The late Will Rogers said, "The schools ain't what they used to be and never was". The faculty and students of RCS-Netherwood, an independent, co-educational boarding and day school overlooking the Kennebecasis River in Rothesay, New Brunswick do not dispute this maxim. They interpret it as a challenge to improve the quality of education for the youth of today and tomorrow.

On August 6,1877, William Thompson opened a school for boys in Rothesay. The Rothesay Collegiate School grew with the community and flourished under two long-serving and distinguished Headmasters, Dr. W.R. Hibbard (1908–1938) and Dr. C.H. Bonnycastle (1938–1970). RCS has graduated three Rhodes scholars and alumni are typically outstanding in their fields and include John Fisher, "Mr. Canada", for whom this book is dedicated.

Netherwood School for girls was opened in 1894 by Miss Mary L. Gregory. It prospered, and guided by Miss Susan B. Ganong (1912–1944) the school gained a national and international reputation. In 1972, Netherwood merged its academic program with that of RCS and in 1984 all activities were concentrated on College Hill.
 

1. Cross country skiing is one of fifteen sports offered at RCS-Netherwood. 2. School Chapel.

Today RCS-Netherwood offers to young men and women the best of modern educations. A pupil teacher ratio of 8:1 anchors an enriching college preparatory curriculum in arts and sciences for grades seven through twelve. The 140 acre campus boasts riding and ski trails and five playing fields which complement a wide-ranging programme of team and individual sports and club activities. RCS-Netherwood draws most of its students from the Maritime Provinces, but is truly a cosmopolitan family with members from eight Canadian provinces, the United States, and overseas.

Members of the RCS-Netherwood Community will strive to build on the traditions and lessons of the past to advance educational standards. Their challenge is to provide an education which develops the whole person, and to this end they offer a curriculum favouring the traditional values of sound basic education together with responsibility in leadership, initiative and self-discipline.

Schools today surely "ain't what they used to be" but RCS-Netherwood insists they can be—must be—more than they "never was".
 

RCS-Netherwood has kept up with computer technology in their classrooms.