The plan for this new programme is to offer two, in-person, week-long intensives each year over a three-year period. The course is designed for teachers who work in Thai Waldorf schools and starter projects. In between the attended courses, there is a programme of ongoing study and discussion that takes place online. The tutor team includes colleagues from Thailand and Europe. The course is hosted by colleagues at the Panyotai, a school which has provided a well-spring for Waldorf education for 27 years. Throughout its life, the school has received ongoing financial support from Die Freunde der Erziehungskunst.
The opening module in March took place over 7 consecutive days in hot and humid conditions. The initial group of students exceeded 70, and applications for module 2 are approaching 100. The hope is that colleagues from other parts of the region may be able to join in along the way. Each day began with a course on human development – questions of anthropology and anthroposophy – led by Dr Porn Panosot. The programme continued with a focus on geography through the lower and middle school. Sessions on form drawing opened the afternoon programme and following cups of iced coffee, fresh fruit juice and copious amount of water, the students and tutors ended the day by sitting outside, in the shade of the school hall, and discussing aspects of the teacher’s inner and outer development. The presentations and small-group discussions concentrated on the topics of stress and anxiety in modern-day life. ‘Overcoming Nervousness’ – a lecture given by Rudolf Steiner in Munich on 12th January 1912, formed a launch-pad for the late afternoon exchanges and contributions.
The different elements of the programme flowed through the week thanks to a small team of willing and able interpreters. This enabled the module to have a bilingual quality, which was helpful not only to the large majority of Thia-speakers, but also the small and diverse band of English speakers from Australia, Mexico and France. The next module will take place in October. According to ‘traditional’ weather forecasts, the rains will begin to recede and the level of humidity dips as the October progresses.
Accompanying the continuing study concerning the place of the human being in the world, there will be daily sessions focusing on curricular topics of the human being and the animals, and questions and perspectives on history in the lower and middle school. Blackboard drawing and ongoing discussions concerning the life and work of the teacher will carry us to the close of each day.
ขอบคุณ! (Thank you)
Trevor Mepham