When people talk about
Exeter they talk about Harkness.
There’s a reason for that:
AT EXETER, HARKNESS
IS A WAY OF LIFE.
The word Harkness takes on many meanings here. It is . . . our
almost 100-year-old method of instruction .. . an oval table where
12 students and one instructor have front-row seats on discovery. . .
a way of thinking and engaging with others that requires preparation
and provides a sense of readiness for learning, for college, for life.
Harkness is the core of the Exeter community, our way of being and
learning that sets us apart and infuses everything we do.
There are no lectures at Exeter. You don’t raise your hand and wait to
be called on. Instead, you are empowered to participate freely and
become an independent thinker. At Exeter we expect a lot from our
students: you must be prepared, listen carefully, engage with respect,
learn to question and discover your own truths. When you stumble
(and you will) we’ll embrace that teachable moment together.
Through this process our students find success —whether solving an
equation, studying the stars, staging a one-act or starting a new club.
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P H I L L I PS E X E T E R ACA D E M Y