Milton Magazine - Milton Academy

With tuitions for schools and collegeshigh enough to preclude most families,financial aid is no longer simply an instrumentof socioeconomic diversity; it is acrucial tool to maintain quality. “We wantthe classroom to be a place of excellence,”says David. “Having vigor in the classroomrequires that we attract the top 10 percentof students. For the overwhelming majorityof that top 10 percent, Milton is financiallyout of reach. Having financial aidas a resource is the insurance we need tokeep Milton the place we’ve known it to bein the past.”As the digital culture marches forward,its ramifications are inescapable. Email,texting, cell phones, cameras, and infiniteinternet options are enticing anddemanding. In the “old days” speakingwith someone was the main way of connecting.Today, the quality of relationshipsat Milton is as strong as ever, but “it takesa whole lot more time, effort and focus tobuild those relationships, because peoplereflexively use electronics and there are somany electronic distractions,” Patrice says.Not only does the internet age bring itsown pressures, all the alumni faculty16 Milton Magazinebelieve that adolescents today wrestle withstresses that are completely unlike thosein the past. Societal and parental pressureto “succeed” is overwhelming. In the past,doing well at academics and perhaps oneother solid skill (a sport, acting, playing aninstrument) were plenty to assure matriculatingat the most competitive colleges.Today students’ list of responsibilities andcommitments goes on and on. Getting intocollege is a different experience, and thelevels of competition are so high that studentshave to decide what to do well, andthen do all the other things also. “You haveto be incredibly energetic and organized; Idon’t know how students who aren’t makeit,” Caroline says.“Right, and time management is the keyskill they all have to work on,” André says.“But they need private time, play time, resttime, downtime. We have to schedule funtime, and when we provide opportunitiesfor simple, old-fashioned fun, they’re reallywelcome.”Why do you stay?When we ask students why they choseMilton they invariably say that it seemsto them a friendly, happy place. It seemslike a place where really motivated, smartpeople are studying and having fun. Whydo the adults in the community chooseMilton, and why do they stay?“The place feels absolutely alive to me.There’s so much going on. That made itappealing to come back,” says Sally. “And Ilove being in my department [history]. Wetalk together constantly, share reading andideas. It feels collaborative, even thoughwe don’t teach together. We inspire oneanother.”“I really enjoy other faculty,” Caroline says.“They’re smart, interesting and funny.They talk about and care about real things.They’re passionately involved people. Youdon’t see shirkers.”Meg believes in the importance of representingthe School, as an alumna, to potentialstudents across the country, as wellas helping make the decisions that buildMilton’s classes and figuring out how toapply the financial aid resources. “There’sreal value in talking about this place froma firsthand point of view. The admissionteam all represent different interests; weread and evaluate files with points of view