Education: No Geniuses

A Yaleman, crossing Ohio's Western Reserve Academy in the twilight, would find the surroundings familiar; sons of Eli, who founded the school 120 years ago,† modeled its architecture after their memories of Yale. For many years the little "Yale of the West" also had a Yaleman for headmaster. But last week when it hired a new scholastic head, Western Reserve Academy signed on a Harvardman.

Western Reserve's 28th headmaster, John W. Hallowell, 37, has a lot in common with a fellow Harvardman, Phillips Exeter's new Principal William G. Saltonstall, 40 (TIME, June 17). Both...