Summer's Conference: Highlights from our Keynote

After a great summer conference for homeschoolers, here in Virginia, I finally have time to get down a few thoughts. We were so lucky to have Gene Campbell of Chiron, Jody Grossman, Natalie Adams, Cynthia Bennett and Gloria Leon as presenters this year. These women are all great Waldorf teachers and advocates for Waldorf and it was such a pleasure and a gift to have them share their wisdom. We covered a range of topics, always with a focus on the anthroposophical roots and practical application. Ms. Adams began the keynote with a talk entitled: "Waldorf: Education Against Alienation."

She touched on some of the challenges of modern society with regard to academic, as well as, extra-curricular pressure. Time for children to play, and have something come out of their creative ability versus always being instructed by an adult, is critical. This important aspect of healthy development is being squeezed out of childhood in both public and private time.

See the following articles that discuss the intense, ever increasing academic pressure for contemporary children.

The New First Grade: Too Much Too Soon? http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14638573/site/newsweek/from/ET/

As Homework Grows, So Do Arguments Against It http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/11/AR2006091100908.html

Ms. Adams noted that all of Waldorf education works against letting a soulless intellectuality take over, but ensures a connectedness to what is learned, studied, or experienced. I also notice that even in everyday terminology, a strict intellectual approach is considered dry and lifeless. Waldorf strives to enliven content, emphasize meaning, and allow a sense of wonder and beauty to develop. Waldorf does this without "entertaining children" and "making things fun" in a sugar coating kind of way. Keeping a human connection to what is studied is always central.