Few wide-awake, progressive communities
conveniently situated with
reference to neighboring cities of importance, and the mountain and the
sea, have been equally fortunate with Palo Alto in attracting
educational institutions such as give strength and grace to this great
university town, and few educational institutions of the rank and fame
of Miss Harker's School, one of the sources of pardonable pride to Palo
Alto's ambitious citizens, enjoy such an inspiring environment, lying
as
it does in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley with the sequoia-clad hills
rising beyond on the one hand, and, on the other, the blue Coast Range
beyond a silver line of an Francisco Bay- the whole affording the
student the quiet atmosphere conducive to serious work, while living in
the refining influence of quietly beautiful surroundings. The
School was founded in 1902 by Miss
Catherine Harker, a native of
Oregon, who is a graduate of Vassar, where she received the A.B.
degree. It was incorporated in 1915 and is housed in a main
building erected in 1907, two cottages-one for the Lower School, the
other for the Domestic Science Department, and a building especially
adapted for the Kindergarten. In 1921 a new gymnasium was built,
costing $16,000. The school property embraces about seven acres
laid out in gardens, playgrounds and courts for tennis, basketball and
baseball, and the proximity to Stanford University and the
accessibility of San Francisco offer the exceptional advantages,
without the distractions , of a metropolis.
The aim of the school, to buildup vigorous physical health, to achieve
the best possible intellectual advancement, and to secure for each
pupil the moral and spiritual development which will enable her to take
her place among intellectual and cultured people, and to live a rounded
and useful life, is evidenced in the artistic and thoroughly modern
school home. The first floor contains the reception hall, the
library, music room, recitation rooms, and study hall, and the dining
room and kitchen, and second floor is made up of the large, sunny
bedrooms of the resident pupils, although many use the screened
sleeping porches. Only such rules are insisted upon as are necessary to
the comfort of all the household, and from each girl is expected a
cheerful and ready response. One result is that Miss Harker's
School has become widely famous through its pupils, who are always
known as true gentlewomen. The School is also enviably renowned through
its excellent faculty, some eighteen or twenty thoroughly trained women
of the highest academic credentials. These conduct a kindergarten
department, a primary school, an intermediate school;, a high school
department, and a post-graduate department, and also departments for
the study of music, Biblical literature and history, and drawing and
applied art, as well as cooking and sewing. The value of the
kindergarten as the logical foundation for the whole structure of
education is more than ever widely recognized; the folk and nature
story stimulates interest, and the games and handiwork develop respect
for the right of others. In the primary school, the children are
trained in the habits of concentration, independent thinking,
thoroughness, accuracy, and consideration of each other.
The aim
of the intermediate school is the development of independent thought
and expression, and this is accomplished by discussion of topics of the
day, debates, individual reports, and a class paper, all contributing
to train for good citizenship. It speaks for itself that the high
school department is accredited both to Stanford University and the
University of California, and that the regular college preparatory
course prepares pupils also for Vassar, Smith, Wellesley, Mt. Holyoke,
and Bryn Mawr. For those who do not desire to enter college,
there is another regular course of four years leading to graduation.
A systematic course of Bible study is given, extending from the primary
grades through the high school; there is a two years' course in
free-hand drawing, with modeling in clay; special designs are made and
executed on wood, leather, brass, copper, silver and textiles; there
are
both theoretic teaching, and lectures , and practical work in
cooking;
elementary and advanced sewing are provided for, and the department of
physical training is conducted with special care for the individual
needs of the pupils. Each year the senior class presents a play
out-doors.
In order, for example, that the girls may have a practical knowledge
of business methods such as becomes those who are some day to
have
more or less business to transact on their own account, parents are
requested to send direct to the School a stated monthly allowance to be
deposited in the School Bank; and this will be subject to the pupil's
personal check to be used only for personal expenses that require
actual cash payments, on which account no money will be advanced to
pupils. Check books and pass books are furnished to each
pupil,
and parents are requested to cooperate in instilling increased care in
the expenditure of money.
Transcribed
by Carolyn Feroben from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara
County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 764
Off-site History of Miss Harker's
MISS HARKER'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, 1902-1959
THE HARKER DAY SCHOOL 1959-1972
PALO ALTO HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
SANTA CLARA COUNTY- The Valley of Heart's Delight