Comparing The Devon School In A Separate Peace By John Knowles

How Princeton High School is the Same and Different from Devon School in A Separate Peace by John Knowles Imagine living in a school where all you can look forward to is being drafted into a war. The attitude of that school may be different to the school that students are obtaining their education in today. The Devon school in A Separate Peace by John Knowles shows exactly what a school during a war is like. During the second world war, the Devon school’s attitude was much different to what a school is seen as today. Schools such as the current Princeton High School in Minnesota show some major differences and similarities to what Devon school was like at that time. In A Separate Peace written by John Knowles, it is shown that the Devon

The students at Princeton High School and the Devon school have many similarities. The academic courses that the students take may be very different. Students in both Princeton High School and the Devon school have students who like to have some fun and also like to succeed. Students from each school are very similar in how they act and how successful that they are. The academic courses however, are much different. You get an idea of the difficulty of the courses at the Devon school when Gene does not want to go watch Leper jump from a tree and wants to study. He says, “Okay, we go. We watch little lily-liver Lepellier not jump from the tree, and I ruin my grade” (49). This shows that the difficulty of the courses are very difficult at the Devon school. On the other hand, Princeton High School has students who struggle, but the levels of classes are very different. The Devon school has classes such as French and Trigonometry, while Princeton High School does not have French and trigonometry is just a unit in algebra The student body and academic courses are another key aspect in how the Devon school and Princeton High School are similar and different from one and the

Athletics are not only encouraged at the Devon school, they are also required. This is understood when Gene takes the job as an assistant which usually goes to disabled people. He said, “Jobs like mine were usually taken by boys with some physical disability, since everyone had to take part in sports and this was all the disabled boys could do” (69). This shows how important sports are to this school. A lot of this encouragement of sports comes from WWII which was in session during this time. It still shows how important sports are to this school. On the other hand, Princeton High School encourages sports but does not require them. Many students play sports in Princeton High School and many do not. It is a matter of whether or not the student decides to play a sport or is able to play a sport that results in the students choice of joining one. Students do not have to be in a sport at Princeton High School. The importance of athletics is another key aspect in how the Devon school and Princeton High School are similar and different.

In conclusion, Princeton High School and the Devon school are similar and different in many ways such as their student boy, academic courses, faculty, and buildings and grounds. In today’s society, Princeton High School may be the more prefered school considering it is not as strict or harsh on