Battle Ground Academy

Infobox Private School
background = #FF0000 (standard color)
border = #ccd2d9 (standard color)
name = Battle Ground Academy


motto = "Character, Scholarship, Excellence."
established = 1889
type = Private coeducational school
religion =
rel_head_name =
rel_head =
head_name = Headmaster
head = Dr. John Griffith
city = Franklin
state = Tennessee
country = United States
coordinates =
campus = Suburban
enrollment = 980
faculty = 69
class =
ratio =
year =
patron =
SAT =
ACT =
athletics =
colors = Blue and Gold
mascot = Wildcat
conference = Grifball League
homepage = http://www.battlegroundacademy.org
ceeb =

Battle Ground Academy (commonly known by the initials BGA) is an independent college-preparatory school for grades K-12 located in Franklin, Tennessee, USA. Founded in 1889, the school was originally located on part of the site of the Battle of Franklin in the U.S. Civil War. Two campuses comprise the BGA system today. The Harpeth Campus is located on Franklin Road and is home to grades K-4. The Glen Echo campus is located off Mack Hatcher Parkway and is home to grades 5-12.

History

Battle Ground Academy was established in 1889. Named due to its original location on the battle ground of the Civil War Battle of Franklin, BGA was founded on the principles of character, scholarship, and excellence.

The first campus was erected at the corner of Columbia Avenue and Cleburne Street. S.V. Wall and W.D. Mooney were chosen as the first to head the new academy. In 1902, the original school building burned and the school was relocated on a site on Columbia Avenue in Franklin.

BGA was established to educate young men, but young women were also allowed to attend. The school operated as a day school though students came from all over the South to attend. They boarded in private homes until the first dormitory was built in 1922, changing BGA to a boarding and day school.

After the construction of the first dormitory, the decision was made to go to an all male student body. The departure of the last women in 1929 ushered in a half-century when BGA was a boys' school in the absolute sense.

In the early 1970's, the boarding program was phased out, and the school was once again open to women before the decade ended. Thirty-seven enrolled the first year (1979) and the numbers have grown steadily since. At present, young women account for approximately 50 percent of the student body.

In 1996, the location of the Battle Ground Academy Upper School changed to its present site on Ernest Rice Lane off Mack Hatcher Parkway. In 2003, the Middle School joined the Upper School in this same location in brand new state-of-the-art facilities. These new facilities afforded the excellence in education and programs to continue. Additionally, in 1998, Battle Ground Academy acquired the former Harpeth Academy, and it became the BGA Lower School on Franklin Road. Currently, the school operates the two campuses and has the three divisions—Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School.

Traditions

BGA is proud of its long-standing traditions including the Greer and Plato societies, Tug Competition and Honor Code.

George I. Briggs, headmaster from 1925 through 1944, formed two literary societies at BGA in 1925. One society was the Greers in honor of Greer “Daddy” Peoples and the other society was named the Platos in honor of the Greek philosopher. Initially, societies were strictly literary in nature, but as the years passed, the activities broadened to include athletics. One of the primary purposes of the two societies has been the development of a sense of fair play and good sportsmanship. This great tradition carries on today and is an integral part of the school.

After many years of competition in sports and debates, the Greers and Platos societies engaged in their first tug-of-war in 1935. The first tug-of-war was held at the “Big Harpeth River at the point where it runs under the bridge on the Nashville Pike” (or the current Franklin Road). The Greers won the first event where “the crow overflowed the bridge and embankments and stretched in both directions down the pike.” In the early days, the rope was paraded down Main Street and position was decided by the flip of a coin.

Honor Code

Students learn about the Honor Code as early as kindergarten and follow it in some cases through their graduation from high school. Each student signs the Honor Code at the beginning of each year. Students also sign each paper with “I Pledge” indicating they pledge the Honor Code to all papers and assignments.

The code by which BGA students are supposed to adhere is as follows:

"I pledge my word of honor as a gentleman/lady that I have neither given nor received help on this work."

As a student of Battle Ground Academy, I personally pledge my honor as a gentleman/lady to uphold the following precepts:
#In that cheating is not only dishonorable but also harmful to myself and my fellow students, I pledge to refrain from the following:
##Giving and/or receiving aid on a quiz or test.
##Giving and/or receiving unauthorized aid on homework assignments.
##Violation of any specific rules/directions given by my teachers.
#I pledge to refrain from stealing or borrowing without permission property of another.
#I pledge to refrain from all deliberate distortions of the truth to my fellow students, to faculty members, and to all in authority.

Artist Guild

The BGA Artist Guild was established in 1987 after two senior art students approached the drama and art teachers and asked that a group be formed to recognize achievement in arts. The organization started small and met a couple of times a quarter for fun. As the Guild grew in size and prestige, the group began to have public performances. Guild Night has become a tradition that parents and students look forward to attending every year. The Artist Guild is a unique opportunity for BGA to encourage and recognize excellence in arts.

External links

* [http://www.battlegroundacademy.org/ BGA website]