Mar 28, 2012

I am Valiant and Bold

At the end of my son's grade 2 school day, every day, the entire class stands with their arms crossed over their chests, facing the teacher, reciting in earnest unison:
I am strong, I am brave,
I am valiant and bold,
for the sun fills my heart with its life-giving gold.
I am helpful, and truthful and loving and free
for my heart's inner sunshine glows brightly in me.

I will open my heart to the sun beams so bright,
I will warm all the world with my heart's inner light.

I get shivers listening to these 8 year olds telling themselves over and over what good people they are and will be. Would that we all believed and lived the same, taking the time each day to remind ourselves of our core goodness and good intentions.

Waldorf is sometimes accused of being a cult. If this is the indoctrination, sign me up!

4 comments:

  1. Awesome. I'm looking at Waldorf and Montessori's for Christian right now. They are labeling him as unfocused and ADD. He just doesn't like to color, he likes to create. It's good to hear something positive about alternative schools! Peace :)

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  2. Funny you use the word cult. I subbed in a Waldorf school briefly and that was my opinion of it. I had to practically run from a job offer. But I can see the appeal on some levels.

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    Replies
    1. There is a very strong philosophy that underlies it, which is why those of us who love it love it so passionately. A friend recently observed that a cult tries to break down your ego and individuality, whereas the whole focus of Waldorf is to build up a child's strength, creativity, individualism, etc. In that way it's the opposite of a cult.

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  3. Nothing Gold Can Stay
    Nature's first green is gold,
    Her hardest hue to hold.
    Her early leaf's a flower;
    But only so an hour.
    Then leaf subsides to leaf.
    So Eden sank to grief,
    So dawn goes down to day.
    Nothing gold can stay.

    Robert Frost

    Stay gold, Ponyboy!

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