Mission

Mission & Philosophy

The mission & philosophy of Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School are defined by the 1930 charter agreement between the Falk family and the University of Pittsburgh.  For over 75 years, this historical document has guided the faculty and staff of Falk in what we believe, whom we serve and what we do. 

According to the charter, Falk "is to be a progressive, experimental, and demonstration elementary school that will afford the students of the University who expect to follow teaching as a vocation the opportunity to observe these methods of teaching in an elementary school." In later years, this charter was amended to include practice teaching as a function of the school.  

For those who are interested in knowing more, the educational assumptions, laboratory school functions, and Wishes for Our Children listed below should provide more insight about the school mission and philosophy. 

Educational Assumptions:

• Experiential Education:  As a laboratory school Falk follows the model of experiential education, which emphasizes prior knowledge and shared experiences as central to all learning.  Experiential education is based on the core belief that learning comes through direct experience with the environment via meaningful enterprises.


• Progressivism:  Humans are social and learn best in real-life activities with other people.  Progressive education views learning as multi-sensory. Children learn by solving real problems and asking real questions that are important to them. Read an NAIS article on Progressive Schools. 


• Constructivism:  People construct meaning from current knowledge structures.  Constructivism values developmentally appropriate learning initiated and directed by the learner.


• Critical thinking:  In a democratic society, students need to develop the habit of questioning agendas, rhetoric, and ideas.

Laboratory School Functions:

As the laboratory school of the University of Pittsburgh School of Education, Falk is a site for five types of scholarly activities that are key to the development of excellence in education:

• Research: Educational research may be conducted by teachers, professors, graduate students and others.


• Experimentation: Faculty and students participate in activities that promote the development of innovations in teaching.


• Clinical teaching experiences:  Aspiring teachers gain experience in a quality educational environment in which they are observed and guided by experienced educators. 


• Curriculum development:  New curriculum materials and teaching strategies are created, tested, piloted and evaluated at the school.


• Staff Development:  Educators from the around the United States and other countries visit the school for professional development activities.

Learn more at the National Association of Laboratory Schools.

Wishes for our Children

In 2001, the faculty at Falk created a supporting document that captures the essence of Falk and places us in a more visionary context.  This vision seeks to answer the question,  “What do we wish for our children?”   This document guides school decision-making and planning.  Visit our Wishes for Our Children page.