I have a dream!
It’s a dream that would change the way 50 million students in our country learn. Yes, I like to dream big.
It all starts in a small town in East Germany, where my sister and I went to school. (Yes, that is me and my traditional German school cone when I entered first grade.)
We spent 75% of our days in classrooms reading textbooks, writing in notebooks and more or less listening to the teacher. We had tests, though multiple choice questions didn’t exist. (I was rather confused by that concept when I moved to the US.) There were no standardized tests either.
Once a week, we worked in the school garden for 2 hours, learning how to safely handle garden tools, how to sow seeds, weed and harvest. In Elementary school we learned to sew and knit. In middle school, we were introduced to woodworking and metal working. And in high school we spent one week each year doing a practicum to gain real life experiences.
Field trips took us to farms, factories, theatres, and into the woods where we learned about local wild animals and mushrooms. Picture a class of 20 students combing through the woods picking mushrooms. At the end of the morning, our local mycologist looked through everyone’s basket and explained the difference between edible and poisonous mushrooms. We all went home with a basket full of delicious wild mushrooms. Our moms were thrilled.
School was a beautiful balance of formal learning and hands-on experiences. And it still is.
Let’s compare…
In the US, we have public schools. They vary in quality depending on where you live. We happen to live in a very good school district. But all public schools are pretty much the same when it comes to how they teach and test students.
We also have lots of private schools. Catholic Schools. Friends Schools. Waldorf Schools. And many more. They range from having a strong focus on academics to a very hands-on approach.
Having attended a public school myself, I always assumed my children would attend public schools as well. Yes, the private school have better art programs, beautiful campuses, smaller class sizes, etc. But I believed public schools would do a fine job of educating my children.
After careful consideration of all the options, we signed up our daughter for kindergarten at our local elementary school. All was good…UNTIL…
I visited a Waldorf School.
I had a general idea of what Waldorf Schools were all about. I knew they took a very hands-on and natural approach to teaching.
What I didn’t realize was the extent of it and how it all beautifully flowed together. As I walked in and out of classrooms and across the campus, I was reminded again and again about my own school experience. I kept telling myself ‘Hey, I did that in school.’
The garden. The wood shop. The knitting. The natural playground void of any modern playground equipment. The fact that a teacher stays with the same children for 8 years. (In Germany, we had the same teacher all through elementary school.) So much was so familiar.
During this visit, I also learned a lot about the curriculum. There is no rush to teach. Learning takes place at the children’s natural pace. Learning is a journey full of rich experiences that nurture the whole body.
It’s not about drilling in facts that are forgotten again during summer break.
“Instead of simply ingesting information from a textbook or computer, our students make their own textbooks as a record of what they have learned. The books include student compositions on the material covered, and artwork to illustrate the subject matter,” says Kevin Hughes, Dean of School at the Kimberton Waldorf School.
What now?
Driving back home that day, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I would love for my children to attend a Waldorf School. BUT there was one problem.
No, tuition wasn’t the game stopper. We could figure that one out if we had to.
The problem was the distance from our house. I simply could not imagine my daughter spending 3 hours on a bus every day.
So, our daughter entered the public kindergarten in the fall of 2014.
She enjoys school. She is doing well. She has the most wonderful teacher.
I, on the other hand, wasn’t doing so well. I couldn’t believe the flood of information that was being taught. The entire alphabet was covered in one month. Recognition, writing and sounds. “Most kids learn their ABC’s in preschool these days. We just review it,” I was told. Then it was on to reading and math. And then there are tests and homework.
Looking through the worksheets that come home every day, I don’t see the flow that allows children to connect the dots. The flow that I experienced in school and that I saw at the Waldorf School. There is no beauty. No magic.
Her teacher assured us that she is making learning as much fun as possible for the students. And I know she tries very hard. But does an iPad app that aims to teach the children sight words while dancing really suffice? Does it encourage a deep love for learning?
Do test scores portray an accurate image of what children are learning? Do they reflect if children enjoy learning?
The amount of testing and rigorous pace of today’s curriculum in public schools has me worried.
Let’s dream…
What if public schools would take just one ounce of the Waldorf approach and infuse into their curriculum?
Going to school and learning should be fun. Digging into a subject and coming out of it smarter should feel very satisfying. Yes, getting an A feels good but remembering what we learned and then being able to apply that learning means so much more.
I remember studying for a biology test in middle school. It was about cells. We had drawn plant cells in class while looking at them under the microscope. My notebook was full of detailed drawings with notes around them. When it was time for the test, I vividly remember bringing up the images in my head and retrieving all the information I needed to answer the questions. I had a clear picture of everything.
