Developing on the job
The Age
Saturday March 27, 2010
With more than 1000 Steiner schools worldwide, the specialist schools that teach the work of Rudolf Steiner have been growing at a rapid rate.The co-ordinator of the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar, Helen Cock, says Steiner schools provide a curriculum designed to meet the developmental needs of a child.In Melbourne, the Rudolf Steiner Seminar (part of the TAFE system located in Warranwood) has been running for more than 25 years. It specialises in training teachers (kindergarten to year 12) for employment in Steiner schools and to work in general teaching roles.Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminars provide many courses, including an advanced diploma in Steiner education.There are also professional development short courses for high school and Steiner school teachers and a part-time certificate course in Rudolf Steiner education techniques.The advanced diploma is a two-year course, while the part-time certificate is held every Wednesday night over three years.Steiner Seminar student Chuang Hu says: "Education in terms of the immensity of learning, from everything we take time to understand, is a lifetime journey."Hu attends adult teacher training every Monday to Thursday.Also a teacher at the school, Cock says the program comprises a morning lecture and discussion. "This is followed by classes in movement (eurhythmy, Bothmer gym) and artistic spheres (painting, craft, sculpture, drama, singing)," she says.As a teacher with 40 years of training and experience in Rudolf Steiner studies, Cock has held many professional roles, including participating as an advisory board member for the national Steiner curriculum to former chair of the Rudolf Steiner Schools Association.She says the program provides both a theoretical framework for the study of the educational philosophy of Steiner, plus training in practical aspects of teaching.Students travel around Victoria and interstate to take up teaching and continued study.Hu says the teaching program has helped her see the world from a different point of view.Along with fellow students she learns anthroposophy (Rudolf Steiner philosophy), spirituality and how to transform herself."I'm being transformed while doing my training," Hu says."I'm learning to feel more deeply, which helps me to open up to my true feelings and makes me feel like I'm transforming on a daily basis."Cock says: "Many individuals who are interested in their own development through the study of anthroposophy will also apply for entry."We have 72 full-time students here in Melbourne, some from as far away as Korea, Serbia, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Japan and Vietnam."Programs are created by qualified teachers in the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner."YVONNE NICOLASFor more education jobs, see mycareer.com.au/edu.
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