Barbara Jean Scales

August 17, 2017

It is with great sadness, that we note the passing of Barbara Jean Scales, of Berkeley, California, on August 17, 2017. We are joined in our grief, by scores of children, students of all ages, teachers, colleagues, countless friends, neighbors, and relatives. Born in Colfax Iowa, she met her first husband, the late Emmet Scales, in Los Angeles, in the mid 1940’s. In 1948, they married, in Tijuana, Mexico, since at that time interracial marriage was still illegal in America.

She and Emmet lived for over twelve years in San Francisco; drawn by the Beatniks, the vibrant jazz scene and the nascent Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, they moved to Berkeley, where she resided until her death.

As a distinguished educator, researcher, and author; Dr. Scales frequently collaborated with other scholars on books and papers. The seminal ‘Play At the Center of the Curriculum’, now in its Sixth Edition, was written with her second husband, Dr. Keith Alward, and two other scholars in the field. It vigorously supports how unstructured play is crucial to the development of young minds.

Barbara received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art at San Francisco State University, and her Masters and Doctorate in Education, at the University of California at Berkeley.

From 1975 – 1998, Barbara worked with and ultimately became Head Teacher and Acting Administrator, for the Harold E. Jones Child Study Center.

The loving and beloved mother of three sons: Michael, Jeffrey and Frederick Scales; she is the grandmother of 11, and the great-grandmother of 4.

Barbara and Keith enjoyed family, global travel, Piaget Society events, the arts, and countless friends. Barbara was also a member of Pie and Water Color for over 15 years; a group of artists who painted together, on Tuesday evenings

Barbara’s energy for making and enjoying art, was seemingly inexhaustible. Her lifetime of producing art, includes hundreds of paintings, and several murals at: John Muir Elementary School, a West Campus Middle School hallway, and the Berkeley Community Theatre.

Barbara was brilliant and forever curious; ever furthering her long, well-lived life. She will be sorely missed, by those who knew her.