University Times

Nestled in the rolling hills on University Drive, a gray stone school house with an Old English slate shingle roof will mark its 70th anniversary this September.

But on June 16 Falk School, the K-8 laboratory school administered by Pitt's School of Education, was the site of a new event, when 18 of the 24 students from the class of 1973 gathered from as far as Seattle for the first reunion in the school's history.

Counting families and three retired teachers in attendance for a tour, a meal and an evening of reminiscing, the event drew 40 people. Doubling as a fund-raiser, the reunion raised more than $7,000 in donations from the class.

Falk director Bill McDonald, who has been on staff at the school for nearly half its existence, called the reunion one of the most satisfying experiences of his 33-year educational career.

"There are rewards for being a teacher: Seeing your students become successful is one of the best," McDonald said. "But for me, to have a group come back on their own and hear them say things about established life-long friendships, and what their Falk experiences meant to them, gives you a pride that it was all worthwhile."

Still at its original location, the Fanny Edel Falk Elementary School opened in 1931 with 78 students. At that time the school offered nursery school to 6th grade. The school was funded by a gift from Pitt benefactors Leon Falk Jr. and his sister, Marjorie Falk Levy, in memory of their mother.

The original charter designated the school as "a progressive experimental and demonstration school." Later, practice teaching, the development of innovative educational practices, in-service training and educational research were added to its functions.

Today, some 280 students are enrolled in grades K-8. Classes at Falk are mixed-age, matching students of similar academic abilities. Students typically remain in the same classroom with the same teacher for two or three years, which fosters close relationships, McDonald said.

Former classmates who attended the June 16 reunion echoed that last sentiment.

Alan Levenson, chief economist at TR Price, said, "I was impressed with the deep trust that obviously accrued among us during those many and formative years at Falk. There are few pleasures greater than the return to the bosom of childhood friendship. It was like returning to an ancient holy site. I found myself pressing my palm to the wide wood banisters, curling my fingers around the gratings and fences. I could revive and preserve the feelings and recollections of my years at Falk."

One of the reunion's organizers, Penny Mateer, said, "One of the most important features of Falk is the cultural diversity of students. The teachers did a wonderful job of encouraging the students to learn together and respect each other. We were there during the '60s. We discussed issues of race and culture. We celebrated one another. We have a very close bond and we just pick up where we left off. It's almost a familial bond."

Grace Chiang, vice president of Holt Architects, of Ithaca, New York, and daughter of Shiao-Hung Chiang, professor emeritus in Pitt's Department of Chemical Engineering, said, "I think that the continuous learning environment at Falk in which we each progressed at our own pace encouraged a great deal of self-motivation, initiative and independence, which has helped each of us be successful in our diverse and individual pursuits."

She added that the class of '73 teemed with successful career stories, including three attorneys, three professors, a social work counselor, a nuclear physicist, an investment banker turned gemologist, two computer programmers and an economist.

Architect Chiang said, "I regard my days there as largely responsible for the high quality of my early education and for the wonderful memories of my formative years."

Mateer said, "What surprised me most is that the school has hardly changed since I was there — that was a bit scary. Some classrooms have been added and others have moved, but the building and its furnishings look much the same, actually are the same and need attention. Remember some of us haven't been there for 28 years."

The reunion won't be the last time this group swaps reminiscences. Chiang said that the class was committed to staying in touch. "This past year or so we have all been communicating via e-mail. Our classmate Eric Geyser set up a site for us and we all have been actively and frequently participating in it to communicate with one another."

–Peter Hart