Gabby Beckham ’27, Feature Writer

Image of Newark Academy’s 1929 forth/final location in Livingston, NJ (Courtesy of Ad Lumen- Our History Website).

Founded in 1774, Newark Academy (NA) has stood the test of time as one of the oldest independent schools in the United States. From its early days to now modern day education, our school has always been a reflection of the world around it, evolving with the changing times of the 21st century. We have grown into a diverse community with excellent teachers, immersive experiences, and an overall exceptional education and learning environment for all. As a community, we are always constantly growing and by doing so, looking towards what the future may bring.  

But now, what if we reflected and shifted ourselves back to one hundred years ago to 1925. A time of change, the Roaring Twenties brought jazz music, new fun fashion, and a spirit of creativity that would later impact future generations.  

But what did the NA students, faculty, and staff of 1925 imagine the school might look like currently, 100 years later? Were they thinking about sprawling campuses, new teaching methods, or innovations that would change NA as a whole? By looking through our own lens and reflecting on different possible perspectives of what life may have actually been like, it can inspire us to wonder what the current NA community imagines for its future, 100 years from now. Let’s hear from our community members’ perspectives…  

In 100 years, I think that artificial intelligence will be what NA will look like in ten years. So 100 years from now it will be incredibly difficult to peg at this moment…… Similar to the rise of the internet, I would hope that it would be a place of deep human connection and learning, but the tools we will be utilizing are already beyond our wildest dreams. – Mr. Barkett

I think in 100 years knowledge will be drinkable. Simply, there will be a place you go to get milkshakes and a sip of something. It will be delicious. Knowledge-wise. – Mr. Hawk

In 100 years, I think the school will be very high-tech and we won’t use paper anymore and there won’t be that many students. – Madi Coke ‘27

Even though students one hundred years ago couldn’t have predicted every detail similar to now, the core values of NA in 1925 were probably not so different from what we see today, continuing to maintain our focus on nurturing thoughtful, ambitious individuals who will one day change the world in our own unique way.  

Lots of digitization. I think that they would definitely find ways to make AI a part of the curriculum and in a productive manner. – Sayuj Sharma ‘27

NA in 100 years will still be here, but obviously everyone and everything will be different. – Avery Sampson ‘28 

In 100 years, the building will be expanded to allow for more student spaces and robots. The average class size will be around 140, 150.  I think we will have more impressive art spaces , like theaters, better auditoriums for performances, and better rooms for video, photography, etc. There will be a new dining hall and kitchen. We will grow some of the food we eat in the dining hall and maybe the football team will win one game. – Mr. Coe 

Overall, it seems crazy to even think about what NA will be like in 100 years. If we reflect about how much things have changed over the past century, like technology, the way we learn, even how we communicate, the possibilities seem endless for imagining where things will go next. While we can’t exactly predict how things will turn out, one thing’s for sure that the spirit of NA will stay the same. Our tradition of cultivating a space for well-rounded, curious students who challenge the world around us will remain just as important as it has always been and will continue to.