Laying the Foundation Stone

52 Weeks of Steiner – Week 7 (This is part of a weekly serial started on Michaelmas 2023. To see the other entries, please see the post linked HERE and scroll down to the bottom for individual links)

This school, whose foundation-stone laying we are celebrating today, must also consider a second thing. In a certain respect, the school stands here as an example of how children should be taught today. As a single school, however, it cannot be more than a model. People look at this model in the way I described before. When I was in Norway giving lectures a short time ago, I could see that even at this distance there were numerous people who were watching this school and intimately participating in it. What has been founded here is seen as a model school. What is still lacking, however, is the more widespread insight that founding a model school is not enough. It is not enough unless an insight into the necessity of founding such schools spreads throughout the whole world. It is not enough unless hundreds and hundreds of people join together in an international school association to found schools like this everywhere. Otherwise, the most that can happen will be that this small student body will carry out into the world what humanity needs to see fostered for the sake of its evolution. 

RUDOLF STEINER IN THE WALDORF SCHOOL
GA 298

This quote is part of Steiner’s speech to the children, faculty, staff and parents of the new building for the first Waldorf School. Initially, I had another quote for this week, but I was reminded of this speech while in an anthroposophical meetup to discuss the festival year and make dodecahedron lanterns, and it has just been holding onto my heart.

We homeschoolers are something I think Steiner didn’t envision. His initial windows into education started out in his work as a tutor, so maybe homeschooling is something he would have supported. It does allow most of us the freedom to truly lean into his insights and be somewhat free from state interference.

Many Waldorf schools around the world are struggling. Teachers are worn, parents are stretched thin, tuitions for many are just totally out of reach. I know of many families who came to homeschooling from Waldorf school, focused on taking up the work of educating their children in light of anthroposophy.

We are the hundreds and hundreds of people joining together in a international school association. We are the people who will carry out into the world what humanity needs to see fostered for the sake of its evolution. We are the people, in our homes all around the world, who will create the ripples that will serve not only our children and ourselves, but humanity, in so many ways.

Included in their offering to the foundation stone were these words:

May there prevail in young human beings
what spirit power can furnish in love,
May there work in them
what spirit light can furnish in goodness,
Out of certainty of heart
and firmness of soul
For the body’s ability to work,
For the soul’s inwardness,
For the spirit’s brightness.
To this end let this place be dedicated.
May young sensibilities find here
a human caring endowed with strength,
devoted to light.
Those who place this stone
Are mindful in their hearts
Of the spirit that is to prevail here,
That this spirit may secure the foundation on which
liberating wisdom,
strengthening spirit power,
and the manifest spiritual life
Shall live, reign, and work.
To this there would bear witness
in Christ’s name,
in pure intent,
and in good will”

We homeschoolers can carry the intention of that first Waldorf school in our hearts as we support the unfolding of our children. It isn’t about using a specific curriculum. It is about the development of all these tiny humans and imbuing their lives with goodness, beauty and truth in a world that struggles to shine. It is about building up humanity in humans again, with spirit and intention.

Until next time,
Marina