Cork Steiner school begins quest for State recognition

A UNIQUE school that focuses on the spiritual development of children launched a campaign yesterday for State recognition.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin visited the Cork Waldorf Steiner School and Kindergarten in Blackrock as they embark on a process with the Department of Education for funding and recognition.

It is understood that a well-established Steiner school in Co Clare is close to securing State recognition.

Geraldine Lynch, a committee member of the Cork school and a guardian of Steiner awareness and development, said she was hopeful the State would also recognise the Blackrock school, which was set up five years ago. It has 30 children in its kindergarten and 12 in its school.

The Steiner approach to education is unusual, but simple — it aims to educate the “whole child: head, heart and hands”.

The curriculum is broad and balances academic subjects with artistic and practical activities.

The children paint with the purest natural colours and they handle only natural cloths, woods and materials.

Waldorf Steiner teachers are dedicated to creating a genuine love of learning within each child.

Through various arts and activities, they aim to develop an internal motivation within the children to learn, doing away with the need for competitive testing and grading.

“The only way we can bring about radical change to the dysfunctional society that we live in is to ensure that our children are filled with spirituality from the time of conception to the critical age of seven,” Ms Lynch said.

“It is during this time that their chakras (energy channels) are imprinting.”

She said the philosophy was that children should be given the opportunity to develop and strengthen their psyche so that it has the endurance and stamina to resolve problems in life.

Ms Lynch said early intervention in children up to the age of seven was critical to prevent dysfunctional adolescents. It was ideal to intervene even when the child was still in the womb, she said.

“A child in the womb is a soul and its mother can have a beneficial influence on it even at this stage through the harmony of her thoughts, acts and feelings,” she said.

Dr Rudolf Steiner was a highly respected and well-published scientific, literary and philosophical scholar.

The Cork school will host an open day from 10am on April 21, and all are welcome.