Waldorf News
The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism
March 24, 2014
Kristine Barnett’s son Jacob has an IQ higher than Einstein’s, a photographic memory, and he taught himself calculus in two weeks. At nine he started working on an original theory in astrophysics that experts believe may someday put him in line for a Nobel Prize, and at age twelve he became a paid researcher in quantum physics. But the story of Kristine’s journey with Jake is all the more remarkable because his extraordinary mind was almost lost to autism. At age two, when Jake was diagnosed, Kristine was told he might never be able to tie his own shoes. The Spark is a remarkable memoir of mother and son. Surrounded by “experts” at home and in special ed who tried to focus on Jake’s most basic skills and curtail his distracting interests—moving shadows on the wall, stars, plaid patterns on sofa fabric—Jake made no progress, withdrew more and more into his own world, and eventually stopped talking completely. Kristine knew in her heart that she had to make a change. Against the advice of her husband, Michael, and the developmental specialists, Kristine followed her instincts, pulled Jake out of special ed, and began preparing him for mainstream kindergarten on her own. More »
10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12
March 17, 2014
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day (AAP 2001/13, CPS 2010). Children and youth use 4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with serious and often life threatening consequences (Kaiser Foundation 2010, Active Healthy Kids Canada 2012). Handheld devices (cell phones, tablets, electronic games) have dramatically increased the accessibility and usage of technology, especially by very young children (Common Sense Media, 2013). As a pediatric occupational therapist, I'm calling on parents, teachers and governments to ban the use of all handheld devices for children under the age of 12 years. Following are 10 research-based reasons for this ban. More »
The Land Stewardship Program at Hartsbrook School
March 9, 2014
The Land Stewardship Program at the Hartsbrook School has, like the school itself, grown out of the very soil upon which this school is planted. More than 20 years ago, the fledgling program was slowly finding its way into the life and learning of our students, beginning as field trips to a local bio-dynamic farm (Brookfield Farm CSA) to join in a variety of seasonal planting and harvesting activities, then expanding to other area farms, patiently waiting for the opportunity where a full program could start to be realized at the school itself. Fast forward to today, with an almost full curriculum in place that encompasses the kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school, supporting students as they work and learn about the many pressing issues that affect our relationship with the earth. More »
Going North for the Summer
March 3, 2014
When I entered my 7th grade year I was a Girl Scout, a dog-lover, and an unpopular “teacher’s pet.” As the year progressed I quit girl scouts because it wasn’t adventurous enough, one of my dogs died of cancer, and I still didn’t have any friends. In her search for something exciting for me to do during the summer, my concerned mother stumbled upon Northwaters. I attended a two-week all-girls program, fell almost instantly in love with the land, and promised myself I would work at Northwaters one day. I came home a much changed and happier person. Adventurous and socially outcast at 13, the opportunity to step outside my insular Waldorf class and learn what I was capable of both socially and physically was a great gift. I made friends, one-match fires, and carried a canoe. My self-esteem shot up as I realized that the unhappiness I felt in my home life was only one version of how my life could be and I had the power to make it better. More »
Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten Reborn After Flood
February 24, 2014
The school had over 80 families enrolled this school year when the devastating floods hit Boulder, Colorado, on September 11 to 13, 2013. In the middle of the night, nearby roads became rivers and eventually flooded the entire interior of the school. The wall of muddy water that rushed through the school reached 4 and a half feet high and destroyed everything that wasn’t on high shelves: toys, dolls, silks, furniture, craft materials, appliances, and office equipment. We had just begun with enthusiasm the new school year – it was only the ninth day of school when the flood hit – and now we had to abandon our dear school building. A temporary location to house the school was quickly found, and with only donated toys and materials, we reopened in a nearby synagogue on September 23rd. Over the next few months, donations continued to pour in, both from our local community and from around the country. Waldorf schools all over the world sent us well wishes and tangible support. We were uplifted by this outpouring of generosity and kindness; honestly, that support is what sustained us through the dark times. More »
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