Exeter, NH (September 18, 2006)—Phillips Exeter Academy will kick off a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of Harkness teaching at the school  with a visit from nationally recognized children’s activist, author Jim Steyer ’74. Steyer, an attorney who teaches at Stanford Law School, will deliver an address entitled, “The Other Parent: The Influence of Media, Entertainment and the Internet on the Lives of Children Today.” He will speak on Friday, September 22, at 7:00 p.m. in Assembly Hall on Front Street in Exeter. The event is free and open to the public.

Regarded as a leading child advocate and educational media producer, Steyer is founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, a national and leading resource for families and educators of media information —movies, CDs, television and video games. He is the author of a variety of articles and columns on civil rights, education and children’s issues and a book, The Other Parent: The Inside Story of the Media’s Effect on Our Children.  

Harkness teaching and learning began seventy-five years ago with an educational experiment that placed 12 students and one teacher around an oval table and remains the hallmark of Exeter’s educational philosophy to this day. Philanthropist Edward Harkness, Principal Lewis Perry and a group of senior faculty together transformed almost every aspect of school life and influenced secondary school education throughout the country. The Harkness plan offers a generous opportunity for dialogue and the ability to hear the voice of each student. The Harkness table places students at the center of the learning process and encourages them to learn from one another.

Beginning this month, lectures, exhibitions and visits from a distinguished group of Harkness Fellows will be a part of the celebrations for this historic Harkness milestone. Many of the featured guests are alumni/ae, who will each spend several days on campus, attending classes, meeting with students and faculty and giving talks.

For more information, please call Rick Schubart at (603) 777-3589. For directions to Phillips Exeter Academy, call (603) 777-4330. For more information on other events, contact the Phillips Exeter Academy public events line at (603) 777-4309, or visit the Academy website at www.exeter.edu. To learn more about upcoming events at Exeter, also check the News & Events section of the website.

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory school that was founded in 1781 and originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of its charter to foster both goodness and knowledge, students come from a wide variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. The diverse student body comes from approximately 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 26 foreign countries.

Learn more about Jim Steyer's work at Common Sense Media  

Read about Jim Steyer in The Exeter Bulletin, Fall 2002

Learn more about other events associated with the Harkness 75th Anniversary Celebration