instruction. Students and teachers schedule Labs at specified times throughout the school day when they meet as individuals and in small groups to discuss Assignment projects, expand upon questions of interest that arise in class, clarify issues, and explore new directions about a topic to pursue. In the High School, there are special rooms for each subject area that give emphasis to this independent interaction between faculty and students.
advise students as they negotiate Dalton’s rich and multi-faceted curriculum. The Assignment represents a contract between student and teacher. It is introduced in the First Program, increases in centrality in the Middle School, and becomes the focus of work in the High School grades. Designed by each teacher for each subject area, the Assignment is a printed or electronic document that introduces the unit, makes suggestions for study and research, and defines common obligations as well
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as opportunities for individual projects. The Assignment provides the thematic focus for daily class and homework and may be individually tailored to meet specific needs and develop particular strengths. The Laboratory is also integral to the educational culture of The Dalton School. The word “Laboratory” best describes the educational atmosphere that Dalton strives to create, combining study, research, and collaboration. “Lab” refers to the one-to-one and small group sessions between students and teachers that augment the traditional classroom
Students at Dalton begin working with the three elements of the Dalton Plan from a very young age. At the First Program, children are presented with opportunities to make educational choices about their learning and in the process discover how to identify their interests and take responsibility for pursuing them. Over the years, Dalton students learn how to budget their time, seek out faculty, and take responsibility for their own education. Dalton graduates frequently comment on how well prepared they were for college because the Dalton Plan taught them how to take control of their own educational destinies. Today, as in the early years, Dalton is committed to educating students in accordance with the Dalton Plan developed by Helen Parkhurst. This unique philosophy of education, along with fine facilities and a dedicated faculty, continues to enhance Dalton’s reputation as one of the nation’s most innovative and successful educational institutions.