Emma Willard in the News

EW to Host Students from England

October 3, 2006

his fall, representatives from England’s oldest girls’ school will meet representatives from America’s oldest girls’ school, and vice versa.

In a student exchange with the Red Maids’ School in Bristol, England, two students from that school will visit Emma Willard School in Troy from October 19–27 and two Emma Willard students will visit Red Maids’ from November 13–20.

Founded in 1634 by John Whitson, mayor and MP of Bristol, Red Maids’ is the oldest surviving girls’ school in England. The institution began as Red Maids’ Hospital, which provided a secure home and the training by which to earn a living for the orphaned or destitute daughters of freemen or burgesses of the City of Bristol. When Emma Hart Willard founded her school in 1814, it was the first school in the U.S. to teach higher academics to girls.

During their visit, Red Maids’ students will attend Emma Willard classes and sporting events, and also reside in the dorms to develop an understanding of boarding school life in the U.S.

For more information about the Red Maids’ and Emma Willard student exchange, or to arrange interviews and photos with faculty and students, contact Steve Ricci at sricci@emmawillard.org, (518) 833-1785.