Watching my daughter learn, I wonder if she has enough time to connect the dots and create images of what she is learning in her head. Or is she simply trying to store a stream of information?
Is it possible to slow down the pace in public schools ( and our own lives) and actually increase learning? Anything is possible. And it starts with us, the parents.
Let’s do it together…in 3 simple steps.
Step 1 – Give yourself permission to be different.
I didn’t teach my daughter any letters before she entered kindergarten. She didn’t know how to write her name. I knew she would pick it up quickly when she was ready. And sure enough, she learned the entire alphabet within a month. And no, I don’t think she is especially smart. She was simply ready.
Just because other parents are providing their children with educational apps, doesn’t mean it’s right.
Just because all of your child’s friends can write their names at age 4, doesn’t mean they are smarter.
Step 2 – Explore the possibilities.
Visit a Waldorf school. Experience first hand how children learn with this very different approach and hear about the amazing results.
If you don’t have a Waldorf school in your area, spend some time reading about them online. Check out this short documentary that beautifully illustrates what Waldorf Education is all about. And this New York Times article about a Waldorf School in Silicon Valley is a good read.
Step 3 – Step into action.
What I want you to take away from this experience in only one small thing.
One mindset. One activity. One idea to bring to your child’s playroom. One idea to suggest to your child’s teacher.
Start talking about it. Start living it.
And ounce by ounce we CAN create a change.
Now, for all my readers in lovely Chester County, I have a special giveaway.
Kimberton Waldorf School has offered One Week of Summer Camp to one lucky reader.
This is your chance to experience what Waldorf education is all about first-hand.
How to enter? In the comments below, share your thoughts:
What intrigues you about Waldorf Schools? Which aspect of their approach do you think our children need the most?
A winner will be selected at random. You have until March 8th to enter.
Share this post with friends and on Facebook and increase your chances of winning. Let me know you shared in the comments (I trust you and take your word for it) and you will receive an extra entry.
UPDATE: I have chosen a winner using a random number generator and Lindsay, comment #3 is our winner. Congratulations!!!
Photo Credit: Kimberton Waldorf School
I LOVE this post. Kindergarten used to be about learning to tie your shoes and get along with friends. What happened to that? It’s one of the reasons I home-school and I’m inspired to incorporate more Waldorf activities. Gardening is now officially on our list for this spring. Thank you!
You’re welcome! And you’ll be happy to hear that I will talking about gardening with children quite a bit in the upcoming months.
Love this! I want my children to have a well rounded education, free from standard tests and excessive memorization. More hands on activities that help them learn how things work and inspire creativity. Less one size fits all.
Yes, the one size fits all approach barely works for hats and least of all people. 🙂 Embracing our children’s individuality, their strengths and weaknesses, is much more beneficial than trying to get everyone up to the same level.
Love this post too! We’ve struggled with public schooling, but I wasn’t confident enough to take a full leap into homeschooling. We recently found an alternative school in Newtown square called open connections. They are similar to a Waldorf approach. We will be sending our son there in the fall and feel we’ve found a happy medium of structure and freedom we’ve been looking for. He will be considered homeschooled by the state but OC will help support us as we dive into it :). We’re really excited for this new journey!
That’s great! It definitely takes a lot of courage to go against the grain. But we all know what is best for our children. Looking forward to hearing about this journey as it unfolds.
I love the Waldorf philosophy of teaching and feel it would be so beneficial for my children. I’m Definitely interested in exploring this more.
Yes, go explore! 🙂 I thought my general idea gave me a good sense of what Waldorf was all about. But as it turns out there is so much more to it. And I believe there a lot of aspects that can be incorporated into our lives and schools.
I am open to the limitless possibilities, as I read the school does offer it all to the kids. Their one-on-one approach, and in group settings, will be helpful to the children.!
Yes, one of Waldorf’s advantages is definitely smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
This reminds me of an article I read the other day and think you might enjoy. It was about “Unschooling.” Here is the link. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/02/25/unschooling-what-is-it-and-how-one-family-does-it/
Thanks for the link, Debby! I have read about unschooling before and it’s an intriguing alternative. I have always felt that learning statistics, for example, was a waste of my time. And if I ever needed it, I’m sure I would have simply sought it out. I also remember my grandfather teaching me about the pythagorean triangle when we were building something together way before I learned it in school.
