Approaching Waldorf Education —— Talking from the Dragon Boat Festival Celebration and Final Exhibition in School

? In the hot summer, it's the day when Waldorf Astoria Zhuhai Chuntong celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival and holds the final exhibition every year-the lotus leaves in the campus pond are in full bloom at this time, and a dragon dance performance is about to be held in the scorching sun. The children are not afraid at all and rush to the school playground in high spirits.

? Attaching importance to inheriting the true connotation of traditional festivals and the sense of ritual in life is one of the important contents of Waldorf education. Traditional culture learning is integrated into life and every corner of the campus. On the day of Dragon Boat Festival, there are activities such as sprinkling blue soup, lighting cinnabar, tying colored thread, wearing fragrant bags, and walking teachers' ceremonies.

? Another Waldorf school places special emphasis on the way of education: using artistic and practical methods to carry out teaching, rather than instilling knowledge into children bluntly, so that students feel that learning is a beautiful and interesting thing. For example, study math and architecture, and learn by measuring the foundation with children and building a small house with brick soil. The school also puts drama classes in an important position, and there have been puppet shows since kindergarten. Drama, which is highly integrated with music, dance, art, literature and other art forms, helps to awaken children's appreciation, rhythm and perception of art. In the final performance, children of all grades show their childlike love for art and life by singing and I will go on stage.

Waldorf's educational philosophy is quite different from that of traditional schools, but no matter how high it is, it will eventually land, especially in our country where exam-oriented education is deeply rooted and hard to return, but it has a profound and excellent traditional culture (according to textual research, Rudolph Steiner's educational thought is in the same strain as that advocated by Laozi, the founder of China Taoist culture). How can it be localized, rooted and blossomed in China? It is a great challenge and test for the teachers of practitioners.

? Because my children are studying in Chuntong School, I have the opportunity to get close to Waldorf Education. I can't say that I have a deep understanding. I just have a glimpse of the school's daily teaching, organization activities, environmental construction, teachers and students' words and deeds.

? In short, Waldorf education practices the initial education of returning to simplicity and people-oriented. The motivation of education is not the anxiety from practical considerations, such as getting good grades, going to a good university and finding a good job, but returning to the simplest origin of "human growth".

? "Everything has its time" is the principle of Waldorf education. Every life has its growth process and laws. People are also the products of nature. Children are a seed and need to be raised slowly. Although the harm of "pulling out seedlings to encourage others" is well known in ancient times, in today's panic of "don't lose at the starting line", many children have started the primary education mode since kindergarten. Whether it's good or not, everyone knows well and doesn't want to comment. However, whether you agree with Waldorf's educational philosophy or not, one thing is absolutely true: the fast-growing chickens that grow up in captivity and eat feed hormones will never grow as well and taste delicious as the "country chickens"!

? Waldorf does not exclude the study of cultural knowledge courses, but advocates gradual and timely teaching. But also to go out of the classroom, into life, feel life, and learn in the real world.

? Not only does homework require timely teaching, but the mistake of forcing children to participate in interest classes is needless to say here. Many parents emphasize that my children like piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, playing ball and dancing, and I am too late to be happy. Of course, I have to give my full support. However, Waldorf is highly alert to this and insists that "teaching must be timely". For the students in my child's fourth grade class, the teacher asked them to take part in mountain climbing, cycling, swimming and other free-spirited ways, instead of rushing to learn fierce ball games; Another example is learning musical instruments. Before the third grade, they learned to play clarinet, while the violin and piano had to wait until they were nine years old or later, because the children's muscles were not well developed. In painting, look at the soft and warm crayons and watercolors on the walls of the children's classrooms. The colors flow and change, and there are no obvious lines. At this time, the teacher does not let the children touch the stick figure prematurely, so that the children's thinking will not fall into the fixed line thinking, which will constrain their imagination.

? It is also very important that Waldorf requires parents to participate in school education, family close cooperation, and be consistent with the school. Specific to every detail, such as the way of telling stories to children with a recording player is not allowed, but parents are required to tell stories with their own hands and feelings. For example, children's toys and teaching tools, schools all use natural wood, and parents are required not to buy plastic. When my children are in the fourth grade, televisions and mobile phones are all things that the school requires children not to touch, not only because they affect their eyesight, but also because electronic products are harmful to their body, mind and spirit at this stage.

? No matter how beautiful the education is, can it finally be realized? The teacher is the key. Waldorf education has very high requirements for teachers. A qualified teacher must not only have feelings and cultural knowledge, but also know children, master music, fine arts, literature, handicrafts and other artistic disciplines, and be able to apply them to teaching. What is more arduous is to invest a lot of energy, compile self-selected teaching materials, grow up with children, and become their intimate friends and learning models. The contribution of knowledge, time and feelings is very huge. We have to worry about every detail in our daily work, and the parents who participate in it always feel tired of the teacher.

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to the pioneers of Waldorf who are committed to promoting the education reform in China through a letter from parents to the teacher of Rose Class!

? The fragrance of Lantang soup on the Dragon Boat Festival is still remembered, and the garden in deep winter is unforgettable. Time flies and only good memories are left. The tender grass is green and meets the spring breeze, and the sunflower blooms because of the sunny day. What the years can't take away is the footprints step by step. The spring breeze turns into rain and the sun is shining. Thank God for letting us meet in the natural, true and beautiful Chuntong. Thank you for walking with us and going forward all the way ..............

? Looking back on that day, we brought the child to you through the Rose Gate. You held the child with a smile in a long skirt, a little shy but firm;

? Listen to the children's paintings telling the story of ups and downs, and feel your guidance with joy; ?

? Your soft voice passes through the wilderness of children's hearts and awakens the truest and purest part of children's hearts;

? Your reiki board painting shines deeply into the hearts of children and sows the seeds of perfection and beauty;

? The warm fragrance and charming color of roses warm, nourish and cultivate every lovely and intelligent child in your selfless dedication of true love and hard work, and also infect and open up each of our parents, igniting our heart lights. The lights are on and our hearts are on. In this long night, we are warm and supportive of each other, and love flows like a river towards the bright side. That side, with gods and wisdom, bravely went to that side, holding hands with big hands. Even if you are unsteady, even if you walk too slowly. Your love is always with you.