Would you like to become a sponsor?

Waldorf News

From Greed to Care

January 22, 2024

You could have had a perfect career in physics, philosophy, economy, or academia, but you didn’t. Why not? I gave up my academic path even though I was totally passionate about quantum theory. I chose to dedicate my life to ecological work and activism because I realized that, yes, I would have amazing mental challenges—I could have been busy with quantum puzzles for 100 years—but it would have been an indulgence. Small studies were actually saving valleys, rivers, and forests. I realized that my service must go to the earth and to people. More »

Children’s Play and Virtual Reality

November 14, 2023

When I was a child I had never heard of the term ‘virtual reality’. Back then virtual reality wasn’t ‘a thing’, those two words hadn’t been married together for common usage even though the first flight simulator was operational in 1929. Virtual reality as a ‘thing’ proliferated in the second half of the twentieth century in association with the exponential developments in the computing technology sector. When we think of virtual reality (VR), many of us think of gaming where players ‘play’ in an immersive life-like simulated world. While this sector of VR is set to expand as the demand for ‘real-life like’ entertainment increases, VR is currently employed in areas as diverse as psychology, medicine, education and manufacturing.   Margaret Fuller reminds us, “The mind is a not a highway but a temple. The door should not be carelessly left open.” Never having played VR games myself, I can’t say first hand what could possibly enter through the temple door into the mind of the player. Instead, I have to rely on the experience of others.   More »

Wonder Fuels a Love Affair: Keeping the wonder alive as our children develop their love affair with Life

November 4, 2023

Here is a paradox worth exploring if we are to enjoy this planet and grow in our sense of belonging: it is all ordinary, and at the same time, it is all extraordinary. I know this paradox applies to information technology, to numeracy and to literacy. It has to, simply because it is all ordinary and extraordinary. However, I want to go back to basics. It’s logical that if you don’t have a good grounding in the basics, what follows can be very precarious. Basically, we are a part of the biosphere of this planet. As far as we know, we are the one species which, as a part of the creation, can reflect on and wonder at the creative process, that is, the Life on this planet. For adults, it is in the reflection and the wondering that the extraordinary is revealed.  More »

Totem pole at the HUB stands as a symbol of community: Sunrise Waldorf School hosted Scow and the totem pole for the winter until the raising

October 30, 2023

A gathering at The HUB at Cowichan Station on Sunday brought community members together to celebrate the work of Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw artist Rupert Scow and raise a totem pole that he — with the support of many others — built and gifted to the community. Dozens of people of all ages and backgrounds arrived at the HUB on Sunday morning and eagerly waited outside to witness the raising of the totem pole. Forecasted rain held off during the gathering, and the sun made appearances throughout the day. Children ran and played, periodically asking questions about the totem pole which was seen leaning backwards with ropes tied around it to help with the raising. Many adults in the crowd spoke fondly of Scow, who has been working on the totem pole at the HUB and nearby Sunrise Waldorf School for the past year. More »

Forming the Class: The September Work of the First Grade Teacher

October 23, 2023

On the first day of first grade, there are so many firsts. The first time the children greet their teacher at the door; the first time making their way to their coat hook, putting on their new indoor shoes, and then making their way to their very first desk. In a Waldorf school, this may be the first time they have a name tag (on their desk and on their cubby) with their name written on it — in the kindergarten, their “names” are symbols (the snail, the rabbit, the moon) that keep the space in the imaginative realm rather than the academic. Sitting upright and at attention, ready to learn, is one of the many, many factors taken into consideration when we assess first grade readiness. It requires so much core strength and impulse control that until a student is truly ready, academic learning will always take a back seat to physical need.  More »

Recent Jobs

View more jobs »

Newsletter Archive

See all newsletters »

Join the Mailing List!

Stay Connected…
Each week receive the Waldorf News Weekly Update, full of news, events, and more. Keep abreast of what's happening with Waldorf education.

Add a Job Listing

Post a job opening Seeking a position?