Spring/Summer 2015, Volume 20 #1
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Research BulletinResearch Research Bulletin Volume XX Volume Spring/Summer 2015 Volume XX • Number 1 • Number 1 Research Institute for Waldorf Education Waldorf for Institute Research RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR WALDORF PUBLICATIONS at the RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR WALDORF EDUCATION 38 Main Street Chatham, NY 12037 EDUCATIONWaldorf Table of Contents From the Editor Elan Leibner . 3 Eurythmy and the "New Dance" Frederick Amrine . 5 Human Conception: How to Overcome Reproduction? Jaap van der Wal . 24 Forest Kindergarten Heidi Drexel . 37 Charter Schools in Relation to the Waldorf School Movement Gary Lamb . 44 Standing for the Children in Our Care Ruth Ker . 58 Core Principles of Waldorf Education: Two Contributions to the Study of Core Principle #3 The Grade School Years James Pewtherer . 63 The High School Years Douglas Gerwin . 65 Report from Waldorf Publications Patrice Maynard . 70 Research Bulletin • Spring/Summer 2015 • Volume 20 • #1 2 • Table of Contents Report from the Online Waldorf Library Marianne Alsop . 71 Research Opportunities . 72 About the Research Institute for Waldorf Education . 73 Research Bulletin • Spring/Summer 2015 • Volume 20 • #1 From the Editor Elan Leibner ear Readers, and Ruth St. Denis. Showing eurythmy to be This issue of the Research Bulletin marks the rightful culmination and fulfillment of these Dthe beginning of the publication’s twentieth trailblazers’ spiritual and artistic impulses, Amrine year! I open this editorial with an appreciative presents an artistic context for eurythmy’s nod toward my predecessors and, just as appearance on the world stage, and he does so in importantly, toward my successors . Though I have a new and more thorough and insightful manner no immediate plans to vacate this post, those than has ever been done before . There are many engaged in Waldorf pedagogy know that the fascinating details in his narrative, and anyone work we do is in some measure a place-holder, who cares about eurythmy is warmly invited to a bridge between the giving of the impulse and discover heretofore hidden aspects of its origins . a time in the fairly distant future when it will be Those who follow Amrine’s comment about a possible to realize it fully . YouTube video will be treated to an astonishing The Research Bulletin has always had two piece of early videography . goals: to reach out to those beyond the Waldorf Jaap van der Wal is a Dutch physician and community—especially in academia and the researcher working in the field of embryology. wider educational world to find common ground His article, reprinted from the book Trailing and substance for dialogue—and to publish Clouds of Glory recently published by Waldorf research, essays, and polemics intended to Publications, is a thought-provoking meditation deepen the work of those active within that on the essential mysteries of conception and community . In a sense these twin gestures, embryological development . Wal is an original horizontally (to and from the periphery) and and penetrating voice, and those not familiar vertically (from above downward) are the cross with his work will find a rich source of inspiration of true North for both the Research Institute both in the content of his ideas and in the mood for Waldorf Education (RIWE) and its Bulletin . with which he approaches these eternal riddles As I noted earlier, the time quality of the past of birth and rebirth . His website contains a connecting with the future through our deeds multitude of additional material for those whose in the present is another axis we have to keep in interest is piqued by this article. mind. It is gratifying that schools, foundations, Forest kindergartens have been sprouting and individuals have found the Bulletin recently like mushrooms after steady rain, and sufficiently worthwhile to support, advertising- Heidi Drexel set out to enquire how they work, free, for this long . Thank you all! what benefits they offer, and what challenges This issue leads off with a remarkable essay they face . Rather than arguing for or against by Frederick Amrine. Written originally as an these programs, she interviewed practitioners, introduction to an as-yet-to-be-published Steiner colleagues, and early childhood leaders, seeking book about eurythmy, Amrine presents, with to inform and focus the conversation. Her customary scholarship, the surprising (to us) contribution is a sound piece of background and roots of eurythmy in the work of three American state-of-the-experiment update for schools and dance pioneers: Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan, individuals who are considering the outdoor Research Bulletin • Spring/Summer 2015 • Volume 20 • #1 4 • From the Editor program possibility. She ends her article with wealth of current research on the value of play- a sound reminder that, in the end, it is the centered early childhood programs as opposed pedagogical wisdom of the teacher, not the to programs that focus on early academic format of the program, that