Ujima

Dalton’s connection to Kenya began when students who were then in the First Program became aware that Koigi wa Wamwere was imprisoned in Kenya and that his life was in danger. The students helped in the campaign for his release. Their contribution formed part of the widespread international pressure to release Koigi from imprisonment. Since then, Koigi has been closely associated with Dalton. He became a Dalton parent when his son, Kuria, attended the First Program. He has spoken a number of times at our school assemblies, having a deep effect on students, faculty and staff as he recounted his experiences and shared his wisdom and ideas with us.

So what is the Dalton School actually like? It is almost impossible to know without visiting us, but here is a quick overview. We are located in the center of the island of Manhattan, in New York City. The school lies in a neighborhood called the Upper East Side, an area noted for its wealth and its institutions. Tall apartment buildings dominate some areas, while smaller townhouses line many streets. Most of the avenues are lined with stores, and there are many schools and museums in the area. Dalton’s First Program, where children in the kindergarten through third grades (5-9 years old) go to school, is located in a set of three converted townhouses. About two hundred yards away, in a street with larger buildings, is the rest of the Dalton School, where the fourth through the twelfth grade students (10-18 years old) attend classes. This part of the school is housed in a building with twelve floors. There are about 1200 students at Dalton, and around 900 of these students work in this large building, so our learning environment is quite crowded. There is a shortage of space here as everywhere in Manhattan and so, for example, our sports teams must travel some distance by bus to play outdoors on grass fields.

Dalton’s approach to education is progressive. This means that, whenever possible, students learn by doing and interacting, rather than through watching and listening. It also means that they are encouraged to ask questions and then look for the answers themselves. The idea is to produce accomplished, motivated and passionate learners. For most students, the school is an interesting and challenging environment, and for everyone it is an energetic and busy place. The students have many remarkable opportunities, but they also have to work hard to achieve their goals.

For more information about Dalton, refer to the school’s web page
http://www.dalton.org/