ABOUT WALDEN

Mission Statement | Facts | History | Philosophy

Mission Statement
Walden Center and School offers child-centered academics that fully incorporate artistic expression within a supportive community of learners.

  • Walden was founded in 1958; our average enrollment is 90 children.
  • The school is administered by a teacher-collective, made up of a 10-person staff including a business manager.
  • Multi-grade class groupings encompass grades Kindergarten through Sixth. (Groups are as follows: K-1; 1-2; 2-3; and 4-6)
  • The teacher/student ratio is 1:16.
  • Spanish is taught at all grades levels; classes meet 2 times/week.
  • The school hours are 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2:30 p.m. for K-1).
  • A rich Extended Day Care program is available starting at 7:45 a.m., and after school until 6:00 p.m. Fees range from $5.00 to $8.00/hour.
  • Tuition for 2007-2008, including the 50-hour work commitment, is $10,300/year. Tuition without the work commitment is $12,875/year.
  • Limited financial assistance available based on need.

History
Walden was founded in 1958 by a group of parents and educators, pacifists and anarchists, who believed passionately in the importance of school as a place of community, artistic expression and learning. The "center" in Walden Center and School was an integral part of their vision. The founders created a school that depends upon informed, enlightened discussion among children, parents, teachers and founders. This tradition of dialogue continues during daily classroom meetings, conferences, and staff and Foundation meetings.

"We want our children to grow up strong and responsive. We try to give them the opportunity to develop strength in every important aspect: to learn the tools of thinking adequately and independently, to develop the potential to respond to aesthetic experiences, to create art in all forms, to feel important."

- Audrey Goodfriend, Walden Founder (1960)

Philosophy
We believe that children learn best in an environment that stimulates an interest in the world around them.

We value group process as well as the integrity of the individual child. Our curriculum incorporates grade level expectations with developmentally appropriate theme-based units. This approach includes the Bay Area Writer's Workshop, hands-on math and science, and an integration of multicultural perspectives throughout the areas of study.

We teach language arts, math, science, and social studies within these units. Children learn to read by reading literature, practicing phonics skills, and journal writing.

We take regularly scheduled field trips to places in the greater Bay Area such as the Lawrence Hall of Science and Año Nuevo State Reserve. Each class takes at least one overnight trip per school year.

We value artistic expression in each child's life and consider essential the inclusion of this expression in a child's education. Our music, drama/movement, and visual arts teachers are part of the teaching collective and work with all the children in each group. Arts and classroom teachers often collaborate to combine the arts with other parts of the educational program.

We believe in regular communication with parents through scheduled parent/teacher conferences instead of report cards. This provides opportunities for dialogue about each child's social growth, emotional development and academic achievements. Parents and teachers talk on an informal basis as well. Teachers observe children's progress daily.

Walden parents maintain the physical facility and staff the office through a 50-hour/year work commitment. This work is spread evenly throughout the year and results in a significant tuition reduction. A strong sense of community exists as a result of the activities and tasks which parents pursue together.

We strive to have Walden reflect the diversity of the surrounding community.