Tag: inner development
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The Separation of School and State
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We’ve all heard the term, “The separation of church and state.” This principle is a fundamental tenet of American democracy. Its function is to prevent any one religion from dominating American political life. Understood differently, it also prevents the realm of culture from dominating that of legal rights. However, this boundary should go both ways.…
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Human Stewardship
Human stewardship means the human being is a/the steward of nature. This is most often found in theological ideas who believe God has entrusted and endowed us with the capacity to steward nature effectively. Growing numbers of adults and students resist this idea. In fact, some look at humans as a virus that, perhaps, the…
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The Danger of Materialistic-Reductionism in Education (and What to Do About It)
It goes without saying that the physical is part of reality. We wouldn’t get very far denying that. However, is the physical all there is? Many people these days would answer “yes” or “probably” to this materialistic reductionism. It is the trend of modern cultural life, particularly in the West, and it has destructive, deadening…
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Developing Forward-Backward Thinking
In this post, we are going to discuss forward-backward thinking and how our curriculum – especially our Creative Writing and science classes – develops this. Now, you may be asking yourself, “What does he mean by forward-backward thinking?” Let me explain. Typically, we only think forwards because that is what we use to navigate the…
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The Role of Pain in Transformation
It may sound strange for a homeschooling blog to write about the role of pain in transformation. However, one of our students brought this question up recently in our Teen Empowerment Class. It is, therefore, relevant to our students as well as their parents. We ought therefore to inquire into our relationship with this troublesome…
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Are You Waldorf Enough?
Are you Waldorf enough? Many Waldorf-based homeschoolers ask themselves this question. In my own teaching career, I wondered this for the first several years, even though I was going through teacher training at an accredited institution. Generally, people come to a path as intentional as Waldorf Education with zeal and dedication. This isn’t just a…
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Parent Self-Care
Life is work. Parenting is hard work. Homeschooling is even harder work. It’s an enormously rewarding path that is worth the effort. However, even the best endeavors require parent self-care so we can keep up the good work. While many articles on parent self-care advise you go to the spa, get a massage, or take…
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Is Homeschooling Right for You?
Making the decision to homeschool is a big one that more and more families are turning to these days. How do you know if it’s the right thing for your family, though? Recently, we wrote a post about how to tell if homeschooling is right for your child. On the other hand, is homeschooling right…
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Is Homeschooling Right for My Child?
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In this post, I will address the question, “is homeschooling right for my child?” To answer this, let me first state my bias. I have worked in public schools, Waldorf schools, and now in the homeschool arena. All have their place in education and their pros and cons. For me personally, homeschooling wins hands-down because…
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What is a Human Being?
What is a human being? This question has occupied philosophers, scientists, and religious seekers for millennia. It is the core essence of our seeking as people. Every single student I’ve worked with has wanted me to tell them what I see in them. It’s fascinating. Underneath every human desire is the wish to know, “What…