I graduated from EW in '61-and have written the Class Notes for
my class (and much of the alums who have graduated and crossed
my path since then) for nearly 50 years. When people ask why
i went to EW, my first two responses are as follows: I wanted to
get out of the house (and my parents, who were ill suited to me,
wanted me out) and it was the only school that took Jews in those
days. (There are those who dispute this, but the point is that
they did take JEws and there were plenty of New England girls
boarding schools that didnot). My experience at EW was
overall absolutely fantastic-and the fact that I established very
close relationships with women, whom I have continued to keep
in touch with for lo these many years, has been an enormous
source of gratification and insight. As mybrother said, I know
these women better than they know themselves." At EW in my
day we wore uniforms that were handmade for us by Georgia
Curtis of Fairfield, Ct. They consisted of gingham dresses for
day wear and brown oxfords, with single colored dresses for
dinner, with heels and stockings. I also came to EW with
the requisite ll white handkerchiefs and a few hats which were
required for the Obligatory Chapel. Although I graduated nearly
50 years ago , there are some thing about EW that have not
changed: there is a commitment to excellence and a standard
that is extraordinarily high While the School may like to think
it is diversity personaified (and in it s way it is), there is a 'type'
of girl who will be happy at EW-it is impossible for me to
clearly state in a succinct manner what this is: but one thing
I feel strongly about, is that EW girls are not what you might
think of when you describe women who may come from money
and priviledge-the EW gal is generally neither snobbish nor
stoopid. While financial assistance is definitely part of the
guiding principles behind EW, it still takes a certain type
of person who is wiling to leave home and co exist with
women in a boarding school atmosphere-not everyone,
regardless of their economic circumstances, can find a
situation of rules, women and je ne sais quois easy to
handle. read more
