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the mcmillan sisters and steiner's visit to deptford

read this fine blog post on the McMillan sisters' nursery in Deptford in the London area, and how Steiner came to visit it during a trip to the UK. This is how Steiner was described (and it is always so interesting to see how his contemporaries described him, then and there, not long afterward) by McMillan in a letter to a friend:

'He came here and everything seemed new and wonderful as he entered the room... The whole world is a whispering gallery to him, and vibrations reach him for which we have no name'. She later recalled 'how in walking with her round the school he kept telling her, very concretely, of the spiritual presence of her sister Rachel with whom she had begun this work - whose death not long before had been a very heavy blow for her' (according to George Adams, cited in 'A man before others: Rudolf Steiner remembered', Rudolf Steiner Press, 1993).

And this is Steiner's description of the nursery:

'Today I was able to accept her invitation to visit the nursery and school established by her at Deptford, London. Three hundred of the very poorest population, from the ages of two to twelve, are wonderfully cared for there by her... one sees at work in the various classes youngsters who are spiritually active, happy in soul, well-behaved and growing healthy in body. It is an equal pleasure to see these children at play, to see them learning, eating and resting after meals'.

Source for the latter quote appears to be 'Rudolf Steiner speaks to the British: lectures and addresses in England and Wales', Rudolf Steiner Press, 1998.

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Bottinger Kindergartenwelten

Im Ortsteil Bottingen kämpft der dortige Kindergartenverein ums Überleben. Mit dem Vereinsziel das Nachmittagsprogramm der Einrichtung zu finanzieren waren die Mitglieder in den vergangenen Monaten sehr rege (siehe Link zum Artikel am Ende). Leider gab es trotz Vereinseinnahmen von 14000 Euro eine Deckungslücke. Im Klartext: Trotz bestimmt sehr viel kostenfreier und ehrenamtlicher Arbeit gab der Verein mehr aus, als er Einnahmen verbuchen konnte. Was bedeutet dies für den Ortsteil und den Gesamtort Teningen. Als Eltern sind wir stets gefordert mit Ideen und Engagement die Einrichtungen für unsere Kinder zu unterstützen. Dies alles gemäß der Vorgabe, damit die Gebühren in moderater Höhe bleiben. Also Solidaritästsprinzip. In Bottingen läßt bei den aktiven Mitgliedern der Elan nach. Trotz toller Ideen inclusive deren Umsetzung, fliesst Ihnen das Geld durch die Hände. Wenn die Begeisterung durch Erfolgserlebnisse nicht zurückkehrt, muss die Gemeinde handeln. Entweder indem die Gebühren erhöht werden, dazu hat die Verwaltung natürlich ein Recht oder indem wir überlegen, welchen Wert wir der fachlichen Betreuung unserer Kinder geben. Wenn das Solidaritätsprinzip nicht mehr funktioniert, werden wir den Einzug der Zwei bis Drei-Klassengesellschaft in unseren Kindergärten erleben. Private Anbieter werden den Markt erobern. Oder wir erhöhen die Subventionierung der Gebühren, was ein Streichkonzert bei anderen Verwaltungsausgaben mit sich bringt. Lassen wir doch unsere Verwaltung und die Gemeinderäte in Teningen über die besten Lösungen streiten. Und geben wir ihnen aktiv Rückmeldung, wenn sie auf dem richtigen Weg sind oder sich in parteipolitischem Strom zu verschwimmen drohen.

Den Link zum Beitrag der Badischen Zeitung zum Thema gibt es hier: http://ow.ly/EPjg

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MEMO FROM A CHILD: TO PARENTS

This memo was included in my childs introduction and welcome packet for KINDERGARTEN, he is 5.

1. Don't Spoil me.  I know quite well that I ought not to have all I ask for -- I'm only testing you.
2. Don't be afraid to be firm with me.  I prefer it; it makes me feel secure.
3. Don't let me form bad habits.  I have to rely on you to detect them in the early stages.
4. Don't make me feel smaller than I am.  It only makes me behave stupidly "big."
5. Don't correct me in front of other people if you can help it.  I'll take much more notice if you talk quietly with me in private.
6. Don't make me feel that my mistakes are sins.  It upsets my sense of values.
7. Don't protect me from consequences.  I need to learn the painful way sometimes.
8. Don't be upset when I say, "I hate you"  Sometimes it isn't you I hate but your power to thwart me.
9. Dont' take too much notice of my small ailments.  Sometimes they get me the attention I need.
10. Don't nag.  If you do, I shall have to protect myself by appearing deaf.
11. Don't forget that I cannot explain myself as well as I should like.  That is why I am not always accurate.
12. Don't put me off when I ask questions.  If you do, you will find that I stop asking and seek my information elsewhere.
13. Don't be inconsistent.  That completely confuses me and makes me lose faith in you.
14. Dont' tell me my fears are silly.  They are terribly real and you can do much to reassure me if you try to understand.
15. Don't ever sugget that you are perfect or infallible.  It gives me too great a shock when I discover that you are neither.
16. Don't ever think it is beneath your diginity to apologize to me.  An honest apology makes me feel surprisingly warm towards you.
17. Don't forget I love experimenting.  I couldn't get along without it, so please put up with it.
18. Don't forget how quickly I am growing up.  It must be very difficult for you to keep pace with me, but please do try.
19. Don't forget that I don't thrive without lots of love and understanding, but I don't need to tell you, do I?
20. Please keep yourself fit and healthy.  I need you.

