateness of your surroundings. Then find a polar bear (or abominable snowman), have it eat your friend and take you to its cave, and then escape by cutting off its arm. Collapse in the snow and hallucinate until someone finds you. (Confused?)

3. Come on! Be cliché! Just make a snowman! BUT be creative: dress it up as your favorite Beaver faculty member so you don’t miss them too much during your time away. If you take a picture and send it to us, we will be sure to post it!

2. Recite a Lord of the Rings speech in front of the entire student body as your presidential campaign speech.

1. DO HOMEWORK…and then read the Beaver Newspaper!

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In Anticipation of a Possible Snow Day (1/14)

DAN KATZ '08

UPDATE: CLOSED!!! More coming soon!

We, the newspaper staff, are awaiting Peter Hutton's decision on tomorrow's snow storm. It is 10:20, and Newton and Brookline have both been closed. However, Beaver prides itself on their bravery when it comes to having school despite a storm. It aimed to shed its reputation of frequent snowdays, and has accomplished just that.

Keep posted to the Newspaper's site for snow updates, and tips on how to spend a snow day.

P.S: Mr. Hutton, we beg of you...
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