Parent Policy
ESP programs provide unique opportunities for your children to be engaged and immersed in learning. This includes the chance for them to meet new friends and mentors and explore their interests independently. They can take an unusually active role in learning here, and that aspect of the experience relies heavily upon sustaining an atmosphere that does not depend on active guidance from home. We’re dedicated to making these programs as fun, beneficial, and safe for your child as possible, and we need your cooperation to achieve that.
MIT can be large and unfamiliar, but it is a friendly place. We have numerous maps both on campus and in handouts, and many security staff in the halls for our larger programs. To provide a comfortable classroom environment for both students and teachers, we ask parents not to sit in on classes. To allow your child, as well as all of our other students, to be fully independent and immersed in this program, we strongly encourage parents to allow their children to walk to and from classes and socialize on their own. We have found that students enjoy our programs much more when they take the opportunity to explore and and learn for themselves. Some of our larger programs, such as Splash, often provide a lounge or activities for parents during the program. If you do not think your child is ready for such an experience, consider waiting until next year to have your child participate.
We want your kids to be in the classes that they are most enthusiastic about. Students taking classes that are uninteresting to them can be unhappy or even disruptive, so we ask that they choose and register for classes; as a parent, please do not do it for them. Feel free to suggest particular classes to your child, but leave the final decisions up to them.
These policies are in place so that our programs will provide the best possible experience for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at esp@mit.edu or the director of the specific program.
Last modified by chessbot on March 27, 2009 at 12:30 a.m.