Why would someone choose Exeter over Andover, or vice-versa

post reply Forum Index » Private & Independent Schools

◄ 1 2 3 4 ► Go

Go to page...

04/22/2021 22:48

Subject: Why would someone choose Exeter over Andover, or vice-versa

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Exeter is Harkness, which my son hated.

Andover does the Harkness method too. It’s just discussion.

Yeah. In addition to this not being a significant distinguishing factor (it is more central to the Exeter experience and more broadly deployed in classes), saying you “hate” Harkness means you hate listening to others and responding, processing information in real time, learning to be articulate and concise, and making persuasive arguments to support your views. Hate it all you want but unless you’re planning to win Powerball or think you’re the next Zuckerberg (coincidentally, an Exeter guy), those are the skills required to succeed at just about anything.

My son enjoys discussion based learning for English and history classes but for math and science he prefers lecture based. You’re making ridiculous assumptions about how people prefer to learn. Harkness can be problematic at times especially in math where there is no textbook- just read the threads on college confidential from students and parents at Exeter, Lawrenceville and other Harkness table schools. HarknessHogs are frustrating and the teacher can do little to move the discussion along.

Andover and Exeter use math and science textbooks. You sound like a troll.

Exeter does not use math textbooks. Andover does. My son went to Exeter. Andover is discussion based, Exeter is Harkness. Harkness is discussion based on steroids.

Ok, looks like they use problem sets. Basically a textbook they wrote: https://exeter.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Math1-2020.pdf

NP. I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm a math educator and wanted to clarify your assumption. Exeter math is absolutely not a textbook. Yes, there is a book for math class, but it is a very specific problem set, presented in a very specific order, designed for constructivist, cooperative learning. It is well known in the math education community. Locally, Potomac uses an in-house math program that is structured quite similarly. It is common to hear feedback like PP's son's about this type of math curriculum; it can be great, particularly in the hands of a skilled teacher, but it can also leave students who thrive in a traditional math classroom feeling unsure and confused.

Thank you for this. I was called a troll because I said that my son, who went to Exeter, didn’t have a math textbook. I didn’t have the bandwidth to argue with this poster. I never sat in on his math classes but it’s something I heard about over and over from my son and his friends. Some classes went better than others... it depended on the skill of the teacher and the students in the class. A few bad eggs or a weak teacher and the class was horrible.

I’ll add that he loved Exeter and wouldn’t have chosen anywhere else. He loved the Harnkness table for humanities, Latin, etc. I recall one bad science class his first year but I think that was due to some overeager students trying to prove their value and a weak teacher not able to reign them in. Math, however, was a real issue his entire academic career at Exeter.