What do we wish for our children?
This question is the foundation of our
vision. The 21 statements that follow
attempt to articulate that vision—to
bring clarity to the question. Having a
clear picture of what we want for our
children will help guide us in all that
we do. We will use this document to
measure and guide our actions.
Falk School
On a hill overlooking the campus of the University of Pittsburgh stands a beautiful gray
stone building with an old English slate shingle roof. Inside is a school with an excellent
faculty and a diverse student body. It is the campus laboratory school of the University of
Pittsburgh.
Established under a charter agreement between the University and Leon Falk Jr. and
Marjorie Falk Levy in 1930, the school has a unique status among American laboratory
schools. It is the only one that is known to have a legal charter that stipulates its purpose
and functions. The school was named the Fanny Edel Falk Elementary School in honor of
the donors’ mother.
The original charter designated the school as a progressive experimental school
for demonstration purposes; however, in 1946 the charter was amended to include
practice teaching as one of the school’s functions. Over the years the faculty added to
the school’s original functions the development of new and innovative educational
practices, the in-service education of experienced teachers, and educational research.
Most recently, Falk School has adopted inquiry as the defining characteristic in its
educational philosophy.