Village Squire, 1980-08, Page 21him to found and direct a school for
children of workers at his factory. He
began to select and train a faculty of
teachers. Among the first words he spoke
to those teachers were these: "We shall
only be able to achieve our task if we see it
as not only to do with the intellect and
feeling, but with the sphere of the moral
and spiritual in the highest sense."
THOUSANDS ENROLLED
Soon there were thousands of pupils
enrolled in Waldorf Schools across Europe,
Great Britain, Canada, U.S.A., New
Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The
aims are directed toward a healthy growth
of body, mind and spirit.
It is an education wht'ch brings out the
individuality of the whole child. Teachings
are qualitative rather than quantitative.
Each individual must have a chance to
receive a rounded education, that not
only his gats be fostered, but his
weaknesses be strengthened.
Teachers must be at least 20 years of
age. Most teachers are older than that. The
London's new Waldorf School.
Lbndon teachers are in their early thirties.
They are Tom Baudhuin, who comes highly
recommended from the Detroit Waldorf
training centre, and David Hadden, now
training in England. David will teach grade
1. Teachers could be University graduates,
or anyone dedicated to the teachings of
Waldorf Schools. Their pay is half or what
teachers receive in public schools. A
training course for a Waldorf teacher is two
years.
EXPAND
Carol Lewis, mother of two children, is
co-ordinator of the new school in London.
She said the new school should steadily
expand
"We are expecting to add a new
classroom each year," Carol said. Grades
in some Waldorf schools go up to College.
One important question is: "What if we
had to move away, how would my child
integrate into an ordinary school?"
"The basic training received at Waldorf
will remain with the child, and would make
hien (her) a better student in future school
years." Carol said.
Rouleen Stewart, a teacher in search of
something different for her own child, was
absolutely amazed when she visited
Waldorf School in Thornhill. She had no
negative thoughts on what she saw. French
and German lessons were taught by other
teachers all trained in Waldorf philosophy.
Secondly the child gains inner strength
and wealth of character and creativity.
Crafts are taught including knitting,
crocheting, woodwork and many others.
OVERPROTECTIVE
Another question: "Is it an over-
prtoective environment?"
Answer: "Definitely not. By the time the
child reaches college age, he will be
trained as a capable human being
able to cope with whatever he has to face in
further training."
To quote Dr. Steiner." As much as I
appreciate the achievements of ex-
perimental and statistical methods in
education, I also know that they are a
symptom of the loss of direct inner contact
between human beings. We have become
alienated to what is inwardly human and,
VILLAGE SQUIRE/AUGUST 1980 PG. 19