DID YOU KNOW?
Tacoma’s story spans more than two centuries from the time Captain George Vancouver anchored off Tacoma’s north shore in 1792.
In 1870, Tacoma’s natural deep-water port became an attraction that the Northern Pacific Railroad couldn’t pass up, when it made Tacoma a stop on its transcontinental line.
Old Tacoma and New Tacoma merged in 1884 and incorporated as Tacoma. By 1890, the population reached 36,000 people.
Tacoma is home to the Port of Tacoma, the seventh-largest container port in the United States, and it is within 20 miles of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and 36 miles of the city of Seattle.
Steve Matson,
Upper School English, Journalism, Yearbook, Newspaper Advisor
Steve Matson teaches English and journalism in the Upper School. “I love the combination of teaching literature, academic writing, journalistic writing, graphic design and photojournalism,” says Matson.
“My first love will always be examining with students the great works in the literary canon. As Harold Bloom has put it, reading deeply ‘is to augment one’s own growing inner self’ and the ultimate benefit of such thought and study is simply ‘the proper use of one’s solitude, that solitude whose final form is one’s confrontation with one’s own
morality.’ This characterization of literary study appeals to me because – in addition to the practical benefits of clear thinking, effective expression, and refined journalism – it reaches beyond our school years to express the lifelong value of reading and writing.”
Matson earned his bachelors and masters degrees at the University of Oregon. He joined the Charles Wright faculty in 1988 and founded the school’s journalism program. He has advised The Academy Times, a student news magazine, since 1988, and Crossings, a student journalism yearbook, since 1997.
“In addition to enhancing writing skills, when students work on a journalistic publication they begin to think and work collaboratively and in an interdisciplinary way,” says Matson. “They become the students in the school who have the cutting-edge knowledge of how to incorporate technology into their intellectual efforts. Student-based journalism staffs give students marvelous opportunities for developing leadership and teamwork skills.”
In 1994, Matson was named the Washington Journalism Education Association’s Adviser of the Year. He received a Medal of Merit from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, both in 2005. Matson is active in journalism instruction and curriculum at the state and national level, serving as an elected representative of Journalism Educators Association since 1999. He is a member of the Washington Coalition for Responsible Student
Expression.
Matson has also served as a reader for the College Board’s advanced placement literature and composition exam. He enjoys racing bicycles in Northwest road races.
“My first love will always be examining with students the great works in the literary canon. As Harold Bloom has put it, reading deeply ‘is to augment one’s own growing inner self’ and the ultimate benefit of such thought and study is simply ‘the proper use of one’s solitude, that solitude whose final form is one’s confrontation with one’s own
morality.’ This characterization of literary study appeals to me because – in addition to the practical benefits of clear thinking, effective expression, and refined journalism – it reaches beyond our school years to express the lifelong value of reading and writing.”
Matson earned his bachelors and masters degrees at the University of Oregon. He joined the Charles Wright faculty in 1988 and founded the school’s journalism program. He has advised The Academy Times, a student news magazine, since 1988, and Crossings, a student journalism yearbook, since 1997.
“In addition to enhancing writing skills, when students work on a journalistic publication they begin to think and work collaboratively and in an interdisciplinary way,” says Matson. “They become the students in the school who have the cutting-edge knowledge of how to incorporate technology into their intellectual efforts. Student-based journalism staffs give students marvelous opportunities for developing leadership and teamwork skills.”
In 1994, Matson was named the Washington Journalism Education Association’s Adviser of the Year. He received a Medal of Merit from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, both in 2005. Matson is active in journalism instruction and curriculum at the state and national level, serving as an elected representative of Journalism Educators Association since 1999. He is a member of the Washington Coalition for Responsible Student
Expression.
Matson has also served as a reader for the College Board’s advanced placement literature and composition exam. He enjoys racing bicycles in Northwest road races.
