early
childhood
Reflections from Two
Waldorf Grandparents WRITTEN BY PAUL WIESE AND MARIA ANDERSON
Holding my young children’s hands as we walked up enchanting luminaria and jack-o’ lantern lined paths at dusk one crisp fall evening, I was transported to a land of wonder, beauty and imagination. Our angelic guide sang as we were led from one magical story scene to another. The elves were cobbling their shoes, gnomes were mining their gems, and the stars were falling into the hands of wide-eyed children. I was mesmerized, but even more delighted to see how my children responded to the enchantment. Our journey into Waldorf education had just begun. With a background in early childhood and elementary education, I have always felt that there was more possibility for our current system, and I love that the Waldorf pedagogy engages the head, the hands and the heart. Through this educational paradigm I have been able to experience children learning in myriad ways. From handwork projects and beautiful May pole dances to storytelling, artwork and pioneer study trips… deep engagement and experiential learning are essential and meaningful. The Waldorf community celebrations throughout the year encourage
imagination and a sense of wonder, and they have become a way of life for our family. Thirty years later I am as committed as ever to bringing Waldorf-inspired education to families. I am hopeful that my grandchildren can experience more of what the Waldorf philosophy has to offer. I believe that now, more than ever, Waldorf pedagogy is what is so desperately needed for our young children, as well as for society itself. Children need the support of loving, caring and striving adults who understand the necessity of letting children have a pure childhood that allows them to be who they are, not who we think they should be. The World Family School here in Bozeman has been a magical place for young children for years, based on the Waldorf pedagogy. We hope to continue and build upon this foundation, and we have a vision of a thriving Waldorf School for our community here. We are offering parent/child education and experiences, vibrant festivals and workshops throughout the year, and ongoing information about Waldorf education.
Recently I was so inspired by master educator and Waldorf grandparent Paul Wiese’s wise words about the importance of Waldorf education. I asked him why Waldorf-inspired early education is so needed right now, and what sets it apart from other educational initiatives? Here is his response: “Rather than emphasize what sets Waldorf education apart, I will talk about how this unique educational impulse and understanding of the child can inform and enhance whatever system of education the child is already experiencing. Most western educational models are based on an idea concerning the innate nature of the child, that every child is a tabula rasa (empty slate) that must be taught how to behave, how to think and reason to understand the world and develop ideas concerning it. In this model, the more information and concepts written in the better. If we begin with a fragmented reality… this is math, this is science, this is chemistry… and then intellectually attempt to put it all back together again, it is like ‘all the king’s men trying to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.’
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