English
SEM’s English program is about
learning to love to read and write.
We seek to nurture informed and thoughtful scholars with interdisciplinary context for critical analysis, drawing on traditional print literature and the interpretive texts of psychology, philosophy, and history. Active participation through discussion around a Harkness table helps students learn to express their views effectively, ensuring the necessary skills for success in college and throughout their lives.
“I think that what sets SEM apart from other schools is actually the students. Because we have students who are here to learn, who are excited to be at a place with other students who are also genuinely committed to thinking and learning, our discussions can delve deeply into topics that would probably be only superficially addressed at a normal school. When I ask my seniors to read an essay that I first read in graduate school, they’re of course going to struggle through the difficult material. The community and sense of safety in the classroom means that they can struggle through the work together, and ultimately reach a more profound understanding. When a school doesn’t have that feeling of trust—between both teachers and students, and also between students themselves—taking intellectual risks can feel practically impossible. But intellectual risk and uncertainty are necessary elements of rigorous education, and at SEM, it’s easy to make the space for that kind of learning to thrive.”
- Alison Wright
