Message from the College Chair - March 16, 2020
Dear Friends,
As a Waldorf community, we strive for truth, goodness, and beauty, and we seek to create meaning so that, as free human beings, we can work together to uplift humanity.
The first Waldorf school was founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919, at a time of great social upheaval. In the wake of World War I and the deadly Spanish Flu Pandemic, there was considerable fear and unrest. Rudolf Steiner cautioned against the heightened materialism of the time and, in light of this, advocated for social renewal.
Today we face similarly troubling issues and events. Our current political climate, environmental crises, and COVID-19 can create a sense of overwhelm and hopelessness. It is safe to say that we have become progressively more materialistic since Steiner’s time, and one can’t help but wonder about the spiritual forces behind recent events and reflect on our current task as human beings. What is being asked of us in this next stage of human development? What can we do, as spiritual human beings, to answer the call?
Many of us feel increasingly isolated from one another in spite of technology that allows for constant communication. Perhaps, as we are asked to isolate ourselves physically, we will renew our commitment to meaningful human interaction. Perhaps we are being called upon to focus on what really matters—our relationships with one another and the planet.
At this time, we can set the intention to remember our values and match our actions with them. It can be a time to slow down and become truly attentive, to care for our families, ourselves, and our physical spaces. We can think of this time as a gift, as we have the chance to cultivate what Gordon Neufeld speaks of as “being known” to one another. In these moments of physical togetherness with our families, we have more opportunities to be present.
It is a time to connect with the spiritual, create art and music, and engage with the natural world. It is a time to reach out to our community to provide support to those who are ill or struggling financially. By closing schools and working from home, we act collectively to protect our fellow human beings.
There are benefits to the earth at this time as well. We are burning fewer fossil fuels, as travel is restricted. Many of us now have time to bike or walk to our destinations, as the pace of life has slowed. We also may be adjusting consumption habits and noticing that our relationships (to the planet, animals, humans) are not transactional, but that we may have been treating them as such.
What will support our children at this time? It is important to comfort them and give them a sense of security, even when we are uncertain ourselves. A healthy rhythm with plenty of time outdoors, opportunities for movement, adequate sleep in a dark room, health-supporting nutrition with unprocessed foods and limited sugar, lots of water, warmth, limited exposure to media, laughter, connection and artistic opportunities will help to support your child. As always, your children’s teachers will continue to hold them in their daily meditations.
As children are always learning, they simply will be learning in a different way. They will be learning about how the world works when in crisis or uncertain times. And they will be watching us closely. How will the adults around them behave, think and speak? The children will adapt to seeing fewer friends and they will have more time to unwrap the gift of boredom. Rather than worrying that the children might “fall behind,” we can rest in knowing that they will gain a new perspective of the world which may lead to interests and action in their adult lives. Our hope is that we help to create in them a love of learning, an interest and engagement with the world, and the desire to make the world a better place. As always, our aim is to educate children to become free human beings who seek and uphold the truth.
Lower school teachers will not be using video conferencing to deliver lessons to students at this time. There are many reasons for this, including varied access to technology, individual family differences in time and availability, and pedagogical considerations. Individual teachers may choose to share an audio file or something similar, however. At the high school level, students are more capable of managing assignments and technology independently, so high school faculty will strive to provide the same amount of learning, reflection and academic progress as students would have at school, albeit in a modified format. That said, movement, nature, creativity, and rest are equally important for high school students and teachers will do their best to incorporate these elements and/or limit homework to allow for these activities. The details will be shared with high school families after teachers have had time to coordinate. Please ask your child’s teachers for more specific information.
A Verse for Our Time
We must eradicate from the soul
All fear and terror of what comes towards man out of the future.
We must acquire serenity
In all feelings and sensations about the future.
We must look forward with absolute equanimity
To everything that may come.
And we must think only that whatever comes
Is given to us by a world-directive full of wisdom.
It is part of what we must learn in this age,
namely, to live out of pure trust,
Without any security in existence.
Trust in the ever present help
Of the spiritual world.
Truly, nothing else will do
If our courage is not to fail us.
And let us seek the awakening from within ourselves
Every morning and every evening.
—Rudolf Steiner
With love and blessings on our community and our world,
-Elizabeth Webber
for Portland Waldorf School College of Teachers:
Nina Churchill
Jill DeSantis
Victor Garza
Johanna Hibbard
Mariama Loos-Diallo
Shanti McCarter
Jenny Nielson
Jamie Quirk
Shay Roselip
Lukas Schneider