The independent study group "The Possibility of a Critical Pedagogy" attended United Opt Out: Occupy the Department of Education 2.0 in Washington, D.C., from April 5-7.

Opening with a discussion of Mr. Rogers' metaphor of the mind as a garden and lyrics from one of his songs on the importance of curiosity, President Joan Hinde Stewart addressed the purpose of education in her most recent Huffington Post blog. In “Minds and Gardens,” posted on Aug. 8, Stewart wrote, “Those who see the value of college in the amount of money a graduate earns miss a fundamental point: The purpose of an education is not simply to make a better living but, by enlivening the mind, to make a life worth living.

Marla Marquez ’14 is spending her summer interning at the New England Center for Children (NECC), where her remarkable internship allows her to gain valuable career-related experience while at the same time giving back to the community. The NECC is a private, nonprofit autism research and education center in Southborough, Mass.

Considering how significant even a single semester’s coursework can be, it’s not surprising that many Hamilton students graduate feeling they need a break from formal education. Not so for Anthony Mathieu ’12, who was accepted into a graduate program at Boston Teacher Residency (BTR). Mathieu will spend a year as a resident in a Boston public school classroom in pursuit of a master’s degree in education.

There is perhaps no greater evidence of the transformative power of education than the moment when a recent college graduate moves from the pupil’s desk to the front of the classroom. These newly minted teachers are the front lines in the battle to provide education for every American child, regardless of geographic location or family income.  Foxfire Buck '12 is one such new teacher.

Jane Rouse ’12 has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Turkey.  A May graduate, Rouse majored in mathematics with a double minor in French and anthropology. 

Amelia Mattern ’12, a candidate for graduation this month, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Vietnam.  She is a mathematics/computer science double major at Hamilton.

Eli Remillard ’12, a candidate for May graduation, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Mongolia.  A Dean’s List student, Remillard is a history major at Hamilton.

Erika Desmond ’12, a candidate for May graduation, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Austria.  She is a creative writing major at Hamilton.

Elizabeth Parker-Magyar ’12, a candidate for May graduation, has been awarded a Fulbright Teaching Assistantship to Jordan.  She is a world politics major at Hamilton.