Students, teachers and staff at boarding schools share a place in a manner that is uncommon. From highly individualized backgrounds, experiences and places, approximately 300 teenagers come to a village in a central New England valley (another 40 are on off-campus trimester programs) to spend almost nine months together. It is a place of dramatic seasonal change. Today, unseen by most students, Proctor is lush and green. Soon, however, another school year will commence, and the environment will proceed through its spectacular demonstrations.
Seasonal extremes are a valued feature at a place such as this. The coldest days of February--about which we will always complain--offer a set of educational and recreational stages or platforms that quickly pass...
...and melt into mud season.
Awareness of one's environment is a given here. Does the diversity of seasonal conditions complement or even augment our focus on that part of school life that is routine?
New topic: Chris Norris is looking for a volunteer (or two) to join an exciting boat-building project in Maine. For more info, click Tremolino Project.
