December, 28. 2025
New Year Address Dalton International 2026
Distinguished colleagues and friends of Dalton International,
As we stand at the threshold of 2026, I begin with gratitude. The year behind us has been one of steady growth and meaningful consolidation. We have not merely added names to a list; we have welcomed partners who share a conviction about the dignity of the learner and the craft of the teacher. For that, and for the daily work of so many of you, I offer my sincere thanks.
Achievements of 2025
A flourishing network — This year we were pleased to welcome new members of Dalton International in the Netherlands: Openbare Daltonschool `t Gijmink and Dalton Basisschool De Borgwal. Their commitment strengthens our European community and enriches the exchange of practice that lies at the heart of Dalton.
New beginnings in China — Ouijangkou Experimental School has begun the important work of becoming a Dalton school. Their early steps are a reminder that the Dalton Plan is adaptable and alive in diverse cultural contexts.
Stronger team — I am delighted that our team has grown. New colleagues bring fresh energy and expertise; together we will sustain the work of support, training and research that Dalton schools require.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Academic investment — We will open a Dalton academic centre at Wenzhou Kean University, a place where teachers will be able to develop and refine a Dalton workshop. This centre will be a practical laboratory for teacher learning and a resource for schools across the region.
Growing interest across continents — We have received applications from elite institutions in Europe and are preparing to extend our presence into further countries in Asia in the coming year. These developments confirm that Dalton thinking resonates widely and that our method continues to find new, thoughtful adopters.
Global gatherings — We look forward to the XXVIII International Dalton Congress in Shenzhen this November. That congress will be an occasion to meet, to test ideas, and to renew our shared commitments. We anticipate rich conversations with Dalton communities from around the world.
Dalton Cafe — On 14 April we will convene another Dalton Cafe. These informal yet purposeful gatherings are where practice meets reflection; I warmly invite you to join and to bring your questions and your experience.
Continued expansion and support — In 2026 we will continue to support schools as they adopt Dalton structures and cultures. Our work will focus on practical implementation: leadership, classroom organisation, assessment for autonomy, and the professional learning that sustains change.
Reflections on Purpose and Practice
Helen Parkhurst taught us to trust the learner and to reframe the teacher’s role from sole provider to thoughtful facilitator. That lesson remains our compass. Professionalism in Dalton terms is not measured by the volume of instruction but by the quality of the learning environment we design and the clarity of the expectations we set. Let us be exacting in our standards and generous in our trust.
We must also remember that Dalton is a communal endeavour. The transformation we seek is not the work of isolated classrooms but of whole schools and networks. Leadership, collegiality and parental partnership are the scaffolding that allows student autonomy to flourish without disorder.
Invitation and Closing
As we enter 2026, let us carry forward both humility and ambition. Humility to learn from each other and from the schools that test our ideas; ambition to extend Dalton practice where it can do most good. Let us meet the year with the steady resolve to make schools places where students are given responsibility, where teachers are supported to coach rather than to command, and where learning is a shared enterprise.
Thank you for your dedication, your courage in trying new ways, and your generosity in sharing what you learn. May 2026 be a year of deepened practice, fruitful partnerships and many occasions to celebrate the work we do together.
With warm regards,
Roel Röhner on behalf of Dalton International
December, 20. 2025
Last week, Helen Parkhurst’s 1922 book (Education on the Dalton Plan) was republished in English by a Dutch publishing house: Leonon. The book includes an introduction by René Berends, author of Parkhurst’s biography. This book was written for the Dutch market. The introduction is in Dutch. In the coming months, the book will also be published for the international market with Berends’ introduction translated into English. The English edition will feature a foreword by Elvira van den Hoek (chair of the Dutch Dalton Association) and Elisabeth Krents, Director of the Helen Parkhurst Institute New York.
December, 4. 2025
Last month, the International Wenzhou Dalton School published its Teacher’s Handbook. The book is intended for teachers at the school in Wenzhou (China). It offers practical suggestions for implementing Dalton education in their own classes. The book also includes a number of contributions from researchers and trainers affiliated with Dalton International.
November, 29. 2025
Today, the oldest existing Dalton school for secondary education in the Netherlands celebrates its 100th anniversary: Dalton Den Haag. At today’s celebration, the school presented a book about its history.
October, 29. 2025
Today at 9:00 a.m. (Central European time), the second online International Dalton Café was held. Huib Wursten gave a lecture on Worldviews in Education: Translating Pedagogical Systems through Seven Cultural Logics. The second introduction was given by Anja Schoots. She works at the Coornhert Lyceum, a Dalton school in Haarlem (the Netherlands), as vice principal and researcher. Her presentation was about her research topic: Agency. Information about both presentations will be shared in the ‘reports international Dalton cafés’ section of this website. Around 30 people from all over the world participated in the online café.