In an era of polarized politics, social media echo chambers, and growing national division, teaching students how to respectfully challenge and discuss differing points of view is more important than ever. Using the Harkness Method as a form of assessment is one way that Shipley teachers are helping students learn how to engage in civil discourse—a skill in short supply these days.
The Harkness Method is a student-centered, discussion-based approach to teaching & learning that was developed in the 1930s at Phillips Exeter Academy. At Shipley, humanities teachers have adopted and adapted the Harkness Method to suit their subject matter and students. Whether it’s eighth graders comparing and contrasting the merits of ancient Meso-American cultures and their sociopolitical systems; tenth graders exploring the themes of love, mental health, racism, and good vs. bad in Shakespeare’s Othello; or eleventh graders analyzing the success of the Progressive Era in American history—Harkness discussions are valuable across grade levels and disciplines.
Though some logistics may differ from class to class and teacher to teacher, the gist remains the same. Students submit questions to be explored with their classmates in a structured conversation, while teachers listen attentively and track the discussion, only intervening when the group needs to refocus or limit side conversations.
Students must demonstrate understanding of the course material through the accuracy of their claims and by referencing primary sources or quoting from their texts. More importantly, however, they are assessed on their ability to listen to one another, show critical thinking, and allow for a variety of viewpoints and voices by respectfully disagreeing or effectively building on others’ arguments.
Upper School History Teacher Kate Gillin regularly assigns Harkness discussions in her classes. She says, “We need more civil discourse. We need differences of opinion, but we also need to learn how to respond respectfully when we disagree, to keep an open mind, to allow people to have their say, but also to allow people to evolve their thinking.”
By teaching our students to engage in difficult conversations with courage and grace we are preparing them to shape a better, more civil world. Who could argue with that?
Jenny Rieg Gellert ’99 attended Shipley for 12 years. While she was a student, she served as captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams, was Yearbook Editor, and served on the social committee. After graduating from Trinity College, Jenny taught at schools in New York City and the Philadelphia suburbs for 13 years.
Middle School STEAM teacher John Harris thrives on the moments when information becomes crystallized in a student’s mind: “It could be any subject, any day, any project, but it’s rewarding to see them become confident enough to then teach that knowledge to someone else.” An engineer before he came to Shipley, Mr. Harris's background informs his everyday interactions with students. Learn more about Mr. Harris.
As founder and Chief Executive Officer of Keiki Capital, Dan Lichtenberg ’99 marries his technical and financial expertise with his passion for developing creative solutions to global problems—global warming and climate change, food and water insecurity, income and wealth inequality—and transforming data into actionable intelligence.
Shipley is proud to announce the publication of three critically acclaimed books by alumnae authors, including Echoes from Wuhan: The Past as Prologue by Gretchen Dykstra ’66, Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Kirby Dark ’71, and Roll Red Roll by Nancy Schwartzman ’93.
I love the feeling that the start of a new school year brings—the sense of possibility, the excitement, the hope (in some cases, the nerves). This year, that feeling is especially poignant because it feels, dare we say normal. Though challenges still exist, we have learned so much about how to live with COVID. As a result, and following a summer that emphasized having an actual summer, we begin the 2022-23 school year with what can best be described as a pre-pandemic sense of normalcy. This year, we are really going back to school.
In an era of polarized politics, social media echo chambers, and growing national division, teaching students how to respectfully challenge and discuss differing points of view is more important than ever. Using the Harkness Method as a form of assessment is one way that Shipley teachers are helping students learn how to engage in civil discourse—a skill in short supply these days.
The Interpreting Data for Art Installation course combined iterative design with data collection and analysis. Upper School teachers Wendy Eiteljorg ’86, Tania O’Donnell, and Elizabeth Zodda instructed students how to use data on multiple levels to interpret the world around them. For the class's final project, students chose to address climate change for their large-scale multi-media exhibit.
Some of our most memorable experiences as students are the ones teachers curate for us outside of the classroom. After two years of COVID restrictions, Shipley students and their teachers ventured out into the world during the 2021-2022 school year. Scroll through a slideshow of images from some of the trips.
Developing a global perspective is one of the goals of a Shipley education. Students learn about other cultures in their academic courses and through a number of extracurricular opportunities. In spite of limitations to global travel due to COVID, Shipley was able to expand Global Programs and bring the world to our students through exciting opportunities on campus.
Even before COVID and the socio-political tumult of recent years, teachers nationwide expressed concerns over burnout, ongoing political and social pressures, and meeting the increasing demands beyond academics. We asked: Has COVID irrevocably changed teaching? What training will help new teachers succeed in the current landscape? What does the future of teaching hold? Our panel weighs in on these questions & more.
From the Summer/Fall 2022 Shipley Magazine: The Middle School STEAM program has undergone incredible expansion in recent years. The growing program allows students to explore their creativity as they learn how to operate new tools and technologies. STEAM teacher John Harris is excited about the future, and with good reason. Learn a little more about what's happening in Middle School STEAM.
A firm believer that “talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” Meghan Stevenson-Krausz ’08 has dedicated her young but impactful career to providing opportunity through impact investing to underrepresented people and financially underserved communities across the globe. Since October 2019, she has helped Inca Ventures invest $2 million in 17 companies based in the Andean region.
Nationally syndicated cartoonist, author, and motivational speaker Robb Armstrong ’81 has been busy this year, with announcements of a CBS sitcom, $200,000 in endowments to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Syracuse University's Arents Award.
Members of the Class of 2022 share their reflections on their time at Shipley. Whether they were a lifer or only attended Shipley for a short time, the School’s impact is everlasting.
I have often described Shipley as a school that is both incredibly accomplished and that possesses great potential. It’s reasonable to ask, how can a school be both rooted in its mission and values and committed to change? The simple answer is that Shipley has always been driven to do what is best for its students and to prepare them for the world...
In October 2021, Brianna Ross ’10 was named the 2021-22 Maryland Teacher of the Year. Ross feels the award sends an important message to the students of color who she teaches. In addition to serving as a living example of excellence in her students' lives, she is increasing representation in her district's history curriculum through some of her work as an equity liaison. Learn more about the positive impact Brianna Ross '10 is making.
After 77 years as an all-girls’ school, Shipley’s Board of Trustees approved coeducation in 1971—a watershed moment in the School’s history. In this collection of articles, we examine the origins of the decision, share reflections of the people who shaped and experienced the transition, and explore coeducation today.
The Middle School science program emphasizes experiential learning—from animals in the classroom, to outdoor observations—inspiring students to take meaningful action beyond the classroom. Learn more about how teachers use hands-on activities to help students learn and inspire them.
Shipley’s youngest students partner in sustainability through hands-on science lessons in the natural environment, including Shipley's decade-long partnership with the Lower Merion Conservancy, in which fifth grade students collect and analyze water samples of the local Mill Creek. Learn more about how learning comes to life in Lower School science.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.