<p>+10 for etondad. Amen!</p>
<p>I think it’s a great idea, but then, I’m biased. Emma has a policy of CR/NC for first term freshmen – and the end-of-term comments indicate clearly what the grade would have been. I don’t see how it makes for less rigor, as some have suggested—it means that the burden of grades rests entirely on the 2nd term (or, in PEA’s case, the 2nd and 3rd trimesters). So how terrible is it to know, say, that you need to hike up your drawers and buckle down for the remainder of the year, knowing how you’re doing heading into the next term? For the many students who identified themselves by their (generally high) grades in their “previous lives,” focus on learning for learning’s sake might be a refreshing change. </p>
<p>As for whose decision it should have been? The principal’s, of course. Prep schools are not democracies, thank goodness.</p>
<p>etondad, your analogy of medical internship has a merit, although I think it’s a little too extreme to compare to Exeter environment. People tend to keep rosy memories of their past whether it was real or fantasy. Why not then ask current preps?</p>
<p>Asking students for their opinions and ideas does not necessarily mean accepting them as is. But a sign of strong leadership is to collect diverse point of views from key stakeholders (teachers, students and yes parents), to give them considerations without bias, and to reach a decision that s/he would believe is best for the organization. Agreed, it’s not necessarily democracy. To have buy-in from those essential for the execution of a decision makes a world of difference, however.</p>
<p>To me, the whole thing appears to have been decided hastily against considerable resistance. Hopefully it works out for Dr. Hassan and one of our country’s premier prep schools. Time will tell.</p>
<p>I agree with you, Exie:): they should have kept Saturday classes. Somehow I get a sense that Exeter is trying too hard to shake off its image of academic emphasis.</p>
<p>As a former–and perhaps future parent–I am all in favor. As a therapist who has taken care of some of these kids, I say bravo. My daughter’s prep group of 5 friends-- two made it to graduation-- a 60% rate that didn’t. Ask around for the number of kids who are on Rx–it’s much higher than you would believe–Exeter has had the reputation of “don’t let the door hit you on the butt on the way out” and that isn’t healthy. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want PEA to become PA–and there is little chance that will happen, but I do want it more humane.</p>
<p>And while the analogy may seem extreme, I was 26 when I was an intern-- preps are 13–half that age.</p>
<p>and so long as the 333 exists, the classical diploma, Exeter style math, and of course, the Harkness table, there is little chance it will be less than an academic powerhouse. Five hours of homework–not including the work on major projects such as 333 are plenty.</p>
<p>The kids attracted to PEA are academic powerhouses themselves–they now have the chance to take full advantage of all the Academy can offer–research as one poster above noted, working on the literary magazine or other projects–and also have a chance to be kids–because no matter how much they might like to believe otherwise, that is what they are-- adolescents.</p>
<p>Excuse me they are 14, by and large–some 13 yo but mostly 14.</p>
<p>And the 24 internet–it really no longer matters as most kids are wireless and have been accessing the internet from their wireless devices and carriers anyway-- the Academy just bowed to a technological reality–sort of like when they got rid of the pay phones in the basements…</p>
<p>So do you guys think that the Saturday classes are not going to prejudice academic rigor and excellence which Exeter offers?</p>
<p>Exhaustion is a real concern, for those who have visited and seen the daily schedule - My D often gets up early to do homework, has classes and structured required athletics until 6 PM, clubs or study from 6:30-8, study hall from 8-10 and lights out at 10:30. This is an every day treadmill that even the most hard-working devoted kid can burn out on - 6 days a week. </p>
<p>There comes a point of less return, and freeing up Saturdays for extra-curriculars, research activities in Boston, college applications, volunteering, sports coaching, test prep, whatever, is a very wise decision in my judgement. Just as one example, Intel-award winning math/science research (from kids going down to MIT on saturdays) is now being produced, after a dry period of many years.</p>
<p>Wow, things have really changed since I arrived as a new lower four years ago. Opened up Facebook the other day to find my entire news feed covered with statuses from Exie alum and students commenting on the situation.</p>
<p>Personally, I’m a bit skeptical that the pass/fail first term will make that much of a difference. Prep fall classes are supposed to be easier in the first place. The hardest class a prep or new lower can take is probably T3X (oh, the memories :rolleyes:). Anyway, I hope the new students find it to their liking.</p>
<p>I still firmly maintain that they should just do away with dress code.</p>
<p>Are there any other prep schools that have a P/F policy for the first term besides Exeter and Emma Willard?</p>
<p>Also, I understand if this can’t be answered because I don’t want to lead this thread into debate territory, but I’m unclear as to what is meant by PEA “turning into PA.” What are the differences between the two implied in that statement? A campus culture thing, or more than that? Thanks.</p>
<p>It does sound like Exeter is becoming more like Andover - fewer Saturday classes, pass/fail for the first term of freshmen year (btw, I think Andover only does pass/fail for English and History)… In the past at least, Exonians did seem to be asked to work more than Phillipians who are already very hard working. I wonder if Exeter students are indeed or considered better prepared or trained academically compared with Andover students. Obviously it’s something hard to quantify but I’d like to hear some perspectives from people who are familiar with either or both schools.</p>
<p>@Alden0611: As an Exeter Alum, I don’t feel that my friends from Andover ended up any better or worse after attending PA rather than PEA. From a broad perspective, both schools are so far up there that insisting that one is better than the other is pretty pointless. We like to poke fun at Andover for being “less rigorous,” which is likely true to some extent. Maybe a lot of Exonians would have been less stressed had they attended Andover instead. But that doesn’t mean that PA is significantly “worse.” In any case, I bet that Andover will be improving now that they have an Exonian (Palfrey) at the helm. ;)</p>
<p>I understand that at the level of academic rigor at both schools, whatever the differences wouldn’t make the graduates from either school are generally better or worse than those from the other. I do think that although both schools are about the same size and have equally strong and competitive student body, they feel different in some ways. Andover students are more well rounded, if you will, while Exeter students are more academically intense (or a little more “bookish” if you will). With these changes implemented at Exeter, however, I don’t know if we will still see the slight distinctions a few years down the road.</p>
<p>I’m sure that there will still be noticeable differences between the schools. As far as I can tell, Exeter is more committed to Harkness. There are no non-Harkness classes; from what I’ve heard, that’s not the same situation at Andover. Plus, new distinctions can and probably will arise.</p>
<p>Oh, and Exeter will always be far superior to Andover in math. :)</p>