The Classroom BY MELISSIA MASON
Celebrating the Art of Words After over 25 years in the traditional classroom at Emma Willard School, English Instructor Meg McClellan has set her sights on a new type of classroom: The Writing Center. Conversations in the English Department at Emma Willard School often center around the practice of writing. For years, Meg McClellan and her colleagues have dreamed of developing a center for writing—a place where students can not only hone their writing skills but also immerse themselves in a community of others who love the art of language. This year, that dream is becoming a reality, thanks to inspirational investments from alumnae Page Starzinger ’76 and Stephanie Sides ’73 (read more on p. 27). As the inaugural and interim coordinator of the recently named Starzinger Writing Center, Meg is thrilled with the challenge of creating a space for one of her great passions. “Teaching writing has always been my favorite part of what I do,” Meg shares. “I love helping students hear their sto-ries as narrative worthy of sharing—helping them find and develop their voices and become their fully formed selves through writing.” After 25 students showed up for the first meeting of The Clock in the fall—not to mention student involvement in Triangle, Spilled Ink poetry club, and all of the pop-up writing groups that emerge throughout the year—Meg is encouraged to know that our student body is just as excited about pursuing
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opportunities to write as she is. As she begins to develop the program for the Center, Meg is focused on the breadth and depth of what might be offered. Based on her own pedagogical experience and the needs of the community, she envisions a place that is as much for the student who’s struggling with writing as it is for the student who loves to write. “It will be great for students to have a place they can claim for the celebration of writing […] a place that serves different writing needs and centers around acknowledging and celebrating the art of words,” Meg says. The English classrooms and learning support services at Emma Willard have always provided oneon-one attention for students who struggle with writing or want to sharpen their skills. The addition of the Starzinger Writing Center will allow students to go beyond their typical experience, expanding their capacity for writing in a collective and creative way. “I imagine the Center to feature more playfulness— more like a community of writers unto themselves,” Meg explains. The experience will be student-defined as they have more choice in what they pursue. A student who is working on a paper can get feedback, while students who just love to write can be around others who share their
enthusiasm. “When you’re in the company of people who are into the same things as you, there’s a wonderful energy that’s affirming and stimulating,” Meg shares. Meg has many ideas about what will comprise a dynamic writing program that is attractive to students. As she researches and visits other established writing centers, Meg will bring the best of what she finds to Emma Willard. “I want to spend time seeing what kind of writing opportunities there are beyond Emma that our students could connect with,” Meg explains. She anticipates the programming will include everything from cooperation with student writing tutors, to coordination of the existing Sides Family Visiting Writer program, to collaboration with the New York State Writers Institute, and much more. At a time when the Internet allows everyone to be a published writer, Meg sees both an opportunity and a challenge. Writers now have unprecedented access to publicly distribute their writing, with little to no editorial constraints. “A big part of teaching writing is to move beyond summary and shift toward argument, expressing an idea clearly and effectively,” Meg explains. Part of the challenge for young writers is understanding what style of writing
