Educating the Head, Heart and Hands

Image courtesy of Gamot Cogon Inst. (Ilo-Ilo's Steiner school)

The renowned Waldorf Steiner education approach will soon be available in Davao City by June 2012 through the Tuburan Institute. Steiner education was founded in 1919 by Austrian Rudolf Steiner in Stuttgart, Germany. Currently, there are more than 900 Steiner-inspired schools in 60 countries.Once opened, Tuburan Institute will be fifth of its kind in the Philippines. Last Saturday, I was invited by a friend to attend Tuburan Institute's parents' orientation on Steiner education. I was hesitant at first but my curiosity got the better of me. And I'm glad I went. It was an intimate gathering of like-minded parents curious like me to understand Steiner education. Most if not all were friends of Maya and Kate or friend of friends of friends.

Mr. Nicanor Perlas gave the opening remarks and explained the difference between mainstream education vis-a-vis the Steiner approach. According to him, schools now are focused on developing children's IQ (intelligence quotient) and does very little work on EQ (emotional quotient). This explains why you see intelligent people who have problems with their emotions, their relationships. Education nowadays teach children to be good in Math and English and promotes the culture of competition. The Steiner approach on the other hand balances IQ ad EQ and takes into consideration the developmental phases of a child. They encourage creativity, free thinking and introduces academics in age-appropriate fashion. I also have to applaud them for taking to heart the fact that apart from Math, Science and English, there are other intelligences that a child possesses. This is what we call Multiple Intelligences. I promise to make a blog post on the subject soon. One of the features that appealed to me is that learning in Waldorf Steiner schools is not a competitive activity. What does this mean? Well, there are no numerical grade equivalents in the elementary level and the teacher instead writes a detailed evaluation of the child at the end  of the school year. It gives us parents a clear picture of our kids' strengths and areas to improve on. Oh and by the way, Steiner schools discourage the use of television especially in the early education levels.

Image courtesy of Gamot Cogon Inst. (Ilo-Ilo's Steiner school)

I have nothing against mainstream education, I am a product of public school system from elementary to high school. I will always remain grateful to my teachers for imparting knowledge to me but as a new parent (Leia is two-years old) I've seen for myself that the world today is different from what it was 31 years ago. For example, I remember looking forward to going home after school to play with my friends. And we played with toys that we made ourselves, we get bruised and dirty but isn't that what childhood is all about? I had friends and I learned to share with them my food and toys, I cried and I had lots of laughter playing in the streets until it's dinner time. Sadly, we see less and less of these. No more playing hide and seek because most children now are glued to modern toys where there are no human playmates - just you and the computer, PSP, TV and what have you. I want my daughter to discover and experience things that Mama has experienced when she was a child too. I want to send my daughter to a school that celebrates her innocence and uniqueness. A school that will teach her how to do mathematical equations and at the same time teaches her how to use her skills to help society.

NOTE: The Tuburan Institute will offer an art workshop for kids ages 3 1/2 and up on October 28-31, 2011 perfect for the kids' semestral break. Venue is at Art and Healing Sanctuary, First Street, Trinidad Greenhills, Maa, Davao City. Registration fee is Php 600.00. They will only accept 20 children. For inquiries, you may text Kate or Maya at mobile 0908-153-5326/0917-717-4668 or email them at mienmaya@gmail.com or psyche_k8@yahoo.com. You may also want to visit Tuburan Institute's Facebok page to find out more about Davao's Steiner-inspired school.