Words from the Graduate Institute, edited by Stafford Wood
The Graduate Institute attracts people who “want to read and discuss meaningful texts with people who were also there for discussion, in a context far from tests and GPAs” (Alexander Bram, MALA) and a “program that taught me how to be more inquisitive while learning instead of learning how to get an “A”.” (Joseph Griego, MALA @ Santa Fe).
They wanted “a flexible program (not reopening daily attendance)” (Jason Knudeson, MALA @ Santa Fe) and “mental exercise and enrichment.” (William Strange, MALA @ Low Residency – Santa Fe)
And teachers who “needed a masters to advance on the teacher pay scale” (James Reis, MALA @ Santa Fe) because “it is exactly what I wanted to further my own personal and professional lives in the community-based interactions with the great books.” (Joey Jekel, MALA @ Santa Fe) “It helps me make connections between things and it gave me a reason to read things I’ve always wanted to read.” (Stacey Rains, MALA @ Both Campuses)
The program isn’t about answers. It’s about “interdisciplinary readings, critical thinking and close reading, expanding the imagination and learning to ask better questions.” (Ms. Amelia Wolfe, MALA @ Annapolis). They came to find a place “that I could ask the questions that weighed on my mind. I wanted a community of people who were all a little, or a lot, weird in the best of ways.” (Michael Foote, MALA @ Santa Fe)
But, mostly it was the “desire to actually try to understand these daunting books instead of just festooning my bookshelves with them.” – Benjamin Altman, MALA @ Low Residency – Santa Fe
