Whittier College News Release
Whittier College
Office of Public Relations
13406 Philadelphia St.
P.O. Box 634
Whittier, CA 90608-0634
August 6, 2004
Contact: Judy Browning at (562) 907-4216 or Judith Wagner at (562) 907-4250
Reference: 2004-05 #2
Whittier College’s Broadoaks Hosts Volunteer Workday
Dozens of parents,
grandparents, aunts, and uncles will make their summer pilgrimage to The
Broadoaks Children’s School of Whittier College on Saturday, Aug. 7 for
Volunteer Work Day. They will join teachers and school administrators in the
annual roll-up-your-sleeves event to spruce up the school with paint, plants,
and elbow grease.
The event has a reputation for creating fast friendships, especially for
families who are new to the school, said Judith Wagner, professor of education
and child development and director of the school, there is even a standing joke
relating to this phenomenon: “Watch out who you scrub toys with on Volunteer
Work Day; you’ll probably be going on family vacations together for the rest of
your life!”
“So much work gets
accomplished on this day. Parents and other volunteers do everything from
washing the walls in the classrooms to repairing books,” Wagner said. “It’s
amazing. Because the volunteers help us get the facilities and materials ready
for the new school year, teachers can devote their time to instructional
planning. The children are the beneficiaries.”
Founded in 1906,
Broadoaks is one of the oldest and most well respected demonstration schools in
the country. Today the school serves children from preschool through sixth grade
during the regular school year and preschool through ninth grade in the summer.
The school’s instructional approach emphasizes active learning, critical
thinking, and creativity across the curriculum. Broadoaks follows California
State Standards. The school focuses on academic, social, and personal
development, including social responsibility, Wagner said.
“Broadoaks has only two
school rules: Every child is here to learn. Every child is here to help everyone
else learn. When we all follow these two rules, we just don’t need any more
rules or discipline procedures. Each year scores of college students, student
teachers, and professional educators visit the school to learn about its
methods.”
Located 18 miles east of Los Angeles, Whittier College is an independent,
four-year college offering traditional liberal arts majors and strong
pre-professional programs taught in the context of the liberal arts. Whittier
Law School, which is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member
of the Association of American Law Schools, is located on a separate campus.
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