“What are the treasures of your culture for the...
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“What are the treasures of your culture for the future?” Reflections on Cultural Diversity and Waldorf Education Mary-G. Häuptle, Cape Town, South Africa _______________________________________________________________________ “The experience, the possibility for something to happen to us or to touch us, requires an interruption gesture, a gesture that is almost impossible these days: it requires us to stop to think, to stop to look, to stop to listen, to think more slowly, to look more slowly, and to listen more slowly; to stop to feel, to feel more slowly, to linger in the details, to suspend opinion, to suspend judgement, to suspend the will, to suspend the automatism of action, to cultivate attention and gentleness, to open eyes and ears, to speak about what happens to us, to learn slowness, to listen to others, to cultivate the art of the encounter, to not speak much, to be patient and give ourselves time and space.” -Jorge Larossa Bondía in Notes on Experience and the Knowledge of Experience, 2002 Over the past few years, the IASWECE council has been striving, along the lines of an “interruption gesture”, to gain insight into diversity, by consciously exploring the many wonderful and diverse ways that Steiner/Waldorf education manifests in the world, as well as by discovering what it is that is common to us all, and to formulate what the essentials of Waldorf education are. We tried also to see the different ways we give expression to the universal human being in our different cultures, countries, and even hemispheres. We have felt that Anthroposophy has much to offer us in the world today, but what ultimately counts is how we practice it, how we bring it into the world through our deeds, our choice of language and our interactions with each individual. The IASWECE Council elaborated on this broad outline in a brochure for the Transitions Conference in April 2015: “ . . . The International Association for Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE) provides a meeting place for early childhood educators from the many countries striving to uphold, deepen and renew Steiner/Waldorf early childhood education. Our shared task is to ensure that Waldorf pedagogy becomes neither a theoretical system nor a collection of outer methods, but a wellspring of living insight. To serve the healthy development of childhood is to develop the potential to perceive, through our own self-directed inner activity, not only the physical nature, but also the soul and spirit of each child. Through this ongoing study and research we deepen our
Transcript of “What are the treasures of your culture for the...
“Whatarethetreasuresofyourcultureforthefuture?”ReflectionsonCulturalDiversityandWaldorfEducation
Mary-G.Häuptle,CapeTown,SouthAfrica_______________________________________________________________________
“Theexperience,thepossibilityforsomethingtohappentousortotouchus,requiresaninterruptiongesture,agesturethatisalmostimpossiblethesedays:itrequiresustostoptothink,tostoptolook,tostoptolisten,tothinkmoreslowly,tolookmoreslowly,andtolistenmoreslowly;tostoptofeel,tofeelmoreslowly,tolingerinthedetails,tosuspendopinion,tosuspendjudgement,tosuspendthewill,tosuspendtheautomatismofaction,tocultivateattentionandgentleness,toopeneyesandears,tospeakaboutwhathappenstous,tolearnslowness,tolistentoothers,tocultivatetheartoftheencounter,tonotspeakmuch,tobepatientandgiveourselvestimeandspace.”
-JorgeLarossaBondíainNotesonExperienceandtheKnowledgeofExperience,2002
Overthepastfewyears,theIASWECEcouncilhasbeenstriving,alongthelinesofan“interruptiongesture”,togaininsightintodiversity,byconsciouslyexploringthemanywonderfulanddiversewaysthatSteiner/Waldorfeducationmanifestsintheworld,aswellasbydiscoveringwhatitisthatiscommontousall,andtoformulatewhattheessentialsofWaldorfeducationare.Wetriedalsotoseethedifferentwayswegiveexpressiontotheuniversalhuman
beinginourdifferentcultures,countries,andevenhemispheres.WehavefeltthatAnthroposophyhasmuchtoofferusintheworldtoday,butwhatultimatelycountsishowwepracticeit,howwebringitintotheworldthroughourdeeds,ourchoiceoflanguageandourinteractionswitheachindividual.