Author Unknown

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better opportunities to incarnate (via @thetismercurio)

Steiner childcare is "working with the spiritual world", this is from advertisement for a book called Creating a Home for Body, Soul and Spirit -- A New Approach to Childcare:

The concept of a ‘home away from home’ has been penetrated with a deep understanding of what forms this environment and the anthroposophical day nursery is built around the knowledge of an archetypal home, the development of the human being and an awareness of the individuals whose karma and destiny has, at this point in time, led them to be here.

Lastly and most importantly through this dedicated and committed approach, the unfolding of these children’s lives are given the best opportunity to incarnate and develop fully in order to be able to take up their life path as best as they are able and to be able to build a solid foundation towards reaching their full potential.

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Mystery Reader

Today I was the Mystery Reader for N's class. Not that it was much of a mystery because N knew I was going to be the reader weeks ago.

I entered the classroom and saw N's teacher reading a book to the students. I observed the children's behavior and realized that holding their attention wouldn't be an easy task. Twenty figety kindergarteners is a tough crowd.

When she finished reading, N's teacher had the children stand up, stretch and shake their sillies out. After they had expended their excess energy, the children sat down and looked in my direction.

"Let's welcome our Mystery Reader," said the teacher. The kids clapped and screamed, "It's N's dad. It's N's dad."

I took a seat in the comfy rocker and introduced myself to the kids.

"I'm Mr. G.," I said. "Does anyone know whose dad I am?"

"N's!!!!!" The class shouted in unison. N sat proudly smiling ear to ear.

"Has anyone ever heard of Max and Pinky?" I asked. Two children raised their hands. I pointed at one of the children and asked him to tell me about Max and Pinky.

"Well," he said. "Max is a boy and Pinky is his pig."

"Right," I said. "And they are best buds." I pulled out The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Best Buds and read it to the class. I used funny voices and invited them to participate in the story. When I finished, they begged for more.

"Do you want to hear another Max and Pinky story?" I asked.

"Yes!!!!" They yelled.

Next, I pulled out The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Superheroes. All of they boys yelped and hollered when I said superheroes. I read with more enthusiasm in order to make the adventure come alive. The kids were still clamoring for more after I finished that book.

"Okay kids," I said. "I only have time for one more book and this one is a mystery." I picked up The Adventures of Max and Pinky: The Mystery and showed it to the kids.

"Ooooooooooh," said the kids.

As I read, I could tell that the children were enrapt by the story. I kept the tension high so they would be eager to know what happened next. I looked up a few times to notice that couple of other teachers had come in to hear about Max and Pinky.

When I finished, the kids gave me a sitting ovation. I was relieved that I was able to keep 20 kindergarteners entertained.

"I really liked those books," said one boy. "Thanks for reading to us."

"Anytime," I said. "I will come back and read to you guys again. Would that be okay?"

"Sure," he said and gave me a high five.

When I picked up N from school, I asked him what his classmates said about my stories.

"They all liked it," said N. "Expect for one boy who thought the books were babyish."

"Babyish?" I asked. "It seemed as if everyone enjoyed the books."

"They did," he said, "But this one boy just likes being difficult."

"Do you want me to come back and read to your class?" I asked.

"Of course I do Daddy," he said. "You are a great reader."

Mocha Dad

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Tacticality Software - Building educational software for elementary and middle school students

Tacticality Software has built three great programs for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The first is called Countby and helps Pre-K and Kindergarten students count to 100. The next app is called Timesby and it helps students practice multiplication on all numbers up through the number 9. The final app is called Sentence Spin. This app helps students become better readers, writers, and communicators. Follow the link above to Tacticality Software to read about the apps.

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Kindergarteners Have it So Hard

"How was work, Daddy?" Asked my son, N. I was caught off guard by his question because he rarely asks about my day.

"Work was fine today," I said. "I was really busy."

"Me too," said N.

"Really," I said. "What kept you so busy?"

"I had SO much work to do," he said. "I had to write some words, play, read a book, and do some hard math."

"Hard math?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "I had to count ALL the way to 100."

"Kindergarteners have it SO hard," I said.

"I know," he said.

Mocha Dad

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Would you please shut up Jenny Boriss!!!

Is it just me, or is the IT world becoming a kindergarten?!?!?!

Mozilla really don't want their Firefox browser, to be number 4 out of 5 on Microsoft's list of available browsers, during the Windows Installation procedure...

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Die Kindergartenunion

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Kindergarten Kunst - Gärtnerplatz, München

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