Parent Resources
General Information for EWS Parents
t Emma Willard School, the aim of education is to foster each individual student’s growth in understanding, academic maturity, and intellectual independence. In schools, growth has most often been pursued and acknowledged as an accumulation of skills and knowledge—in particular, traditional academic skills. This type of growth is important in and of itself at Emma Willard, but more significantly, it is important as a part of the growth of each student’s understanding of the world and of herself. Such growth in both her outward and her inward understanding should contribute greatly to her becoming a thoughtful, self-possessed, and competent individual.
It is important for students to have a breadth of experiences not only independently and with adult mentors, but also with peer mentors in other non-academic parts of their lives. To have such experiences, students need to be allowed and encouraged to participate in activities outside their academic work. Their commitments to these activities need to be serious and disciplined; otherwise they will not attain the intensity that fosters growth.
At Emma Willard, great care is taken to construct an environment that will both challenge and support every student in her development of greater knowledge—both of the world and of herself. Integral to the success of our program are clear expectations and appropriate support mechanisms.