TheIASWECECouncilelaboratedonthisbroadoutlineinabrochurefortheTransitionsConferenceinApril2015:
“...TheInternationalAssociationforSteinerWaldorfEarlyChildhoodEducation(IASWECE)providesameetingplaceforearlychildhoodeducatorsfromthemanycountriesstrivingtouphold,deepenandrenewSteiner/Waldorfearlychildhoodeducation.OursharedtaskistoensurethatWaldorfpedagogybecomesneitheratheoreticalsystemnoracollectionofoutermethods,butawellspringoflivinginsight.Toservethehealthydevelopmentofchildhoodistodevelopthepotentialtoperceive,throughourownself-directedinneractivity,notonlythephysicalnature,butalsothesoulandspiritofeachchild.Throughthisongoingstudyandresearchwedeepenour
appreciationofthespiritualindividualityofallhumanbeingsasdistinctfrom,butworkingwithinandthroughthesheathsoftheirgivengender,temperamentandpersonality,aswellasthroughthetraditionsandvaluesoftheirparticularfamilyandculturalcommunity.EveryculturecontributesuniquelytowardstheevolutionofAnthroposophyandWaldorfeducation,andwehonorthewaySteiner/Waldorfearlychildhoodeducatorsworkwithintheirspecificculturalcontexts.Atthesametime,wewouldliketoexpressourhope,thatbyencouragingtheautonomyandinitiativeofeachindividual,AnthroposophyandWaldorfeducationmaycontributetotheevolutionofthe‘whole,’suchasfamily,community,nation,andhumankind.IASWECEgivesus,aseducatorsfromdiversenationsandcultures,theopportunitytomeetandgettoknowandunderstandoneanotheronanever-deeperlevel.Developingrelationshipsoftrust,opennessandreverenceamongcolleagues,withtheyoungchildalwaysatthecentreofourvision,isthestartingpointforeducatingthechildinfreedomandtowardfreedom.OutofthisidealcomesourintentiontoparticipateinthedynamicandartisticprocessthatwillenabletheuniversalhumanspiritofWaldorfpedagogytolightupintheheartsandcreativewillofeducatorsofallcultures.Onlythencanwegivechildrenineverycorneroftheworldtheopportunitytodeveloptheirtrueandfullhumanity.”AsaninternationalcouncilwerecognizethatpartofourresponsibilityistofeelthepulseoftheWaldorfearlychildhoodmovement–tobeasenseorgan,hearinghowdifferentculturesexperienceaspectsoftheirrelationshiptoWaldorf/Steinereducation;perceivingthechallenges,strivingsandquestions.
WiththisintentionweformulatedarangeofquestionstoIASWECECouncilmembers,invitingthemtosharethequestionswithcolleaguesfromtheirowncountries.Werecognizethatthesequestionscouldbedifficultandthattheycouldbeexpressedindifferentways:
1)Whattreasuresofyourculturecouldbeaseedforthefuture?2)IsAnthroposophyhelpfulinunderstandingyourtraditionsinanewway?3)Whatisforyoupersonallytheessence,theheart,thecore,ofAnthroposophy?Additionalquestionstoworkwith:4)Whatmakesyoufeelasenseofbelongingtoaculture,andwhatmakesyoufeelacitizenoftheworld?Doyoufeelmoreathomeinonethantheother?5) Inyourearly childhood setting, are festivals fromother cultures celebrated inadditiontotheonesfromyourownculture?Whichonesandwhy?6)Doyoufeelyourselfinanevolvingprocesswithinanthroposophy?How?
These questions were intended not onlyto encourage deeper conversation andexploration, but to help us awaken tocertain aspects of our work from ouruniqueperspectives,andperhapstomakeconscious certain thoughts, feelings anddeeds which we perform each daywithoutreallybeingawaketotheirpowertohealorharm.Manycolleaguesfromaroundtheworld
have begun to share their responses tothese questions, and this will ultimatelyhelp the IASWECE council in itsdeliberations, guidelines andwork in theworld.
With gratitude,wewould like to share afew cameos of the responses to the firstthree questions from individuals invariouscountries:
1)Whattreasuresofyourculturecouldbeaseedforthefuture?
