What is Walkabout?

The "Walkabout" program of the Linworth Campus of the Worthington High Schools is the result of the successful merger of the school and the community.

Since 1975, joint efforts of community professionals and tradespeople and the Linworth Staff have provided over 600 students with an experiential component to a curriculum of academic coursework. The results:

• a school which demonstrates the relationship between education and action
• a community which participates in the education of a future generation of workers, thereby giving relevance to classroom teaching and a promise for the future
• a graduate who comes equipped with tangible products and experiences - not just a list of complicated credits

Philosophy

The Linworth “Walkabout” program, which derives its name from the Australian aboriginal rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood, marks a transition from youth and school to adulthood and community life. It is designed to develop the skills, attitudes and values of responsible adulthood. Central to the program is the belief that being tested in a classroom setting doesn't prove the ability to apply the knowledge. The test of Walkabout, and of life, is not what a student can do under a teacher's direction, but what he or she can do as an individual.

Description

Linworth seniors who have met graduation requirements may use all or a portion of the second semester to test their skills and abilities in the adult world of work. The student may choose to examine career and academic goals, offer community service, hone practical or survival skills, explore college programs, or participate in a research project or creative endeavor.

How it Works

After the student interviews with a prospective mentor, and both parties decide to proceed with a Walkabout (no decision is made on the spot), the student works at the chosen placement for nine weeks under the guidance of the mentor. Here, he or she experiences a representative sample of the activities of the business or service, in a 50/50 exchange of service for learning.

The Partnership - Linworth's Commitment to the Future

The partnership of the school and the community is essential to Linworth's educational commitment to expose students to a broad spectrum of educational options. The continued support and assisstance of the community is crucial to sustaining the neccessary balance between classroom and experiential learning.

For more information about student and teacher roles in Walkabout, click here.