Helen Parkhurst’s Dalton Plan: when pedagogical ideas meet with the N.E.F. Principles

Abstract : Back in 1916, the American educationist Helen Parkhurst (1887-1973) tried out new educational forms in her Dalton School (Massachusetts, United States of America). Her approach was imprinted not only with John Dewey’s thoughts but with Maria Montessori’s, whom she vowed a great admiration to, as well. Within a few years, her educational proposals met with success throughout the world, as many of her fellow teachers found there a way to differentiate their pedagogy. The translation of her book about Education on the Dalton Plan Parkhurst, 1922) into 17 foreign languages give evidence of this worldwide spread (Guisen, 1930; Kimmins & Rennie, 1932).

In the context of this paper, we intend to revisit Helen Parkhurst’s path, especially the bounds she tied with various New Education Fellowship (N.E.F.) members. We will especially examine the hypothesis according to which her taking part to 1929 and 1936 N.E.F. Congresses contributed to the quick spread of her educational ideas as well as it broadened the large collection of pedagogical proposals advocated by the N.E.F.