Imagine you had a voice in setting the interest rate for your loan. Imagine if your savings not only earned you interest but directly benefited nonprofit organizations working for social and environmental good in the world. Or if you could meet representatives from the companies you were invested in to hear firsthand about the projects your money was helping to fund.
Re-Imagining Money
Meditation with Gertrude Reif Hughes
Meeting Waldorf at the Circus.
As development coordinator for Meadowbrook, I was asked by a reporter why our school promotes Circus Smirkus. On camera, a 30 second sound bite - where to start! Sure, from a development stand point it is a fundraiser but for me as a Waldorf parent this event has a value far beyond dollars and cents. How to explain it?An usher at a show attended by 107 day campers from Burrillville, RI shared some comments made by a group of young boys. "I could do that," they assured each other as they watched some of the opening tricks. A little further into the show there was an exclamation - "I couldn't even do that!"; though someone else thought his dad could. It didn't take long for them to realize they were no match for the trained and talented Smirkos (as the troupers call themselves). By the end of the show all the boys were in agreement - "I want to learn to do that!" Artistic director Troy Wunderle writes in the playbill that, "In addition to talent, [Circus Smirkus] programs strive to cultivate focused individuals with sturdy minds, solid work ethics, positive attitudes and humble hearts". Who doesn't want that for their child? As a parent I know that no-one inspires a child in the way another child can, for better or for worse! The passionate, hard working, joyful Smirkos are a gift to everyone engaged with growing children.
Circus Smirkus has no animals, it doesn't boast spectacular effects or extravagant sets. It does have a highly professional and dedicated crew who produce extremely high quality, theme driven shows. This meshes well with the Waldorf love of story, expressive movement and meaningful use of color and live music. The success of each show depends on the skill and showmanship of the performers. As physically demanding as any competitive sport, circus requires the highest levels of teamwork with performers literally putting their lives in each others' hands as they hang and balance high above the ring. In this youth circus as in Waldorf education relationships are built by facing challenges together, by following through with tasks and responsibilities - doing the chores behind the scenes as well as the fun stuff in the limelight.Three of the 29 troupers this year are Waldorf students, a high proportion when compared to the number of Waldorf students in the general population. This finding is consistent with past tours so I asked Sara Wunderle the assistant operations director if there were any qualities that made Waldorf students particularly well suited to joining the circus. She said, "Smirkus loves Waldorf kids. They are well rounded and fit in easily socially". As she looked for a word to define how Waldorf kids typically tackle the demands of circus life I suggested 'independence' but the difference was something else. Finally she chose the word 'competence'. A well developed sense of self that helps the individual to meet anything that needs doing with a grounded, 'can do' matter-of-factness. They can be relied upon to get the job done. She also said that the Waldorf troupers out perform in the Smirkus ring and all continue to excel after graduating, be it at other circuses or some quite different career.It's great fun to be part of this event. Many members of our school community volunteer their time and effort to help with the logistics of presenting Circus Smirkus in Rhode Island. We also provide the hospitality of our homes to the performers, making friends and hearing their stories - they really are a great bunch of kids! My family was thrilled to see our home-stay troupers again from last year. Over two days of shows we also see thousands of new faces. The circus is an opportunity to meet people from other walks of life, to partner with local businesses and share our values with hundreds of local families. As a parent at the school, I am proud that we make this wonderful event available to our neighbors. As a parent at home, I am delighted to see my children caught up in happy circus imaginings, inspired to practice some of the skills they've seen and full of the joyous possibilities of life.I would love to hear your comments on all things circus, Smirkus and what events like these mean to you!
Feeding the Child’s Soul in Nature.
