Thanks for your comment and question! As in Waldorf? If so, yes, I have. While I really like some aspects of the Waldorf curriculum, I do not like the approach or the view of children in practice. The philosophy does not account for natural human variation in cognitive profile or development. For example, Waldorf educators are known for taking a child's books away if they present as early readers, which so many of my students are.
I love the place to which you bring your thinking. Your advocacy for the learner as a complex feeling and thinking human being versus an objectified component of an assembly line particularly hits home. I’m seeing and profoundly struggling with the traditional models in my own workplace. I have recently had this dark vision of a world in which the deeply algorithmic data tracking practices subjected by Amazon and other large corporations to their warehouse and other employees will be someday be applied to teachers and students.
There are so many scholars whose work is worthy of investigation. I feel like I’ve barely begun to sample them. I’m currently fascinated by the work of Marianne Wolf regarding the incredibly amazing work happening around the complexities of how reading works. Likewise, the influx of research and understanding that’s emerging over the past few decades around trauma (particularly as it applies to learning) is also deeply fascinating.
So important! Curious if you've encountered Steiner in your research?
Thanks for your comment and question! As in Waldorf? If so, yes, I have. While I really like some aspects of the Waldorf curriculum, I do not like the approach or the view of children in practice. The philosophy does not account for natural human variation in cognitive profile or development. For example, Waldorf educators are known for taking a child's books away if they present as early readers, which so many of my students are.
I love the place to which you bring your thinking. Your advocacy for the learner as a complex feeling and thinking human being versus an objectified component of an assembly line particularly hits home. I’m seeing and profoundly struggling with the traditional models in my own workplace. I have recently had this dark vision of a world in which the deeply algorithmic data tracking practices subjected by Amazon and other large corporations to their warehouse and other employees will be someday be applied to teachers and students.
There are so many scholars whose work is worthy of investigation. I feel like I’ve barely begun to sample them. I’m currently fascinated by the work of Marianne Wolf regarding the incredibly amazing work happening around the complexities of how reading works. Likewise, the influx of research and understanding that’s emerging over the past few decades around trauma (particularly as it applies to learning) is also deeply fascinating.
Thank you for reading and for this thoughtful comment. I had not heard of Marianne Wolf, I will have to check them out.
You’re welcome! Her book that I’m slowly studying is Proust and the Squid.
Love hearing your voice!
thank you!