What People Say about Harkness

At first it may seem like a nutty idea—taking a math class around an oval table where everyone participates in presenting and solving problems. Or it may sound a little scary: "what if I don’t have anything to say about capitalism and its critics? What happens then?"

The Harkness system places students and teachers around a table, where they exchange ideas, questions, and answers; it means that everyone is prepared and engaged; it means that everyone is respectful, and everyone takes risks.

It’s exciting, rewarding, confidence-building and incredibly educational.

Here’s what some people say about it:

"At the table, no one is left out of the discussion. No one is hiding. Everyone speaks his or her mind, yet you each make each other question your assumptions." –Tyler C. Tingley, Principal

"I like the Harkness classes—you can get into it and voice your opinion. It's more hands-on. The teachers don’t give you a book and tell you what it's about. They give you a book and tell you to figure out what it's about. Then you go to class and discuss it together. Students are in control. Harkness makes you think about things in ways you never did before." –Denetrias, Lower

"I chose Exeter because of the Harkness table. When I found out that Exeter [used this method] everyday, every year, I said, 'Where do I sign up?' It's impossible to be passive in the Harkness system, and it's way more exciting than anything I did before here." – Sarah, Senior

"What is unusual in the classroom at Exeter—student-centered pedagogy—makes all kinds of sense outside the classroom, whether on the playing fields or in the dorms. This broad definition of the Harkness philosophy shapes the kind of lives many of us lead at Exeter."  – Peter Greer, instructor of English

 

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