Supporting the Development of a Global Perspective: Michael Coe ’41

When Michael Coe ’41 arrived at Fay in the fall of 1937, the world was on the verge of descending into the chaos of World War II. While Southborough was a relatively insulated place to spend the next four years, Dr. Coe is grateful that his teachers made sure that their students had an excellent grounding in civics and world history. “Fay was way ahead in teaching civics and geography,” he says. “The School gave us a great general education that prepared us to be U.S. citizens and citizens of the world.” In 1939, students started to arrive at Fay from Europe, brought there by families eager to remove them from the growing dangers of the Nazi threat. “There was a strong international presence at the school which gave us a real perspective on what was happening,” he adds.

Dr. Coe is gratified to know that Fay students continue to receive a global education that is enriched by the presence and perspectives of students from around the world. “So many people these days haven’t the foggiest idea about where these places in the news are, and it doesn’t mean anything to them,” he says. “When we stop becoming world citizens, it really leads us down a terrible path.”