Teaching in Public Waldorf Education

Done! el Rio initiates first ‘how-a-K-8-Waldorf-classroom-actually-works’ experience for L.A. public school teachers at Ocean Charter School.

“Yes, but two of my unruly boys would immediately start fooling around and start sword-fighting with these things”, was the middle school teacher’s objection.  We were 20, standing in pairs in a circle, and 3-foot long/1/2-inch diameter copper rods were being distributed in preparation for practicing tossing the rods to each other to a clapping beat without dropping them. It was an example of waking students up, focusing the mind, and being social. We did, of course drop the rods continually, unaccustomed to throwing or catching with our left hand, clapping and saying a poem all at the same time.

The instructor’s response to the accidental ‘dropping of the rods’ turned out to be an object lesson of a central feature of the Waldorf educational ‘approach’:  forgiveness.  We are not warned not to drop the rods, instead we are told we will probably drop the rods and if we do that will be fine because rods can drop and probably will. As a result, we do not feel compelled to apologize, feel bad or make excuses.  We just pick it up, laugh, learn from the experience and try again. We notice that no one is selected as the best rod thrower of the day.  We are free to notice and appreciate the more talented throwers and learn from them.  We are not being judged and, as a result, try really hard and exceed our own expectations in every case.

So back to the teacher worried that in real life with real middle-schoolers real fooling, not just accidental rod-dropping, would ensue.  The instructor says, “watch this”, and invites  the skeptical teacher and her partner into the center of the circle with their rods.  The instructor says to the two ‘boys’ who, in our imagination, have been sword-fighting, “Sword-fighting is a discipline that can be learned with practice over time.  Let’s begin. Here is how you cross swords (clang! clang!) and you two can practice crossing swords right here while the rest of us practice throwing.” I can’t guarantee that this tactic would works with all unruly boys in all situations but the demonstration of helping the boys direct their energy into a productive purpose while having the chance to be admired and experience a small success seemed, to me and others when we talked about it over coffee at break, a direction worth developing to suit.

El Rio plans to continue developing opportunities for L.A. teachers to get to know Waldorf education philosophy and practice.  This initial project was a collaborative effort initiated by Tamar Kern, founding teacher and co-charter writer of the Ocean Charter School charter, and Joan Jaeckel, lead developer of el Rio Charter School and co-writer with Tamar of the founding Ocean Charter School charter.  The Public School Outreach team at Rudolf Steiner College assigned Bonnie River (assisted by Robert Murar) to develop the content and assemble the team and, with the Administrative assistance of Stephanie Edwards and Kristy Mac Fett at Ocean Charter School, it all came together. In total, 18 teachers took the course, including the winner of the el Rio Charter School get-to-go-for-free lottery.  Our instructors were Ken Lavner, Lisa Profumo and Alice Stamm. I especially want to mention the inspiring leadership and willingness  of el Rio Charter Shool development team member, blogger-writer Julia Posey and her brilliant brainchildren, the UTLA ad and the lottery.

It would be great to hear more stories from participants. Please join in and write!

And, tell a friend.