A Place at the (New) Table

East meets west at Thacher in many ways: seated formal dinner and mid-January Pergol’al fresco lunch, a traditional curriculum in classic classrooms and trails as teachers, lacrosse and Extreme Cowboy Racing, Mr. Chips and Mr. Shagam.

The latest joining actually involves joinery: massive oval oak tables that seat between twelve and sixteen students now have homes in several Old Main and Humanities Building classrooms, as well as in the Library Conference Room.

“We’ve always believed in the value of the seminar circle,” says Assistant Head and Director of Studies Peter Robinson, “and drawing desks out of rows and into a circle was how we accomplished it for many years. The tables, though, make it more official—and change the dynamic.” Somehow, there’s a qualitative difference between students at individual desks around the edges of a central open space and collaborators in discussion around one, expansive table.

The anonymous benefactor, whose donation is supporting a major refurbishment of Old Main, including high-efficiency lighning, updated heating and cooling systems, and SMART boards, was inspired by Exeter Academy’s Harkness tables, the school that, in 1931, pioneered the then novel approach to teaching and learning. It was an idea originated by philanthropist Edward Harkness, who believed that students brought to a table at which everyone had a place would naturally engender greater engagement and involvement.

Toads and their teachers are equally enthusiastic. French teacher Françoise Garcia-Kasimirowski calls her table “a positive change in the language classroom, since it fosters open communication, something we encourage on a daily basis. All students can see each other.”

“I’ve hoped for a table like this ever since I first used one as an intern teacher decades ago,” says English teacher Joy Sawyer-Mulligan. “I did wonder about the shift in what I think of as physical flexibility in a classroom. Fact is, free movement around (and, sometimes in English 1, under and over!) is not a problem at all--and I appreciate having lots of constructive big space for over-sized paper projects. At the table’s center, we’ve got four dictionaries (for when laptops are closed), too. It’s an English teacher’s dream, really.”

James Bissett’ 12 endorses the collaborative element of this not-just-furniture: "Learning at the Harkness tables is unique and interesting. I feel as if we are all learning together, a collective understanding and grasping of the material."

A thumbs-totally-up, too, from junior Nu Xiong: “In contrast to individual desks, the Harkness tables have created a warmer classroom atmosphere that unites the entire class (both students and the teacher), encourages more student participation, and allows for more engaging dialogue and instruction.” Classmate Daniel Kruth is also a believer: “The new tables allow everyone in the class to look everyone else in the eye when they talk. I think this is beneficial to conversation-based classes.”

Ana Levy ‘14 claims, “I love the new tables. They make classes feel much more connected and intimate, much more than rows of desks. The best part is that everyone can see each other, promoting class discussion and keeping everyone paying attention. [In other arrangments,] you might get stuck in a desk at the back and not really feel part of the class; the new tables eliminate that.”

“These tables are definitely a fantastic contribution to the classroom,” says Nayla Kidd, also a sophomore. “In addition to their beauty and modern feel, they allow for a deeper connection between classmates and our teacher. It's just easier to have discussions sitting at a table made soley for that purpose. It's also easy to pass papers around with out dropping them: you can literally just slide them across the table, which is definitely more efficient--and efficiency equals more discussion time!”

Pause.

“One other great thing about the tables: you can take naps on them in between classes.”

Multi-use? We guess so.