Why I founded Walden: Creating a new educational eco-system
Would you believe that there is a correlation between climate crisis, global warming, the education system and why I was determined to create a private school?
During my twenty years as an educator I have been fortunate to learn many valuable lessons and pursue my vision of educating young people. That vision revolves around a belief that we must create an educational eco-system where our children can flourish. Further, I believe that we must establish an environment where students are nurtured with learning experiences that embrace a culture of compassion and empathy for the individual.
Most of my career was spent as a high school teacher and administrator in one of the largest public school boards in Canada. During that time, through conversations with parents and colleagues and by observing students I saw an increasing neglect of students’ fundamental needs. Provincial test scores and graduation rates seemed to take on increasing importance and there was a noticeable shift from authentically student-centred education. Coupled with the impact of the internet and social media, our children just didn’t seem to stand a chance in this depleted eco-system. Eventually, the gap between doing things right and and doing what’s right became too great.
At that point, I made the decision to leave a very promising and stable career to build my own school where I could address the needs of students that were increasingly being ignored. I also was determined to include a daily focus on mental health and well-being.
On the journey to founding Walden, I met wonderful and like-minded educators who shared my belief that children will thrive and find personal success in a learning environment that:
Is caring
Fosters curiosity
Encourages self-expression
Celebrates diversity
Truly values inclusivity
In making good people, which is our ultimate goal at Walden, our teachers and programmes are founded firmly on the principle that the needs of the child should predominate. When we recognize that children are both resilient and each brilliant in their own way, we are able to enable them to respond to the uncertainties of what the future will bring.
And while this may sound revolutionary it really is about getting back to basics and creating unlimited opportunities for our students to collaborate and create a suite of capabilities that will help them find the truth and realize their potential.
That’s how Walden came about and it’s why I made the leap to create a school centred on our collective passion for teaching and recognition of each child as a source of inspiration.