Welcome

“Respect the child, respect him to the end, but also respect yourself. Be the companion of his thought, the friend of his friendship, the lover of his virtue” Helen Parkhurst, Education on the Dalton Plan

It was already twenty years ago, on March 30, 2001, when the official notarial deed of Dalton International was signed. This marked the concrete result of an intensive collaboration between my Dalton school in the center of Utrecht, the Netherlands, and four innovative primary schools in Brno, Czech Republic. Together, we began searching for more international Dalton contacts and organized visits to Dalton schools in New York and Sydney.

We built our Dalton International community on trust and respect. From this foundation, I would like to share with the entire Dalton community our vision and mission. From where we stand today, we can firmly state that the Dalton International community worldwide is stronger than ever—thanks to trust, respect, and hard work.

The core of Dalton International’s mission is to preserve the legacy of Helen Parkhurst. We have consistently done our best to protect that legacy. Today, we are proud of the high quality of our implementation processes and the high standards we uphold in the certification of schools and teachers. In maintaining these standards, we have become protective—driven by love, respect, devotion, and trust. Along the way, we have also become critical and vigilant toward those who exploit our organization for personal gain or who illegally add the name “Dalton International” to their school title.

Over time, more than forty schools worldwide have become official Members of Dalton International. We have supported and trained even more International Dalton Schools across Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Turkey, and the Netherlands.

During our twenty years of activity, we have:

• Initiated and guided the development of International Dalton Schools

• Initiated and supported the Austrian, Czech, Slovak, and Polish Dalton Associations

• Initiated and supported annual Dalton conferences in several countries

• Actively contributed to local Dalton magazines

• Initiated research in cooperation with NENU University in China on the quality and effectiveness of Dalton education in International Dalton Schools

• Cooperated with universities to offer students the opportunity to earn the International Dalton Teacher certificate

• Cooperated with the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands

• Worked with the Ministry of Education and local Educational Bureaus in China

• Initiated the Chinese and Turkish departments of Dalton International in collaboration with academic institutions and ministries of education in both countries

Today, we remain open to new initiatives and are committed to working hard for the future of Dalton education worldwide. We continue to open our hearts and minds, united in service to children. We must speak on their behalf. That is our legacy and our mission. We aim to build bridges between countries, to speak with one voice, and to look in the same direction. That is how we honor our legacy and secure our future.

We thank all our friends and educators—visionary and creative—for supporting our work and helping us build a world where the voice of the child can be heard.

Roel Rohner, President Dalton International 

SEE UNDER ACTUAL

Webinar with ‘Wenzhou Dalton Elementary School’

Something More About the Aims of Dalton International

Dalton International aims to stimulate the innovation of Dalton education through international exchange of expertise. The International Dalton Conferences held in various European countries offer a valuable platform for this exchange.

However, a conference is not the only way we foster collaboration and growth.

Dalton International specializes in training school staff by offering Dalton courses at an international level. Only official International Dalton Consultants—holding a valid certificate as of January 12, 2019—are involved in this process. Schools that have completed the official Dalton training program receive the designation International Dalton School. This training is always organized in close consultation with the school’s management.

After such a training period, Dalton International awards participating teachers the official certificate ‘International Dalton Teacher’ (LEVEL A).

Dalton International is the only institution—outside the Netherlands—authorized to confer the Dalton predicate to schools. Once a local Dalton Association is officially registered, it takes over this procedure within its own country.

No other institutes are entitled to grant the Dalton predicate to schools or issue Dalton certificates to teachers.

Dalton International has initiated the founding of local Dalton Associations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, and is the initiator of the German Department of Dalton International. Dalton International maintains strong cooperation with the Dutch Dalton Association and is the leading partner in Dalton development in China, coordinated by the Chinese Department of Dalton International.

Welcome ceremony in Wenzhou Elementary Dalton School,  November 2019

Network of Challenges

A modern teacher creates a learning environment in which children are challenged to take initiative. The time of using only one teaching method is long behind us. The need for differentiation is not just about supporting children who are behind or ahead of the group. In Dalton education, differentiation stems from a simple but powerful principle: respect each individual child.

Modern education is increasingly development-oriented. This approach is exactly what gives children the space to take initiative and grow at their own pace.

Today’s teachers have taken on more of a coaching role. They are no longer merely instructors delivering lessons—they guide and support student activities like true coaches. They provide feedback, stimulate curiosity, and help students develop essential skills in problem-solving, research, and decision-making. Contemporary Dalton education is deeply rooted in 21st-century skills.

International collaboration in universities, vocational schools, and secondary education is already widely established. However, in primary education, the international field is still full of untapped potential. Dalton International aims to encourage international exchange at this foundational level. That’s why we created a special platform called ‘Webcam Classes’.

Thanks to the internet, schools can exchange Dalton assignments and gain insight into each other’s classrooms. What a thrill it is for young children in different countries to work on assignments developed abroad—and what a great opportunity to practice the English language in an authentic and meaningful way.

Dalton International actively promotes innovation in Dalton education. One of our key strategies is building strong, ongoing relationships with local Dalton Associations across different countries. Dalton specialists and representatives from Dalton schools around the world take part in this global network, working together on the future of Dalton education. The annual International Dalton Conference remains the ultimate platform for fresh inspiration and collaboration.

When we award a school the title of ‘Member of Dalton International’, complete with official certification, it is in recognition of their achievements and contributions to both national and international Dalton development. We are proud to count so many highly qualified and committed schools among our members.

We hope that this renewed website will spark new initiatives and inspire stronger connections between Dalton schools, universities, and educational institutions worldwide.

Roel Rohner
President Dalton International