Educating For Life

Writing, reading, arithmetic. Building a house, ploughing a field. English, French. Filmmaker Maria Knilli shoots inconspicuously among the children. The small and large learning steps become visible, the relationships between each other and the atmosphere in which learning takes place: the tender seriousness, the intimate curiosity, the communal enthusiasm.

This television documentary takes us on a fascinating journey into the realms just beyond our five senses, where thoughts are things and creation begins. Rudolf Steiner not only found how to experience these areas directly, in a very safe and methodical manner, but he also developed specific techniques which, if utilized in the right way and with the proper intention, enable the individual to have insight into the spiritual realities. In addition to learning of this extraordinary individuality, we meet some of the men and women who are utilizing the impulses brought by Dr. Steiner to expand and enhance their specific vocations in very practical ways, e.g. education, agriculture, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, the arts, and working with retarded children and adults.

This short film introduces some of the fundamentals of Waldorf education. Originally produced for the Steiner Schools Fellowship.

The concern that we are not allowing the proper time and space for early childhood is what has stimulated the move to make this film with the idea of generating conversation among adults about what we can do to support our little ones in this ever busier, more auto- mated, less loving, and often harsh world that they have come into. l hope this glimpse into our class can fulfill its purpose and stimulate the conversations we need to have in order to create a new paradigm in the way we under- stand early childhood: the significance of family and home, of rhythm and routine, invoking wonderful rela- tionships with each other and the earth, the impor- tance of time and space for deep, meaningful play... My concern in a nut shell, is for the future of humanity.

Waldorf education overview from the perspective of the Toronto Waldorf School.

Explains the early childhood practices and philosophy of the RIE system.