Steiner/Waldorf comes to Davao

A former schoolmate/batchmate turned fellow development worker Maya Vandenbroek sent me an invitation for a parents' orientation on Steiner/Waldorf education. By June 2012, a Steiner/Waldorf-inspired school will open in Davao City through the Tuburan Institute. Mr. Nicanor Perlas, founder of Manila Waldorf and Gamot Cogon Institute (GCI) in Ilo-ilo City will speak on how schools by Waldorf/Steiner are producing "individuals who are able, in and of themselves, to impart meaning to their lives." The parents' orientation will be on September 10, 2011, 7-9 in the evening at Secuya Garden, Trinidad Greenhills Subdivision, Ma-a Davao City (the map is located at the bottom of this post). Guests are requested to contribute Php 50.00 for dinner which will be served before the orientation.

In this day and age where children are taught to be competitive in order to survive the dog-eat-dog world, Waldorf/Steiner discourages competition inside the classroom. They do not even give students numerical grade equivalents. That's a breather if you would ask me. According to the FAQ Maya sent me, Waldorf/Steiner education...

• Works for all children irrespective of academic ability, class, ethnicity or religion;
• Takes account of the needs of the whole child – academic, physical, emotional and spiritual;
• Is based on an understanding of the relevance of the different phases of child development;
• Develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school;
• Sees artistic activity and the development of the imagination as integral to learning;
• Is tried and tested and is part of state funded, mainstream provision in most European countries;
• Is respected worldwide for its ability to produce very able young people who have a strong sense of self and diverse capacities that enable them to become socially and economically responsible citizens.

If you would want to find out more, block off your Saturday evening and allot this time to be acquainted with an education system that might just be the right fit for your child. You may text Tuburan Institute for inquiries at 0908-153-5326 (Smart), 0917-717-4668 (Globe), and 0922-893-8370 (Sun), eail them at  psyche_k8@yahoo.com and mienmaya@gmail.com.