On the evening of Wednesday, September 23, alums from the Classes of 1946-1973 gathered in the Berendsen Room at Chapin for Cocktails & Conversation with Head of School Suzanne Fogarty. Joined by faculty members Miranda Orbach (Head of Lower School Literacy and Social Studies) and Jim Shapiro (K-12 Speech and Debate Coordinator), who discussed oracy and how we are enhancing our current programming at Chapin.
Ms. Orbach and Mr. Shapiro were recipients of Polly Rousmaniere Gordon ’28 grants this past summer to support their study of oracy. Established in 1981 and named for an alumna and Trustee Emerita, the Polly Rousmaniere Gordon ’28 Fellowship for summer travel/study was established by her family to enrich the professional life of the faculty at The Chapin School.
In July 2026, Ms. Orbach and Mr. Shapiro traveled to England to learn more about oracy and how best to implement it at Chapin while building on the School’s strong history of public speaking and listening. While there, they visited numerous schools that have incorporated oracy programs into their curriculum. They also spent time at Cambridge University, a leading university in oracy research. The word oracy was coined in 1965 by British educational researcher Andrew Wilkinson, who believed that schools needed a word to describe the important skills of speaking and listening—just as literacy describes reading and writing. Oracy, they explained, is about learning to listen closely, articulate ideas, respond thoughtfully, build on one another’s thinking, and engage meaningfully with others. Scholars of oracy have continued to emphasize the powerful role that purposeful talk can play in helping people think, learn and collaborate with one another.
At Chapin, Ms. Orbach and Mr. Shapiro are highlighting places oracy already exists in the curriculum and encouraging new practices to support even higher levels of student engagement K-12.
Attendees had a wonderful time reconnecting, reflecting on how Chapin helped them find their voice and being back at 100 East End Avenue.
