It was our great pleasure to host a distinguished visitor from England last week, as Roslyn initiated its faculty exchange program with the Harrow School.

Dr. Iain Farrell, director of studies and chemistry teacher at Harrow, spent the week visiting our schools and meeting with numerous members of the community. Dr. Farrell was accompanied by his wife, Janet, a teacher of mathematics, and they both gathered a great deal of information about our educational system which they will take back with them to their own schools. By the middle of the first day, Dr. Farrell commented that he had already accumulated many new ideas for Harrow.

The Farrells visited numerous classes and had the opportunity to talk with many of Roslyn's faculty members. Because Harrow is a secondary school, covering the equivalent of grades 8 through 12, they concentrated their time at Roslyn High School, though they spent time in all of the district's five schools. Dr. Farrell's administrative duties cover all subject areas, so he was interested in visiting classes in a wide range of subjects, as well as learning about Roslyn's administrative and business operations.

Among the highlights of this exciting visit were Dr. Farrell's wonderfully informative and enjoyable presentations to the Board of Education, faculty members, parents and Gold Card members. He spoke about the Harrow School, both its centuries of tradition and its modern educational program, as well as comparisons between the American and British educational systems.

During his presentations, Dr. Farrell noted that while the differences between our schools are more apparent than our similarities, there are nevertheless numerous areas in which we share a common interest.

For example, in the area of computer technology, he noted that both of our schools are at virtually the same stage of development. He attended a meeting on Monday evening of the District Technology Committee, and discovered that we are both currently exploring the same issues: internet use, the establishment of a website, local area networking, application of technology in the classroom setting. Securing adequate funding for this major, ongoing program is also a source of concern in both our schools.

Other areas about which he hoped to bring ideas back to his school included special education and community service, two programs that are more highly developed in Roslyn that at Harrow.

The most important similarites between our schools, however, are in the area of academic standards and expectations for students. Roslyn is unique among public schools in having virtually every student attend university, with more than 90 percent of graduates each year enrolling in four-year colleges. We have a broad-based curriculum, in which all students are expected to have a well-rounded program right to the end of their high school careers. Parents expect excellence from their children, as well as from the school. All of these points can be made about Harrow, as well.

In the British educational system, students who attend school beyond the age of 16 study for their "A levels," which are advanced level courses required for university admission. Universities in the United Kingdom recognize our Advanced Placement courses as the equivalent of A levels. Many of our Roslyn students who excel in the AP program and who gain admission to the best American colleges are therefore performing at a level equivalent to Harrow's top graduates who attend Oxford and Cambridge. Some of Harrow's alumni even attend our Ivy League schools.

Next spring, a member of Roslyn's faculty will be selected to travel to England to spend a week at Harrow. I know that he or she will learn as much of value during that visit as the Farrells did during their time with us last week.

As the great English poet and essayist Matthew Arnold wrote, "Culture is to know the best that has been thought and said in the world." This faculty exchange program will indeed provide both of our schools with opportunities for sharing the best qualities of education in Great Britain and America.