Method teaches intricacies of conversation

Starting this year, Charleston Collegiate School has incorporated a new teaching technique, the Harkness Method, for Upper School humanities classes.

The Harkness Method originated at the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. Several Upper School teachers attended workshops at the academy this past summer.

The Harkness Method focuses on student-guided class discussion. While there are general principles and goals that accompany the method, the main goal is to encourage students to come up with ideas of their own and learn good reasoning and discussion skills.

Charleston Collegiate School officials hope the new technique will teach the students the ins and outs of a critical conversation of the real world.

Melody Sharpe, one of the Upper School humanities teachers who attended the workshop, said, "The Harkness Method of learning gives students the freedom to choose their own learn-ing paths and outcomes. I set up the materials, but once at the Harkness table, students are free to choose, steer, junk, embrace or add clarity to the readings through student-directed discussion."

School adds flex time schedules

Charleston Collegiate recently changed its Middle and Upper School schedules to include a new program known as flex time.

Flex time occurs three times a week for 40 minutes at a time.

It is essentially a time for students to be guided by their peers and an adviser. Topics such as leadership, importance of academics and proper social interaction are discussed.

Male and female students are separated to encourage a feeling of honesty and social comfort.

The Friday flex time includes such clubs as Cooking Through Cultures, Improv and Film. Students may select their club of choice to attend. This allows extra time for students to express outside interests.

The senior class also will use flex time to work on leadership activities as a group before graduation.

The theory of flex time is to broaden minds and beliefs through supportive social interaction.

"School is about so many other things besides just reading, writing, science, language and math. Flex time allows us the opportunity to spend time on those 'other' things," said Upper School head Liz Boyd.

Spirit squad for Lower School

The philosophy of Charleston Collegiate School is to include all age groups in school festivities.

Of course, Homecoming is one of the key events for Upper School students. The Lower School Spirit Squad allows younger students an opportunity to demonstrate their school pride.

The squad has even been given an arena to show off its devotion. Squad members may dress as a cheerleader or Sun Devil mascot on the evening of Homecoming, Oct. 16. During halftime, the field is theirs to dance and cheer on their team.

The goal of the Spirit Squad is to encourage all-around student involvement, no matter how big or small that student may be.

Even if Lower School Homecoming events differ greatly from Upper and Middle School events, all students would have a means of showing school spirit.

Last year, it poured rain during Homecoming but despite that, all 23 Lower School Spirit Squad members arrived to cheer their team.

Kate Williams, squad coordinator, said, "Lower School students need to know that they are an important part of our school now, and that their contributions are valued. Homecoming truly becomes a schoolwide event when we include Lower School students!"

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