Please join us on Wednesday, July 22nd at 7:30 pm for an evening full of wisdom and insight into the Waldorf curriculum led by Gerald LoDolce, seasoned Waldorf teacher who has taught over four cycles of classes at our very own Kimberton Waldorf School. Gerry will also explore how the curriculum offers to explore other cultures and has adaptability to embrace & educate within the context of today’s cultural challenges, mindfully following up on last week’s invigorating talk by Torin Finser. There will be time for a question and answers at the end. (this info is also posted on the KWS School Calendar)
parent association
Social Justice Discussion with Torin Finser, July 9
KWSPA hosted Torin M. Finser on July 9th
Torin has over 60 years of experience in Waldorf education as a student and learner, parent, teacher, teacher of teachers, author, Ph.D., and leader in the international Waldorf community.
“Waldorf Education for Social Justice” is his passion and the focus of much of his current work. He emphasizes the need for schools to connect with the current issues dividing our society: political polarization, racism, income inequality, immigration, nationalism, and religious fundamentalism to name a few. Focus on these problems at the educational level can be transformative and put power in the hands of the community to address their immediate concerns, seek out new ways for the field to change and adapt in the future. But external advocacy needs to be balanced with opportunities for introspection as well, which Waldorf education also beautifully teaches our children.
Please take a moment to become familiar with Torin and his work. His extensive bio and the books he has authored are linked below. We’ve also attached a link to recent and powerful articles to read in preparation. There will be a small window for discussion and a few questions. Please take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to engage with change.
Bio https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/faculty/torin-finser/
Books https://www.amazon.com/Books-Torin-Finser/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ATorin+Finser
The Future of Waldorf Education: Beyond 100 https://www.waldorftoday.com/2019/09/the-future-of-waldorf-education-beyond-100/
Beyond 100: A return to the social justice roots of Waldorf Education https://www.antioch.edu/new-england/2019/04/19/beyond-100-a-return-to-the-social-justice-roots-of-waldorf-education/
A Discussion on Anti-Racism with Mari Avicolli, June 25
Thurs, Jun 25, 7:30p (see community email for link)
We would like to thank all those who participated on June 25 in the first of a series of Social Justice discussions through the KWS Parent Association. Many thanks to Mari Avicolli for hosting. We’re proud to say it was our largest Parent Association gathering thus far! This anti-racist self-reflection work is not easy or comfortable, and we acknowledge the courage it takes each individual to look within for evidence of racism or bias. This is the only way forward to a peaceful and socially just world, which is one of the core principles of our school.
Mari Avicolli is an alumna who returned to KWS to teach in 2015. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Penn State with a focus in cross-cultural communication. From 2017-2019 she served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. While there, she led diversity trainings for PCVs and host country nationals in an effort to help everyone be seen and feel playing in the orchestra for the musical, assisting on the Odyssey, or roasting coffee and talking about Ethopia with the 7th and 8th grades.
We are grateful to Mari for initiating the conversation about anti-racism with our community, and during this discussion she will share an overview of…
white fragility – cultural appropriation – how to raise anti-racist children – intersectionality