By Su Rubinoff.This article was originally published in Gateway in the spring/summer issue of 2000.Good morning dear earth, good morning dear sun, Good morning dear stones and flowers, every one, Good morning dear beasties and birds in the trees, Good morning to you, friends, good morning to me.This is the verse that we begin our circle with. I chose it for its simplicity and its emphasis on the natural world, for I was working with Steiner’s thought that, The child must not be sharply detached from nature, that his whole feeling must be that he is linked in a living way to the world around him.At Meadowbrook School in Rhode Island, we are fortunate to be renting a school that sits on seventy acres of woods that include a pine forest and pond where beavers have built a large dam. Our morning rhythm begins outside since so many children must drive at least thirty minutes to school. After forty-five minutes outside, we go inside and gather on the round rug for circle which is followed by inside play and the activity of the day. Clean-up, a short rest, snack, and story follow, and we end outside with dismissal. During our outside time, the children run, climb, jump rope, make large houses and boats out of bales of hay, sticks, and logs, “cook” a lot of mud cakes and cookies, and create little houses for the gnomes. Their imagination is so alive that they have been sewing the gnomes little shirts, pants, and mittens and placing them in the houses they are building for these little friends.In the beginning of the year, a large load of sand was delivered to the school and purposely placed away from the area that would eventually become the sand area. For weeks, we were busy workers, digging and delivering the sand to its new home. Not all the sand was moved, and a month ago the children began to dig tunnels and rivers in this area. We have an outside faucet, and they would fill a five-gallon bucket with water to pour into their river. This was satisfactory for two weeks until too many tributaries developed and a lot of water was required. The children decided to build a trench over to the water faucet so they could just turn it on and a waterfall would pour right into their river. Miss Su and Miss Nancy (the teachers) are the water fairies who turn the faucet off in order to conserve the well water for the rest of the school. All twelve children have been absorbed in this. It has been amazing to watch these first-grade-ready children share the limited number of tools (I deliberately did this) and work out their differences with their various construction ideas.As part of our rhythm, we have Adventure Day on Friday. We spend most or all of this day outside and in the woods. On Adventure Day, we often have circle outside. Since the theme of circle corresponds with the cycle of the year, it feels appropriate to be outside with Father Sun and Brother Wind. After turns in the bathroom and gathering our bags, we are on our way. “Let us form a golden thread, see the needle at the head” and “Will you come and walk with me, both my hands I give to thee”are the songs that take us from the school to the path that leads us into the woods. As we enter this different world, I always say “Good morning” to the gnomes and ask them if we may enter their forest. They always say yes but remind us to keep our voices low since this is a home to many animals. We have seen a number of its inhabitants: Mr. Snake, Billy Beaver, Sammy Bluejay, Old Wise Owl, and more. The different trails that we take always lead us to the Pine Forest which is adjacent to the pond. It is here that we have our home for the morning. As soon as we arrive, the play begins. The children build houses against the large pine trees. Sticks are gathered for fishing and the leaves in the pond are the fish. Sometimes I am the owner of the Spanish fish market and buy the fish, and pay for them with pine cones, while only speaking Spanish. The children’s love of water and their sense of wonder arise again, and they dig with their sticks near the pond, crying with delight as little streams are created.We always bring popcorn, apples, a jug of water, and a jug of hot tea for snack. We lay down our picnic blanket and everyone comes. “We thank the earth for ripening glow, the wind and rain that makes things grow, to Mother Earth our thanks we give, for all her fruits whereby we live.” This is the blessing we sing. Its meaning lives deep in the children as we are with Mother Earth herself. In the winter, we spend a shorter time outside, but we still follow this same rhythm. Instead of sitting on the cold ground for snack, we sit on felled trees, some of which were chewed by the beavers. Sometimes it begins to snow as we sit and drink our tea. During these cold days, the children see the ice on the pond, and they become curious about how strong it is. While standing on the land, they try to see if the ice will crack. One day, each of them had his own stick and tried in vain to break off a piece of the ice. A few of the boys went searching for a larger, heavier stick and emerged from behind one of their houses with the four of them carrying a huge fallen limb. They were successful in their endeavor and took the ice to their “house” to use as a window.Before we leave our home in the woods, we have a story. Most of the time, we do a play from the fairy tale that I have been telling all week. It is a perfect setting since most of these tales take place near or in the forest. Our plays are informal but are very much enjoyed.Our golden thread once again weaves its way back through the woods. We all thank the gnomes, sing our good-bye song, and then check each other’s ears and necks for ticks. We want the ticks to stay in their home and not come home with us. Parents are waiting for us and the morning comes to a close.I have taught in four different locations in Rhode Island, and I have been able to find a little nook in each of these places to go on weekly walks. One location was at the edge of town and on a main street. We were still able to find a small, public garden with a pond and trees close by. As we were walking, I would always bring a bag for litter. I never said anything to the children but quietly collected the garbage along our walk. One five-year-old child, at the end of the year, went home to his mother and told her that “Miss Su is cleaning the earth.”Even if there are absolutely no places around, such as the ones I have mentioned, we still can bring nature and the four elements into the classroom. For children to experience the ancient elements of earth, air, fire, and water is crucial for their health. Children, as well as adults, are nourished by the natural world. As teachers, we try to create environments where there is ample opportunity for creative play and meaningful imitation. Being outside in every season supports this idea.The plant’s bright blessings Spring forth, From Earth’s gentle being, And human children rise up, With grateful hearts To join the spirits of the world. — Rudolf Steiner (1861 - 1925).Editor's note - Many years have passed since this article was written but the rhythms of Meadowbrook's early childhood classes endure. The school has since moved to its permanent home, situated on 28 acres of beautiful woodland in Richmond, RI. On Adventure Day, Miss Su and the children of Morning Glory continue to enter the forest on permission from the gnomes. They still fish in the river, picnic on popcorn, and feast on nature with all of their senses.