A School in A Threatened Idyll
Brazil: In 2001 a group of teachers and parents brought the Waldorf initiative Dendê da Serra into being. On a farm, 6 km in the north of Serra Grande between the cities Ilhéus and Itacaré, a small school, which was so far administered by one teacher, was inherited in a mutual agreement with the city council. Since 2007 the school consists of a kindergarten and the classes 1 through 8.
A colorfully dressed group of people is on its way through the village of Serra Grande. Standard bearers, warriors, court ladies as well as the first court lady, bearing with her a doll in defense of evil spirits, are surrounding a royal couple in a samba-resembling dance. Unmistakably traditional characters, belonging to a Maracatu-procession, are being displayed. Such a procession, which by the way has African roots and was spread by Afro-Brazilian slaves, was chosen as a project by this years class 7, instead of the usual theatre performance. That way, not only the students, but the whole village is able to enjoy the artistic performance.
The school community of the Waldorf initiative Dendê da Serra is lively and active. The community has for example reacted with a huge protest act to the government’s concept to build a harbor, in order to install a new industrial park. Therefore they made the population aware of the fact that the new harbor would destroy the protected landscape, which with its broad beaches and costal rain forest is actually of a unique character. Thus, if the government project would be carried through, the population would see itself being confronted with the fact that their main source of income, which is tourism, would just as well be destroyed.
Most of the students come from disadvantaged social circumstances. Their parents are in most cases not well educated themselves and thus not able to support their children much. Therefore, the teachers are struggling with great learning difficulties of the children. However, due to their permanent effort to confront the student with individual challenges and support them with individual classes, everybody involved in the process is thrilled with the learning improvement. Through the work in small groups it is possible to put a lot of emphasis on fostering the senso-motoric skills, the brain and the cognition of the student, which is achieved through the acquisition of visual thinking and artistic elements.
Weekly meetings of the school community and performances in a small circle, provide a rehearsal for public school celebrations, festivals and theatre performances, taking place in an open “Cabana”. With 8 grades the school is able to offer a manifold program and with the ending of construction in 2007 the necessary space is also available, thus the pioneer phase can be considered terminated – despite the remaining financial worries.
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03/2010 - Thank you / WOW Day
Internet Information
Contact
Escola Dende da Serra
Caixa Postal 415
45653-970 Ilhéus – BA
Brazil
Rodovia Ilhéus-Itacaré (BA-001), km 39
Serra Grande – Uruçuca
Bahia – Brazil
Tel.: +55 73 3239 6285
escoladendedaserra@gmail.com