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| Walden III Middle/High School | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1972 |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Students | 600 (approx) |
| Grades | 6–12 |
| Location | Racine, Wisconsin, USA |
| Colors | Rainbow |
| Mascot | Walnut |
| Website | http://www.waldeniii.org |
Walden III Middle/High School is an alternative school located in downtown Racine, WI.
Contents |
Beliefs
According to their website, Walden III operates on a few core strategies:
- small size
- flexibility
- developing student responsibility
The Walden Philosophy
Walden III is founded on the belief that students should be a part of the decisions which affect them at school. Walden III students demonstrate high levels of responsibility, self-direction, initiative, and cooperation. Each student is expected to contribute toward making Walden III a more friendly, positive learning environment. The Walden III campus is open, meaning there is freedom for students to move about the school and the neighborhood. Walden III's commitment to non-violence is a tradition that has been an integral part of its philosophy since the school's inception in 1972. Students are expected to solve problems amicably. The school's "no fight" policy means that no one may use physical violence against another. Any student violating the district's code of student responsibility may be removed from Walden III to return to their home school. In addition, a student at Walden cannot demonstrate truancy/tardiness or academic failure over the course of a quarter and remain a Walden student. Walden's letterhead and logo also used to feature the line 'in the process of discovery' following the name. This is to signify that the utopian ideal of a Walden is not fully exemplified, but rather the idea that the school is an ongoing project, and that it must grow and change over time.
Mission
Walden's mission is to:
- be student-centered and staff driven
- add educational value to each student's life
- use individualized student performance assessment
- find ways to motivate each student
- hold ourselves to the expectations of the Coalition of Essential Schools
- create a family atmosphere and develop a relationship with the students and their parents/guardians in order to reach educational goals
- set local, state and national benchmarks for success
Rite of Passage Experience (ROPE)
The Rite of Passage Experience is a graduation requirement completed by all graduating Walden III students in their senior year. The first quarter, students are required to make a portfolio showcasing their talents and personality. This portfolio includes an autobiography, a reflective essay on a piece of literature, a resumé, letters of recommendation, and proof in various forms that the student not only meets the requirements set out by the school district (mathematics, reading, english, and knowledge of American government) but meets additional, more rigorous requirements set by Walden III. The second quarter, students are required to write (under the guidance of a faculty member) a thesis on a topic of their choice.
History
Walden III was founded in 1972 as an alternative high school for the students of the Racine Unified School District. Walden III was named by the students after Henry David Thoreau's "Walden", with a placement of third attributed to B.F. Skinner's "Walden Two". Its first year, it only admitted 12th grade students, however, the following year it became a senior high school serving grades 9-12. Walden III used to be located in the McMynn building across from Memorial Hall (where the McMynn towers now stand). After a few years, however, it was moved to its current location at 1012 Center Street, in the former Franklin High School building. The older wing of the building was occupied by the magnet elementary school Red Apple until the 1986-87 school year, not too long after Walden first admitted middle school students (grades 6 through 8). In the early 2000s, Walden III lost many of its experienced faculty when teachers Willie Maryland and Al Clausen opened another alternative high school in Racine, the R.E.A.L. School. The REAL school was founded with many of the same ideals as Walden III, but hopes to maintain a more relaxed atmosphere by having even smaller enrollment and a more intimate environment. Walden III has recently become Racine, Wisconsin’s first Green School due to the creative efforts of many students and a high school English teacher, Tom Rutkowski. The green school act has more students recycling cans, bottles and papers and with future efforts are hoping for much more green progress.
