This is very much evident in education in our current time where most families have working parents and children are left with caregivers and relatives. Most families look to schools to teach their children beyond the 4Rs, and it is a given that schools should also teach children character, discipline and social graces.
A school can only provide so much, and an active parent community that works hand-in-hand with teachers is more able to ensure holistic growth for children.
At the onset, we at the Kolisko School for Steiner Education decided to immerse the parents into the school community as much as we can, and the results have been wonderful in the building of the school; and although we do get caught up with details we always find time to listen to the children. We revised the lay-out of the grounds after my five year-old daughter said "Alam mo mommy kailangan talagang may play ground, hindi pwedeng sand box at mga puno puno lang; dapat may swing, monkey bars, slide...para matuwa ang mga bata."
It is in our listening that we have grown so much. In our growth we have learned to appreciate development workers and their contributions to society. It is this appreciation of their work that we decided to give their children special priority in availing of private education through the Kolisko School.
Why development workers? Brain drain no longer bothers me. Strong ties with my alumni associations have proven to me that those who leave the country have so much more to give when given an opportunity to share. What bothers me most these days is the migration of development workers to corporate worlds for economic reasons. Development Workers give so much to move social transformation in our country and yet receive so little salary.
For me, providing their children access to private education is one way to show development workers that they are well appreciated and their work is very relevant. No other form of education fits them better than the pro-active system of Waldorf/Steiner Education.
To make Steiner Education available to the children of development workers we created the Kolisko Education Access Program (KEAP). After all, the ability to pay should not be an issue in educating a child.
Growing with the Kolisko School for Steiner Education has been a wonderful experience. No doubt once school starts this June the children will have a wonderful experience as well.
This is how the property looked when we started renovation in October 2007.
Same section of the house converted into one of the classrooms, after lazure painting in March 2008.
The room exudes warmth as our community of teachers, parents and volunteers grow.
We're all set for June 2008 once the furniture arrives in May.Arns Jara
http://koliskoschool.blogspot.com/
http://koliskofoundation.blogspot.com/
www.whywaldorfworks.org
For more information on the Kolisko School
e-mail: kolisko.waldorf.school@gmail.com
call : (632) 723-1549
Visit: No. 10 Alabama St, Brgy Kristong Hari, New Manila, Quezon City
