"Based on a comprehensive, integrated understanding of the human being, a detailed account of child development, and with a curriculum and teaching practice that seeks unity of intellectual, emotional and ethical development at every point, Waldorf education deserves the attention of all concerned with education and the human future."
Douglas Sloan, Ph D, Professor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
A three-dimensional paradigm, one that recognizes the emotional and physical intelligences as well as the cognitive, allows all children to be gifted or talented in one area or another. It also fosters a well-balanced array of abilities in all children. The goal of a well-balanced education is to expose all students to a wide variety of subjects so that a child's strength does not become his weakness because of one-sided development
1. A balance of Head, Heart, and Hands or of Thinking, Feeling, and Doing based on Waldorf methods. All three of these fundamental aspects are considered equally valuable. Equal care and consideration will be given to:
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Providing a solid academic foundation with high academic standards.
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Creating an atmosphere in which healthy emotional development and a refined sensitivity to beauty, truth and goodness are fostered. A high priority will be placed on creating an emotional environment wherein the qualities of courteous treatment, compassion, patience and understanding will flourish.
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Promoting learners who work with conviction, purpose, focus, intention and sound habits of follow-through.
2. An arts-integrated teaching method - In the elementary school years, it is developmentally appropriate and necessary that children have a feeling-connection to the various subjects studied. An arts-integrated method is essentially an artistic approach to teaching. The core academic subjects are enlivened, made relevant, and given contextual meaning by incorporating story telling, drawing, painting, modeling, music and movement into lesson presentations.
3. The curriculum will reflect developmental rhythms and the child's changing consciousness through the grades. The basic sequence to be followed is first the immediate experience, then the quiet ripening of this experience by working it through in one art form or another and finally arriving at the conceptual understanding. A basic tenet of the philosophy is that a cognitive comprehension of a subject arises out of active experience and emotional involvement and this is the natural and healthy progression for childhood. Teaching will proceed from the whole to the parts and from the concrete to the abstract. The rhythm of moving from ancient times toward the modern age will be followed; for example, pre-historical mythology will precede the teaching of modern history.
4. Building a strong community-family-school partnership in support of the children is essential to implementing the mission and philosophy of the school. Parent participation and close parent-teacher cooperation will therefore be an integral part of the program as it is important that the learning continues at home and receives parents' support in the home environment to ensure the consistency of the approach.
5. Multiculturalism has always been a part of Waldorf education and will be integrated into the curriculum at The Madrone Trail Public Charter School. Multiculturalism is an important concept to be incorporated into the social aspects of learning for young children. This idea needs to be introduced and reinforced within the educational environment at an early age to help children keep an open mind and gain a deeper understanding of other cultures.
