For 173 Exeter preps, learning the ropes at their new school this fall meant learning the ropes, literally. With maps, compasses, and journals in hand, these new Exonians spent a fall Sunday on the University of New Hampshire's Universal Challenge Course or "ropes course" as part of Junior Studies, a class required of all first-year Exeter students.

"They all had to 'make it' which meant they had to teach each other, just like in a Harkness discussion," says the program's current director, history teacher Addie Aquilino. She says she overheard students on the challenging ropes course saying things like, "Wait. Wait. We're not listening. It's like in class, we have to listen to each other." Art teacher John Wharton, who has been teaching Junior Studies for the last several years, says students "understood pretty quickly the connection between the ropes exercises and the collaboration that is needed for a successful Harkness discussion."

Practicing Harkness

Junior Studies is an interdisciplinary course taught by a team of eight classroom faculty and two librarians. The course gives new students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds explicit practice in the Exeter way — from Harkness table discussions to critical thinking, seeing, reading, and writing to use of the library and the observatory. Prep Lixian Hantover says, "I find myself much more focused at the Harkness table after being taught 'the rules' in Junior Studies. It has really made the difference to my learning experience so far."

Of the faculty who envisioned and instituted Junior Studies 10 years ago Addie Aquilino says, "It was really genius on their part not to make the program remedial as so many schools do with study skills courses, 'tracking' kids into different levels." Instead, Junior Studies is a "common experience" for all preps, empowering them to become self-learners and problem-solvers, characteristics essential for success at Exeter.

Respecting the thoughts and opinions of someone else, even when they differ from one's own, is another defining characteristic of the Exeter student. For an upper like Will Rushton, collaboration seems to come naturally. Rushton attributes the respect he has for other people's views to the Harkness system saying, "It's incredible how much you can learn when you work together instead of apart."

Mind Your Manners

The Junior Studies faculty see that bringing an open attitude to the table is one of the biggest challenges for new students. English instructor Bill Hagen says, "The conversation around a table of preps can be a lot more explosive than in other classes. One of the first things we do is write down a list of manners and skills; we define what a Harkness discussion should be like. Ninth graders really need that." Upper John Coffey says, "All I knew when I got here was that we sat at a circular table. I learned the dynamics of Harkness in Junior Studies." Addie Aquilino adds, "They have to learn that dismissing someone else's ideas doesn't get us anywhere. It's a matter of practice. And we give them that practice in a very deliberate way."

Junior Studies kicks off with a Harkness table demonstration in which faculty are the participants around the table. The faculty discuss a short story the preps have read and, after the demonstration, the floor is open for questions and observations. Students take notes about the interactions they saw and what characterized them — how did participants affirm or challenge others' comments, initiate discussions, ask questions, introduce new ideas? Did they listen carefully, and keep an open mind? These are the same criteria students will use at regular intervals during the term to evaluate their own Harkness performances.

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