Karl Moats '04

In light of concerns over student stress, the Curriculum Committee is evaluating the academic pace of the Academy. Much of the problem lies in the fact that many classes accelerate the academic rate to prepare for AP exams in the spring.

Academic Dean Steve Murray said, "One of the questions to be evaluated is the role of the AP syllabus in our program. Some teachers feel that the AP courses are very prescriptive."

Mr. Murray is the chair of the Curriculum Committee. The board is composed of Headmaster Eric Widmer, each of the department chairs, Dean of Faculty Richard Bonanno, Academy Librarian Beverly von Kries, Assistant Headmaster Martha Lyman, and Information Technology Services Director Wendy A. Shepherd.

The Curriculum Committee's responsibilities can be divided into two categories: particular petitions and longterm projects. Particular petitions responsibilities range from authorizing a student to take a sixth credit course to setting up tutorial classes with only one student. Long-term projects include changes in the academic day schedule. Mr. Murray said, "[The Curriculum Committee] is the finger on the academic pulse of the school."

Many suggestions have been proposed to slow down the academic pace. For example, Mr. Widmer said, "The committee will test the possibility of finding a period of reflection per week." The board will consider reducing the number of class meetings. The members will also analyze the homework policy.

One proposal is to change the calendar from a trimester system to a semester system. A semester-based school year would condense the three exam weeks into two weeks. Currently, students take exams for each subject twice a year. The exam weeks mark the end of the fall, winter, and spring terms. This would not only reduce the exam weeks to two periods, but it would also allow another week of teaching time.

There has been, however, opposition to this plan. Mr. Murray said, "During the exam week, students have greater flexibility. They can catch up on their sleep, choose when they want to go to meals, and when they want to study." If this week were used for classes instead, students would no longer be afforded this opportunity of additional free time.

Deerfield is undertaking this project independently of other New England boarding schools. Nevertheless, by no means is this issue confined to the Academy. Mr. Murray said, "All schools wrestle with the frenzied pace of life, and I don't think any of them are any closer to finding a solution."

The committee will meet during the winter term. The group will draft proposals during the spring term. If approved, the resolutions will be implemented during the 2003-2004 school year.

Despite the academic intensity, not everyone believes the students are stressed. Mr Murray said, "A good friend of mine, from another New England boarding school, came to visit Deerfield for a day. He followed the routine schedule of a student. He went to classes, practices, and sit-down dinner schedule. When the day was over, he told me that in comparison to other students, Deerfield students seemed very relaxed."