Steiner Voices XYZ

Diane Tatum’s long career in Steiner education has taken her around the world, from her origins on the east coast of the US, to schools in Europe, China, South America and over the past 30 years, in Australia. She trained in Eurythmy in Germany and the US, and has devoted her professional life to bringing eurythmy, drama, music, movement, and story to Steiner school classrooms and communities. Behind all these artistic forms lies the power of rhythm, and Diane’s inspiration has been to work with the healing power that healthy rhythm has on the growing child. She has worked as well on school communities through festivals which can build and nourish the social organism of a whole school. More recently she has seen the healing power of artistic rhythm as it mitigates the impacts of acute trauma in her work with Emergency Pedagogy. Diane was one of a team of Australian Steiner educators who supported survivors of the Bondi terrorist shooting last December where she experienced again the healing power of the rhythms of life.

For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠

For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠

 Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠

 Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠

 Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠

 The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham. 

 Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠

 Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Ken Killeen recently retired after teaching for 20 years in the Steiner stream classes at Castlemaine Secondary College, Victoria. Ken is a professional artist with a deep vision of what Steiner education can offer to adolescents in particular, and the world in general. He tells the story of losing his faith, then finding it again as a fresh impulse which led to new initiatives including the founding of the Steiner stream. His connection with Steiner’s work from agriculture to education has spanned decades, and continues to inspire his work of carrying the students through the challenges of adolescence. He quotes Nick Cave’s advice to a seeking teenager: explore art, music, culture, and the sciences as broadly as possible and become a full human being before making the step into a particular vocation. The Parzival story underpins his own journey, from a feeling of ignorance and separation, to the bliss of sensing the numinous, the unity that underlies the material world. Ken’s message to teachers? Have reverence towards your students, gratitude for life, work together in your College of Teachers, stay fresh, and innovate!

For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠

For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠

 Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠

 Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠

 Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/ ⁠

 The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham. 

 Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠

 Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠

Thea Mills-Crockford has just completed Year 12 at Shearwater, The Mullumbimby Steiner School in northern NSW. Thea gained early entry into the Australian National University, and recorded this interview on her way to Canberra where she will begin a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience, Psychology and Philosophy. Her time at Shearwater began at the age of 2 when her parents took her to Playgroup, and now after 16 continuous years at the school, she reflects on a journey which included so many of the rich experiences that Steiner students enjoy during their education. Each school has its own unique offerings, and Thea remembers fondly some of the special Shearwater events such as WAVE (Wearable Arts Vision in Education), a choreographed production involving high school students that encompasses design, drama, dance, music and technology. Recognising that time moves on, she is sad to say goodbye but takes with her some beautiful and nurturing memories. Perhaps most important of all, she takes with her an inner strength of character and understanding of self that helps her feel ready to step into the world.

For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠

For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠

 Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠

 Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠

 Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠

 The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham. 

 Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠

 Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Rosemary Michalowski began her professional journey after starting a mainstream teaching degree but asking the question: Where is the bigger picture…?  She found the bigger picture she was looking for in a Steiner orientation course in Sydney. The course inspired her love of art, philosophy and meaningful education, and she was taught by Sylvia Brose, the founder of the first Steiner school in Australia. She furthered her studies in Germany where she trained in teaching and in Eurythmy whilst also working at the local Anthroposophical hospital. Returning to Australia with her family, she worked in a number of schools before being appointed Principal of the Central Coast Steiner School in NSW. Over the past 13 years, Rosemary has worked with the teachers to build a thriving school which this year is hosting its first ever Year 12 cohort, as well as starting to double stream the high school. Rosemary shares her vision of Steiner education as a rigorous pursuit where students develop a deep love of learning and where they and their families feel connected in a richly supportive community. Most of all, she wants to put joy and creativity back into education, as part of that bigger picture which started her whole journey.

For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠

For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠

 Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠

 Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠

 Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠

 The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham. 

 Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠

 Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Here is a podcaster being podcasted! For his Class 12 Major Project, Steiner X Oskar Scarman created a podcast series called A Search for Meaning that explored the themes of meaning, purpose and vulnerability. It reached the top 15% of podcasts worldwide, and now, just two years out of school, Oskar has established a successful business in Adelaide employing 16 people. Oskar reflects on his journey through the Willunga Waldorf school, recalling fondly his time in the “magic garden” of Kindergarten, his class teacher time of imagination, deep connection and personal care, but also his middle high school years when he rebelled against so much of what his Steiner school offered. How he came through that crisis of meaning and went on to achieve great success in Class 12, including a high mark and the offer of entry to a Law degree, makes a fascinating story. Overall Oskar describes his journey as a move from being a Steiner pessimist to being an advocate. What makes the point of difference? He says, “It makes you think bigger!”

 For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠

For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠

 Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠

 Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠

 Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠

 The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham. 

 Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠

 Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/