The Dalton Plan is an educational method developed by American educator Helen Parkhurst around 1919 and first implemented at a high school in Dalton, Massachusetts, organizing instruction around three principles: freedom for students to work at their own pace, cooperation through mixed-age group work, and a budgeting of assignments each student contracts to complete within a set period rather than following a fixed daily timetable. It influenced school reform internationally and remains in active use today, especially in the Netherlands, where hundreds of Dalton schools still operate.
Facts
Central QuestionWhat happens to a student's motivation and judgment when the teacher sets the standard to be reached but leaves the student free to tackle the work in his own way and at his own pace? 1 Sources
1. Dalton education, Dalton International
Dalton education section, quoting Helen Parkhurst on the Freedom principleQuote, Dalton education section, quoting Helen Parkhurst on the Freedom principle
Under the Dalton Laboratory Plan we place the work problem squarely before him, indicating the standard which has to be attained. After that he is allowed to tackle it as he thinks fit in his own way and at his own speed.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.