by Sarah Flynn, Parent
Last year, we were a brand new family at the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, with a Sun Room kindergartener, a first grader, and a third grader. You could say we “hit the ground running.” Before that, we had no experience whatever with Waldorf education. There have been many “Ahaa!” moments for us as we come to understand more deeply the levels on which this education speaks to our children, as well as the care with which it is offered to them here at GBRSS.
One of those moments came on a cold day in the winter, when my kindergartener was home. We decided to make our very own “soup day.” I had heard all about how the children cut the vegetables and made their own soup, and I was eager to see this in action. So we went to the fridge together, and my daughter instructed me on which vegetables to get out (beets, carrots, potatoes, and kale). Then she picked out her knife and cutting board, and sat at the table expectantly. “Does Mrs. Kuzia give you the vegetables raw, or are they soft?” I asked. She told me they were raw and very hard. So I hesitantly handed her a raw beet. “Like this?” She took the beet, looked at it skeptically, shrugged her shoulders, and began to try to cut it with her butter knife. After the beet had shot across the kitchen a few times, I realized there must be more to it than that. I cut the beet in half and handed it back to her. “That’s more like at school,” she said, but of course she still couldn’t cut it. When I finally cut the beet into thin strips, she beamed and said encouragingly, “Just like that!” and proceeded to cut all the vegetables for a wonderful pot of soup.
While we ate our soup, I realized a few things. The children are not doing “little child things.” They are engaged in real-life tasks, at an age-appropriate level. Mia is learning to care for herself, others, and the space we inhabit, which is the first and most basic life skill. And at a very young age, the children are learning that it is enjoyable to be competent. These are things about the school that are difficult to explain. How do you tell someone looking for reading readiness that chopping veggies is actually exactly what kindergarteners need most? I did not know that myself just a year ago!
So, many thanks to the loving early childhood teachers who carefully prepare the veggies for little ones to chop, and who reverently break bread with them on bread day. I appreciate the intention and purpose that are behind these seemingly simple gifts you give our children.