will determine how instruction. Her contribution, reprinted here successful it is . from the kindergarten journal Gateways, offers Gary Lamb offers an informative and many studies that support the learning-by-doing- even-handed description of the charter school and-playing approach of the Waldorf nursery- movement with a section detailing specifically its kindergarten . ramifications for independent Waldorf schools. Our series of contributions in support of His article provides a helpful history of the idea the study of the Pedagogical Section Council’s of charters, as well as a description of current Core Principles of Waldorf Education continues practices, essential players in the field, and with two articles discussing the principle of some of the ideas that inform the spread of this Developmental Curriculum. James Pewtherer particular version of educational reform. Lamb writes about the grade school years, and Douglas is not a supporter of charters, but he avoids Gerwin about the high school . arguing against them . Instead, he presents the After reports from Waldorf Publications costs and benefits, leaving the reader free to and the Online Waldorf Library, we have a new assess the merits of their existence . He points feature: a listing of current research projects that out that this phenomenon is part and parcel of a teachers are invited to join . Two projects are on larger development in the United States, one that this inaugural list, and people are invited to send should be fully comprehended for its enormous us short descriptions of their research if they wish potential impact. to have it on future lists . In a paper for an international conference of From all of us at the Research Bulletin team: early childhood educators, Ruth Ker gathered a Happy Reading! Authors who wish to have articles considered for publication in the Research Bulletin should submit them directly to the Editor at: [email protected]. Research Bulletin • Spring/Summer 2015 • Volume 20 • #1 Eurythmy and the "New Dance"1 Frederick Amrine he emergence of eurythmy is an important ever noted the relationship between eurythmy episode in the history of dance, but it has and the new art of movement this trio sought to Tbarely rated a mention within the scholarly inaugurate. The task of this introduction will be to literature .2 The few references that can be found, persuade both anthroposophists and mainstream even within otherwise admirable studies, are dance historians that there are deep but largely usually a sentence or two at most, obviously unapprehended affinities between the “new tossed off in haste, and invariably wrong- dance” and eurythmy . Moreover, I shall argue headed .3 Nor has there been much movement that it is not the “modern dance” of Wigman, in the other direction: It has not helped that so Jooss, Graham, and Humphreys but rather Rudolf many anthroposophical writings on eurythmy Steiner’s eurythmy that is the rightful heir of in English take such pains to distinguish it Fuller, Duncan, and St. Denis. fundamentally from all other forms of movement, Eurythmy and the “new dance” share at or try to bolster it with unsupportable claims of least three separate roots . As a shorthand, uniqueness.4 Eurythmy cannot be unrelated to let me call them “spiritual science,” “Greek the history of dance and yet simultaneously its drama,” and “Oriental spirituality ”. 7 Loie Fuller “apotheosis ”. 5 was more than just a dancer: Like Goethe My own contention challenges both and Steiner—indeed, like Professor Strader in narratives. I shall argue that eurythmy is the Steiner’s Mystery Dramas—she was a “spiritual continuation of an aesthetic revolution that scientist” who invented and patented a kind of began not in Europe but in America, that the perpetual motion machine, collaborated with original impulses leading to the “new dance” Marie and Pierre Curie,8 and was elected to were deeply spiritual, and that the French Astronomical Society. eurythmy is the fulfillment of that The original Like Steiner, Isadora Duncan went original impetus. impulses leading back to Greek drama via Nietzsche, My counter-narrative about to the “new and to Nature itself via Greek art 9. the pre-history of eurythmy within dance” were Where Duncan was more instinctive the history of dance should be deeply spiritual, and more in tune with the older of particular interest to English- and eurythmy is consciousness, Steiner was more speaking anthroposophists, conscious and forward-looking . But because it identifies as the all- the fulfillment as my account will attempt to show, important immediate context for of that original Duncan was far more reflective and the development of eurythmy the impetus. even erudite than her image in the pioneering work by three American popular culture of her day and ours . women: Loie Fuller, Isadora Duncan, and Ruth Like Steiner, Ruth St. Denis sought to bring the St. Denis.6 No argument is needed to establish spiritual wisdom of the Orient to the West, and the centrality of their roles in the emergence of to revive the ancient Mysteries in a new, artistic the “new dance”; scholars are in full agreement form.