Walt Disney's Educational Journey: From Marceline to Honorary Degrees
Walt Disney, a towering figure in animation and entertainment, is often celebrated for his creative genius and entrepreneurial spirit. While he left an indelible mark on the world, his formal education was somewhat unconventional. This article explores Disney's educational background, from his early childhood schooling to the honorary degrees he later received, highlighting the unique path that shaped his extraordinary career.
Early Childhood Education and Grammar School
Walt Disney's formal education began at home, where his mother, Flora, a former grammar school teacher, homeschooled him and his siblings in basic arithmetic, reading, and writing. This early education instilled in him a foundation of knowledge and a love for learning.
When the family resided in Marceline, Missouri, Walt's father, Elias, opted to delay Walt's enrollment in school until his younger sister, Ruth, was old enough to attend as well. At the age of seven, Walt entered Park Elementary School, a two-story red brick building that housed nearly two hundred students. The curriculum followed a standard basic education model, utilizing the McGuffey Eclectic Reader series. His teacher, Miss Brown, arranged the children's seats according to their achievement in class. Walt was placed in a chair near the back door, and the teacher labeled him the “second dumbest” in the class because he wouldn't pay attention.
In 1911, the Disneys relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where Walt enrolled in Benton Grammar School. Walt had to repeat second grade since the teachers felt he hadn't been provided a sufficient education in Marceline. His subjects included grammar, arithmetic, geography, history, natural science, hygiene, writing, drawing, and music. Supposedly, Walt read everything that Mark Twain wrote. Walt also enjoyed Shakespeare, but only the parts with battles and duels he later told an interviewer. However, for the most part, Walt was a mediocre student. His worst subject reportedly was algebra.
Despite not excelling academically, Disney's creative talents began to emerge during his grammar school years. One time, during a geography lesson, Principal Cottingham discovered Walt not paying attention to the class lesson but instead hiding behind a big geography book drawing cartoons. In fourth grade, Walt's teacher, Artena Olson, assigned the class to draw a bowl of flowers. Being very imaginative and creative, Walt drew human faces on the flowers, and he gave the flora hands and arms instead of leaves. He was reprimanded by his teacher that flowers do not have faces and hands and the assignment was to draw a still life.
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His classmate and friend Walt Pfeiffer recalled, “He made this stovepipe hat out of cardboard and shoe polish. He purchased a beard from a place that sold theatrical things. He did this all on his own. Walt got up in front of the class and the kids thought this was terrific so Cottingham took him to each one of the classes in the school."
Walt and his younger sister, Ruth, both graduated from Benton Grammar School on June 8, 1917. Walt graduated from seventh grade, and he surprised his parents by delivering a patriotic speech to the graduates. During the graduation ceremonies, Walt drew cartoons in his fellow students' yearbooks. Even then, he was well known as the boy who was going to grow up to be a cartoonist.
High School and Early Career Aspirations
After graduation, Walt enrolled in Chicago's McKinley High School in the fall of 1917. He would attend high school for only a year before volunteering as a Red Cross ambulance driver in France. He attempted to join the United States Army to fight the Germans, but he was rejected as too young. After forging the date of birth on his birth certificate, he joined the Red Cross in September 1918 as an ambulance driver.
In mid-1918, he attempted to join the United States Army to fight the Germans, but he was rejected as too young. After forging the date of birth on his birth certificate, he joined the Red Cross in September 1918 as an ambulance driver.
He returned to Kansas City in October 1919, where he worked as an apprentice artist at the Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio, where he drew commercial illustrations for advertising, theater programs and catalogs, and befriended fellow artist Ub Iwerks. In January 1920, as Pesmen-Rubin's revenue declined after Christmas, Disney, aged 18, and Iwerks were laid off. They started their own business, the short-lived Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists. Failing to attract many customers, Disney and Iwerks agreed that Disney should leave temporarily to earn money at the Kansas City Film Ad Company, run by A. V. Cauger; the following month Iwerks, who was not able to run their business alone, also joined. The company produced commercials using the cutout animation technique. Disney became interested in animation, although he preferred drawn cartoons such as Mutt and Jeff and Max Fleischer's Out of the Inkwell.
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Disney moved to Hollywood in July 1923 at 21 years old. Although New York was the center of the cartoon industry, he was attracted to Los Angeles because his brother Roy was convalescing from tuberculosis there, and he hoped to become a live-action film director. Disney's efforts to sell Alice's Wonderland were in vain until he heard from New York film distributor Margaret J. Winkler. She was losing the rights to both the Out of the Inkwell and Felix the Cat cartoons, and needed a new series. In October, they signed a contract for six Alice comedies, with an option for two further series of six episodes each. Disney and his brother Roy formed the Disney Brothers Studio-which later became the Walt Disney Company-to produce the films; they persuaded Davis and her family to relocate to Hollywood to continue production, with Davis on contract at $100 a month.
