Waldorf education: An extraordinary approach for special times

MANILA, Philippines - Responsive to the changing needs of society, the University of Batangas has revolutionized the offering of primary education by providing an educational approach that focuses on the holistic development of each child – thus the birth of UB Waldorf School International. Now, on its third year of operation, UB-WSI offers pre-school and class 1-4 programs and eventually operate as a full grade school. As a way of continuously informing the public about the extraordinary approach of Waldorf education in these special times, a parents evening was held last Aug. 19 with Astrid Schmidt-Stegmann as the resource speaker. Stegmann is the director of the Waldorf Teachers Education Program of the Rudolf Steiner College in California, USA.

UB-Waldorf School International which rests on a 10-hectare land at Pallocan East boasts of the best that nature can offer. Instead of mere looking at pictures in the books and other printed references, Waldorf pupils get to know biodiversity in its raw form. Nature walk is one of the most anticipated activities of the day. A 20-25 minutes of class observation will definitely reveal how remarkably extraordinary is the approach of Waldorf education. The pupils get to engage their whole body in learning the mathematical operations through chanting, stomping and a whole gamut of physical movements which the children adore. This physical experience is the basis for a healthy immersion in the formal operations stage. The rule from hand through the heart to the head makes it possible for the children to bring their own capacities into play.

Special times. Going back to the basics. This is the thrust of UB-WSI. Realizing what matters most in every child’s development is not the quantity of the things that they learn but a deeper understanding of the child that their existence is part of the greater reality of life. In Waldorf, cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills are accorded equal value and many different competencies are developed. The carefully structured environment is designed to foster both personal and social learning. Indeed, a healing education for all in these extraordinary times.

For more inquiries about Waldorf School International, call (043)7062327 and ask for Dr. Shaneil Dipasupil.