Finland:• Nature,natureelementsandthefour
seasons• Theconnectionbetweenhumanbeings
andnature,responsibilitytoprotectit,feelingoftrust
• TherichnessoftheFinnishlanguageinpoemsandsongs
• Traditionalhandicraftsandtools,traditionalworksongs
Israel:
• IhopethatMartinBuber'sideaofthestronglydevelopedpoweroftheindividual,whichtodaymustseektocomeintorelationshiptothecommunity,theuniversal,andtothewholeearth,canbeaseedforthefuture.
Japan:
• Article9oftheJapaneseConstitution(RenunciationofWar).Determinationtorenouncewar,astheonlycountrythatwasthevictimofnuclearbombing.Hopethatthisideawouldbeaseedforworldpeace.TheJapanesepeople’sviewofnature,asgods’spiritsdwellineverything.
NaturetableinaWaldorfkindergarteninFinland
OutdoorplayinaWaldorfkindergarteninTokyo
ViewoftheeasternpartofJerusalem
SouthAfrica:2)Isanthroposophyhelpfulinunderstandingyo
Poland:• Loveandneedforindependence.• Richtraditions,especiallyforfestivals.
Folkartists.• Theability,influencedbyhighideals,to
undertakeheroictasks.Thiscanleadtoindependenceinthinkinganddoing.
Brazil:
• Ourcountryismadeupofmanydifferentculturesthatenrichourwayofliving;onelearnstobemoretolerant.Fromareligiouspointofviewaswell,theChristianfaithshaveblendedandadaptedtoculturesandreligionsmoreconnectedwithnaturebeings.Musicisafactorthatisverypresentanditbringssomethinglightinoursoulingeneral.
SouthAfrica:
• Caringandsharing.• Opennessandacceptance.Opennessand
acceptance.ItisasignofhowwegrewupinourcelebratingofRamadanandEid.Whenwecelebratedourfestivalstogetherwewereallonecommunity,andwecelebratedalltraditionsandcultureswithinourcommunity(includingChristmas,Easter,etc).OurcultureisinclusiveandwebelievewhoeverknocksonyourdoorissentbyGod–wecutoutalljudgment.Thisisoursinceregreeting(andtheseedsforthefuture).Wealwaystrytotrulyseetheperson.
• Musicisauniversallanguageandunifyingelementandhasalwaysbeenabigpartofourcultureandtraditions,andisalwaysusedinourceremonies,whethertocelebrateormourn.Thishasaplaceinourearlychildhoodcentersandkindergartens,inunitingourchildrenandcommunities.
MovementsessioninaWaldorftrainingcourseinWarsaw,Poland
AutumnfestivalinaWaldorfkindergartenin
Florianopolis,Brazil
FestivalwiththestudentsattheCentreforCreativeEducation
Childreninan«EducareCentre»intheTownships
2)IsAnthroposophyhelpfulinunderstandingyourtraditionsinanewway?
Finland:• Ithelpstounderstandthespiritual
wayofourfestivalsandourtraditions,whichwerebuiltthroughspiritualexperiences.
Israel:
• Anthroposophyoffersnewwaysoflookingattherelationsbetweenmanandtheuniverse.Itremindsusofthereligiousattitudeandthegratitudeasa‘stateofmind’thatareneededifwewishtoliveourlivesinawareness,andnotonlypractice(orrefusetopractice)traditionalrituals.
Japan:
• The observation method ofAnthroposophy (by consciouslyregainingalostsense)helpstoseetheessenceofthethings.
Poland:• Itgivesouterformsdeepmeaning.
Our country traditions becomeuniversallyhuman.
Brazil:
• Duetothestudyofanthroposophyoneenlargesone’spointofview.
• BeinginacountryinthesouthernhemispherecolonizedbyEuropeans,mostofthetimeonehasto‘translate’thefestivalaccordingtoourseasonsandthisisachallengethatencouragesustobemoreconsciousofwhatwearecelebrating.
SouthAfrica:
• Acceptoneanother.
3)Whatisforyoupersonallytheessence,theheart,thecore,ofAnthroposophy?
Finland:• Thespiritualpathofdevelopment• The spiritual expression in every
phenomenon and every humanbeing
• The connection between humansasanongoingmovement.