Embracing Informal Education and Experiential Learning
Despite his limited formal schooling, Disney was a lifelong learner who embraced informal education and experiential learning. He believed in the power of doing and learning through experience. "I didn't do well in school," he once said. "I didn't have a formal education to speak of. But the way to get an education is to do something. You get yourself into a problem, and you'll do the research to solve it."
Disney's approach to education was hands-on and driven by curiosity. "I'm just very curious - got to find out what makes things tick - and I've always liked working with my hands," he explained. This curiosity fueled his relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence in animation and entertainment.
He recognized the importance of education in his work, stating, "Animated films are the most versatile and stimulating of all teaching facilities." However, he also understood that learning should be engaging and enjoyable, cautioning, "Don't call the things 'educational'. That word's poison to kids. Nobody wants to be educated."
Honorary Degrees: Recognition of Extraordinary Achievements
Walt Disney's extraordinary accomplishments through his informal education caught the attention of several prestigious universities, which awarded him several honorary degrees. Awarding honorary degrees has been a tradition since the Middle Ages, and it remains common among most colleges and universities today in the United States. Honorary degrees represent great achievements for both the honoree and the awarding institution. They are awarded for a variety of reasons, including in recognition of the honoree’s service to the institution and/or society, an outstanding artistic or intellectual achievement, or the honoree’s involvement as an excellent role model to the student population.
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In May 1963, Walt received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Kansas City Art Institute from which he had never graduated. He had taken only a few Saturday morning children's art classes there. “Gosh. This goes along with my honorary high school diploma. I had honorary degrees from Yale, Harvard and [University of] Southern California before word got out that I didn't have a high school diploma.
Walt received honorary degrees from both Yale and Harvard Universities on successive days in June 1938. Neither degree was a doctorate. USC, Harvard, and Yale awards degrees to Walt all commended him for his contributions to society and the field of animation. Harvard’s president said, “Walt Disney is a magician who has created a modern dwelling for the Muses; his hand controls a multitude of elfish animals who charm all humans by their mirth.” USC’s president spoke of Walt’s achievement in “bringing to youngsters the spirit of innocent childhood, and bringing to oldsters a bit of their second childhood.” In the case of Yale, Walt’s name had been on the list of proposed recipients as early as 1935.
These honorary degrees recognized Disney's immense contributions to society and the field of animation. They acknowledged his role as an educator, an innovator, and an inspiration to people of all ages.
The Disney College Program: A Unique Educational Opportunity
The Disney College Program offers a unique educational opportunity for students and recent graduates. This J-1 Summer Work Travel Program allows participants to experience life in the United States, immerse themselves in different cultures, and build lifelong relationships.
During the Disney Program, participants have the chance to meet people from all over the world and create long-lasting friendships. The program also includes uniquely Disney experiences. Participants gain valuable work experience in various roles at Disney, helping to bring the magic to life for guests.
The program provides a platform for personal and professional growth. Participants learn new things about themselves, develop valuable skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the Disney culture and values.
Walt Disney's Enduring Legacy of Education and Inspiration
Through his legacy, Walt continues to educate and inspire children and adults to learn and continue learning. Whether it is embracing our inner youth, persevering against all odds in order to achieve our goals, or utilizing our curiosity to seek the magic in the everyday, we can learn a lot from Walt. In awarding Walt these prestigious honorary degrees, Yale, USC, and Harvard saw that Walt, through his love of learning, had a lot to teach the world.
The first elementary school in the United States to be named after Walt Disney was in 1956 at Tullytown, Pennsylvania (now called Levittown). The third was built in Marceline, Missouri in 1960 to replace the Park Elementary School that Walt attended as a child.
Walt Disney's educational journey was a testament to the power of curiosity, perseverance, and a lifelong love of learning. While he may not have followed a traditional academic path, his experiences and achievements earned him the respect and recognition of prestigious institutions. His legacy continues to inspire and educate generations, reminding us that learning can take many forms and that the pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong adventure.
The Importance of Mentorship and Guidance
“Miss Beck saw what she regarded as potential talents and did everything she could to bring them out. The point is, she tried to understand all of us as individuals. But she never favored or pampered any of us. She never slacked what she considered her teacher responsibilities. I think I must have been a special challenge to her patience. She never scolded."
“For a child, encouragement from a grown-up can be a thrilling thing with lasting consequence."
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