Montgomery Bell Academy - Bell Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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In 1785 William Polk and James Robertson, who were sent as delegates from the frontier settlement of Nashville, influenced the General Assembly of North Caro- lina to pass an Act which authorized the charter for an academy of learning to be located in the Nashville community. So it was that Davidson Academy was established on December 27, 1785, with the stated purpose of providing educational opportunities for the youth of the area. From this beginning evolved the present day Montgomery Bell Academy. Thus, although our school did not exist as we know it now until 1867, the spirit and influence of MBA has been spread through- out Nashville almost since the city’s founding. Many of Nashville’s prominent busi- nessmen, lawyers, doctors, political leaders, and educators — both past and present — graduated from Montgomery Bell. Today, as a preparatory school for boys, the Academy continues to furnish many colleges, both local and national, with an abundant supply of well-trained students. All this MBA contributes to Nashville: tradition, civic leaders, and outstanding stu- dents. What does Nashville offer in return? Nashville is the sphere of life — the world of an MBA boy. Here he makes his first friends; he learns more and more about people — Nashville people. He meets life’s first challenges in our city: his first fight, his first time to be lost, his first athletic contest, his first dance, his first exam. He grows and matures in many ways through his Nashville experiences. In general, these experiences fall into three major categories — the physical, mental, and spiritual. Nashville provides an excellent background for physical de- V ■ ' ' 1

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Almost since the time of the city’s founding, Mont- gomery Bell Academy or its honored ancestors formed a part of the community’s educational and cultural life. From — History of Montgomery Bell Academy by James C. Rule

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velopment. Our future MBA boy can start early in athletic programs such as Knot- hole and Little League baseball and Gray-Y football. Furthermore, when a boy becomes of high school age, the city provides him with great opportunities for intra- city athletic competition. MBA boys have often excelled in city-wide football, bas- ketball, and tennis — as well as in other sports. However, Nashville is not only rich in sports programs but also well-equipped to train a boy mentally. Our city is known as the educational center of the South. Here are located a large number of accredited colleges and universities, as well as many high schools. MBA is at the top of this pyramid as a college preparatory school. An MBA boy, while already having received a good scholastic foundation, has the opportunity to receive a very fine college education right here in “The Athens of the South.” Finally, Nashville provides a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth. Many of the churches have been established since the city’s founding. From the old row on Church Street, our chapels, cathedrals, and synagogues have spread out all over Metropolitan Nashville. Sunday becomes a day of worship for the MBA boy as he attends his favorite church. This experience is reinforced during the week in chapel devotionals and talks. Thus we see that Nashville provides the environ- ment necessary to prepare a boy for life. Nashville and Montgomery Bell Academy combine this excellent background into an education that aids our MBA boy to grasp the higher goals of life. His broad experience leads him to a new perspective on his activities. Instead of reaching selfishly, he sets his eyes upon the ideals of . . . 3