Italy:
• Anthroposophyislikeagoodpairofshoesfortheonewhotakesconsciousnessalongontheirway,infordingrivers,climbingmountainsandcrossingdeserts.Initeveryonecanfindakeythatgivesdeepmeaningtolife,inthevicissitudes,theachievementofnewgoalsandovercomingtrials.Anevolutionarypaththatbridges,
forconsciousness,betweenmatterandspirit.
• Theinnerwork,understandingthistoolthroughmyverybeing.
France:
• Itgivesyousomanytoolstostrengthenyoursoul,yourinnerforce,yourcreativity,anditgivesyousuggestionsandideashowtodevelopthesequalitiesalsointhechildren.
Israel:• Thisisaverydifficultquestion!!
ButIfeelthatIamdrawntoAnthroposophybecauseitinvitesmetowakeup,beaware,butalsotobetolerantandpatientwith
otherpeople.Ithasaverywide‘panoramic’viewofmankindandtheuniverse,anditgivesawayofsearchingforthemeaningoflife.
Japan:
• Seeingdivinityinindividuals,understandingothersandtheworldasfreeindividuals,knowingloveandregainingaconnectionwiththeworld.
• Theideathatthehumanbeingexperiencestheprocessofcosmicevolution.Everyindividualhasaroleonearthforthesakeofcosmicevolution.
• Love,sensitivity,encounterofsoul/awakeningthesenseofloveandresponsibility.
Brazil• Thepointofviewthatrelatesman
andcosmos,thatseestheessence• thatunitesus,thatgoesbeyond
whatisdiverse.• Thecoreofanthroposophyhasto
addresstheuniversalhumanbeing.
• Tounderstandtheworldthroughtheheart,themindandthewill.
SouthAfrica:
• Bridgingthechasmbetweenmatterandspirit.
• Thepathofgettingtoknowmyselfalittledeeper,alittleclearer,alittlemoreconsciously,everyday.ThemoreIunderstandmyself,themoreIunderstandtheworldandthemoreIhavetobringtotheworld.
• “InLovelivestheseedofTruth InTruthseektherootofLove.”
Anthroposophyhastakenrootallthroughouttheworldinsomanycommunitiesandsocieties,enliveningpersonaldevelopmentandsupportingworkwiththeyoungchild.AsaninternationalcouncilwestrivetounderstandandtobeopentothedifferentwaysandcontextsthatSteiner/Waldorfschoolsdevelopandtakeroot.Weaskourselves:Howdowesupporttheactiveinvolvement,intheirvariouscommunities,ofeducatorsandparentsintheprotectionofchildrenandchildhood?
Howdowefosterself-reflectionasatoolforgoodpedagogicalpracticeandasaguideforimprovingday-to-dayrhythmsandworkwiththechildren?
Theworkonculturaldiversityhasledustoreachdeepwithinourselvestoask-“WhereamIawake,whereamIasleep?”“HaveIbecomemoreawareofmyownprejudicesandfears?”“Whathaschangedinme?”Intheworldtodaywherethereissomuchstrife,hatredandconflict,itisourtasktocelebrateourdifferencesandtocelebratewhatweshareincommon.Itisourresponsibilitytoengenderlovefortheother,topractisegratitudeeachmoment,andtobeawakeandopentoeveryencounter–withdiscernment,yetwithoutjudgement.
“The encounter with the unknown is a nutrient in life, as essential as certainvitamins–withoutit,thesoulfallsintosleep,depressionanddespair.Thetrickishowmuchtoadmittherandom,chaotic,unknowable,intoourlives.Itisalwaysamatterofbalance.Thechildat themercyofan incomprehensibleworldrequiresreassurance;theadult,stalledinthefamiliar,mayrequireanoppositeprod.“
-JaneHirshfieldinHiddenness,Uncertainty,Surprise,2008
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Mary–G.HäuptlehasbeenaWaldorfkindergartenteacherinCapeTownformanyyears.SheistrainerandmentorattheCentreforCreativeEducationinCapeTown.SheisonthecounciloftheSouthAfricanFederationofWaldorfSchoolsandanIASWECECouncilmember.
