Education of a Certain Kind

Dear Friend of The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara,

In the world of education today there is confusion about convictions.

Many students, teachers, and administrators suffer not only a confusion about convictions but a lack of them altogether. Consequently, there is a poverty of meaning in many schools, a sense of having lost the plot. Young people grow up hearing clichés. They hear about becoming “lifelong learners,” “global competitors,” “critical thinkers.” Few really understand such messages or take them to heart. This confusion has made for a loss of faith and growing alienation in our young people. Writer David Brooks recently wrote, “If there is little or no common ground today, it is because there are few if any common assumptions about the nature of a good society.” Brooks then posits that the work of cultural repair will involve metaphysical reconstruction—the work of restoring common ennobling values.

Waldorf schools can help address this underlying metaphysical muddle. Waldorf schools can help address today’s crisis of meaning. With their emphasis on the beautiful holiness of the world, character-building, rigorous and integrative learning, and love, Waldorf schools can help return nobility and sincerity of purpose to education.

“It is not education that will save us,” says social thinker David Orr, “but education of a certain kind.”

Waldorf education, we believe, is that certain kind of education.

Today, Giving Tuesday, or anytime during this holiday season, we ask you to support our Waldorf school. Your gift will help us as we strive to provide a love-based education that honors the whole child. And no gift is too small and none too big.

With sincere gratitude for your consideration,

The Admin Team

The Waldorf School of Santa Barbara

PS Here is an inspiring quotation from Rudolf Steiner: “To disseminate love over the earth in the greatest measure possible, to promote love on the earth—that and that alone is wisdom.”

PPS Please feel free to share this message.