On Jan. 8, a customized Harkness table was unveiled to the Class of 2026. Dan Valen, father of current Senior Andrew and Sydney ‘23, built the table himself.
Mr. Valen said his deep love for education inspired him to dedicate the table to Lancaster Country Day School’s Senior class.
When LCDS was founded in 1908, the Harkness method had not yet been introduced. The first Harkness table originated in the 1930s at Phillips Exeter Academy, an independent school in New Hampshire, as a gift from Edward Harkness. Since then, schools across the country have adopted similar discussion based learning models called the Harkness method.
The ability to articulate an argument while acknowledging the opinions of those around you is a key part of the LCDS Humanities curriculum – but, more importantly, a necessary skill for adulthood.
Mr. Valen attended The Lawrenceville School, a prestigious independent school in New Jersey, where he learned the impact of a discussion-based classroom.
Because of Lawrenceville’s influence, Valen said, “My family’s plan for our children had always been to send [them] to Lawrenceville once they were old enough.”
Mr. Valen desired for his children to have the same intellectual experience he had. He said his wife, Beth Valen, ““dragged me to an open house at LCDS one day,” and he ultimately “wholeheartedly said yes” to sending their children to LCDS.
Through his work on the table, Valen aimed to give back to a school that has positively impacted his family.
“No Senior class that I know of has had such a well thought of and personalized gift,” said Ms. Stuart, a Humanities teacher and the Senior class dean.
This unprecedented and deeply symbolic gesture has resonated with many members of the Senior class.
“I appreciate this gift,” Senior Nolan C. said. “It is a reminder of all the hard work we put into our experience here.”
Mr. Valen said he spent around 600 hours working diligently on the Harkness table. He said that he knew he had to make something that was representative of the Senior class’s experience at LCDS.
“I appreciate how unique the gift is, and how well it’s taken care of,” Senior Andrew V. said. “It’ll probably last 50 years because of how well made it is.”
All 50 members of the Senior class have their signatures engraved on the table – ensuring the Class of 2026 will be remembered for many years to come.
