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Palmer School, 81-year-old private campus, closes abruptly in Walnut Creek

Original post made on Jun 14, 2020

The Palmer School for Boys and Girls, a Walnut Creek-based private school that has served students in Contra Costa County since 1939, abruptly shut down last week.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, June 11, 2020, 5:16 PM

Comments (5)

Posted by Former Palmer Student
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Jun 14, 2020 at 1:35 pm

I couldn’t be more delighted by this news. Palmer may have been beloved by the few affluent families who were treated like royalty by the staff, but it was a nightmare for everyone else. I personally faced so much abuse that I attempted to end my life at age 11. This school should have been closed long ago.


Posted by Bob Kurtz
a resident of another community
on Jul 19, 2020 at 4:58 am

I taught at Palmer School 50 years ago and it was the best. It was unique, special, a little different from any other schools. I am saddened by the loss. Perhaps when the pandemic is over it can be restarted. Adrian, Joan, Sam and Lance are the best. I hope some of the events I helped create lasted It was the best school I was ever involved with as a teacher or student.


Posted by Another Former Palmer Student
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Jul 25, 2020 at 9:48 pm

My heart goes out to the person who first commented. The second person who commented, Bob Kurtz, was my 8th grade teacher at Palmer School who got arrested for sexual crimes against minors. Look him up on the Meghans Law website. Robert Blair Kurtz was convicted of sodomy, a lewd or lascivious act, and oral copulation with a minor. Last known address was Oakland, CA. He needs to be called out for being the monster he is. I think I was left alone because I am female, but the whole truth came out with his arrest in 1976 or 1977. I agree with and am in complete support of that former student.


Posted by Laura Blessing
a resident of another community
on Jul 29, 2020 at 6:32 pm

I am sad that Palmer has closed. I went to school there for my 7th and 8th grade school years. Spent a lot of time there before school and after school and made some great friends. My education there helped me prepare for Carondelet HS. I no longer live in the Bay Area. But I wish there were more schools like it.


Posted by Yet Another Former Student
a resident of Walnut Creek
on Aug 31, 2020 at 11:01 pm

Yet Another Former Student is a registered user.

Good riddance to this miserable place. I’m in full agreement with the other former students that had problems at Palmer. The constant abuse, routine humiliation, emotional torment and bullying was intolerable. Additionally, there was nothing to recommend it academically. There was no attempt to help students. It was, at best, the sink-or-swim approach to education. If you sank then that was your tough luck. It destroyed the educational and emotional well being of many, many children for decades. Some people it ruined for a lifetime.

I find it truly amazing the Bob Kurtz popped up here with a post. He has been arrested more than once for child pornography and sexual crimes against minors.


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