I, too, am anxious about my daughter starting kindergarten this fall in the public school system. We live in one of the “best” districts in the state, but I struggle with what “best” really means. I love the Waldorf approach, and wish more schools could adopt such a philosophy as they do in Germany. For us, Kimberton Waldorf is simply not a logistical reality (long commute) or a financial reality.
I agree, Kim. And at the same time, I understand that many school districts, administrators and teachers are trying to make changes but it’s never an easy undertaking and always a slow process. That’s why it really takes all of us to do our part in some form.
I don’t remember half the things I learned or really memorized in a traditional public school classroom. I would have loved to learn in an environment that you did Noreen! I have learned that my 4 year old learns at his own pace on his own time. Though as a new mom, at times, I panicked when he did not meet milestones as soon as his peers. I have learned to appreciate his individuality and not to rush him. The individual, small class and hands on practical life approach of Waldorf would be a great fit for him. We will be researching our options for school soon and it’s very overwhelming! Thanks for introducing us to Waldorf.
Comparing our children to others is something all moms struggle with, I think. I know I’m guilty of it at times, even though deep down I know what is best for my kids.
And yes, it’s nice to have option but sometimes that turns making a decision into an exhausting endeavor. Feel free to ask if you have any questions about different schools. And I highly recommend visiting the schools and spending as much time there as possible to really get a feel for what it is like.
Great post Noreen. We are anxious as well for Jack to start public school next year, but also know that school is just a slice of real education. I feel very fortunate to be able to expose our kids to things outside of the classroom and know that we will just have to work extra hard to provide those hands on, real life experiences. I too, am a product of public education and while there are many flaws in the system, there are many wonderful opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Our grade school had a community garden that was started by a parent and was completely supported by the administration and staff. Dream big…..this generation of parents is more aware than ever, I believe.
Thanks, Lindsay! And you are right, school is only part of their life and there is a lot we can do at home with our children. My daughter’s school has raised beds that were put in by the food bank but I’m not sure how much the students participate in caring for the veggies. Time to ask some questions and maybe even expand the school garden.
What a great post,and such an ideal start to “formal” education! Thank you for this opportunity!
You’re welcome, Emily! 🙂
I have been searching for a preschool/school that offers something similar to the learning environment on “Sid The Science Kid,” and am very excited to learn about the various early education programs Kimberton Waldorf offers. I look forward to learning more and hope that the KW community could become a home for our family for many years to come.
Being public school educated and having spent time working in different kinds of schools (Friends, single sex, boarding, etc.), when it was time to make a school decision for my own children, the choice was clear. There is nothing else like a Waldorf education. I moved to this area specifically so that my daughter could enroll at KWS (the second oldest Waldorf school in North America and the only one in this vicinity that offers the full preschool-grade 12 program). We did this when she was 18 months old, which is the minimum age to have full time care at the school (there are also parent-child classes for those who don’t work full time). It is wonderful if you start your children early in this kind of environment (whether at a Waldorf school or in your own home). I’ve learned so much about parenting and life from her teachers. I am a single parent on a limited income, and even though half of my salary is spent on her tuition, I can clearly see the value in what I am giving to her. I was planning to homeschool, but as much fun as that would be for me, I didn’t think I had the ability to provide all of the important experiences the kids have at Kimberton. Sorry to ramble…I’m just so in love with this school. Glad to see others are taking notice!
Thank you for this post. I am interested in so much of the Waldorf Education ideals. I think the power of engaging students in real world activities and allowing them the time to deeply investigate them is critical. I see this in my own teaching at the university level. Students always comment that they learn the most in lab with hands on activities rather than lecture. I also think so many children have lost the ability to connect with nature, not just for its relaxing properties but for investigating and observing the way things work and behave.
You make a good point. Hands-on learning is not just good for kids but for anybody that wants to learn something new. It’s just how our brain prefers to absorb information.
Going through the motions of everyday life can be easy. It’s easy to go mainstream, but what do we gain? I’m determined to go with what I feel is best for my children, even if it’s against the current. I too was blown away with the Waldorf school. I wish it was closer, I wish we had more funds to make it possible, but where there’s a will there’s a way. I will set the example for my chikdren to connect the dots and to love and be proud of all that makes them who they are 🙂
You’re right, it’s not always easy to go against the grain. But there is so much to gain by doing it. I can’t remember how many times I questioned my decision not to teach my daughter how to write her name before going to K. But deep down I knew it was the right thing to do. And now I’m glad I didn’t give in to outside pressure.
And yes, Danielle…there is always a way. Sometimes, it’s simply not the most obvious one. 🙂