Born out of interest in instilling and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusivity in classrooms and school communities, Waldorf educators nationwide and beyond are eager to bring changes to what constitutes a Waldorf education. But decolonizing the Waldorf curriculum is more fundamental than just adding more diversity to what we teach, and it’s even more than providing mirrors (so children recognize themselves), windows (into other cultures and ways of being), and sliding glass doors (to enter other worlds in the imagination). The question of decolonizing curriculum—not only what we teach, but how, when, why, where, and by whom—is really a question of deconstructing un-reflected, tacit assumptions, expectations, and prejudices. It’s about re-envisioning Waldorf education and its relationship to Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.
Through advance reading, facilitator presentation, directed questions for small group conversations, journaling, and research tasks, this important workshop will provide you with a thought-provoking analysis and awareness of what it really takes to decolonize a Waldorf curriculum. Those of you who heard Martyn Rawson speak at the Goetheanum at last April’s World Teachers Conference will be afforded an opportunity to pursue this topic with him further. We are very pleased that joining Martyn will be longtime Waldorf educator and speaker (and fellow Goetheanum presenter), Linda Williams. If you haven’t worked with either before, you are in for a very meaningful experience.
Facilitators
Martyn Rawson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1954 and started Waldorf teaching in 1979. Today he is still teaching: high school history, art studies, and English at Christian Morgenstern School in Hamburg, Germany, and as a professor at Freie Hocshule Stuttgart, Germany, and National Tsinghua University, Taiwan. He is also a teacher trainer and teaches regular courses in China, Taiwan, South Africa, Europe, and occasionally the US and Canada. A co-founder of York Steiner School (UK), Martyn earned his EdD from the University of Plymouth (UK) and is an active researcher whose main fields are curriculum research (including decolonizing), student learning, and assessment. He publishes in mainstream publications, academic journals, Waldorf publications, and on his website, and his books can be found at Steiner Press. Martyn is educational advisor to the European Council of Steiner Waldorf Education and a member of the European Commission Working Group on Schools.
Co-chair and a founding member of Sunbridge’s Diversity Fund Committee, as well as a Sunbridge Board trustee, Linda Williams ’87 is currently grades coordinator and faculty chair at the Detroit Waldorf School, where she first started her class teaching career in 1987 and graduated her last 8th grade class in 2022. In addition to leading several DWS classes, she also taught at the Urban Waldorf School in Milwaukee, served as director of the Elementary teacher training program at the Waldorf Institute of Southeastern Michigan, and taught undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary literacy and urban education as professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University. The recipient of numerous teaching awards and fellowships. Linda is a frequent presenter and workshop leader, including presenting on resilience at the 2023 International Teachers Conference at the Goetheanum. She is also a consultant and mentor teacher for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, as well as for several Waldorf schools, including on issues of diversity and inclusion, as well as a member of Alma partners, the AWSNA Board of Trustees, the Pedagogical Section, and the International Forum (Hague Circle). Linda earned her BA from Justin Morrill College at Michigan State University, her MA in Waldorf Education from Mercy College, and her doctorate in Curriculum, Teaching, and Educational Policy, with a cognate in Literacy, from Michigan State University.
Schedule
This workshop takes place in live Zoom sessions. Sessions will not be recorded.
Sessions (All times are US EASTERN)
Friday evening, January 12: 7:00pm-8:30pm ET
Saturday, January 13: 10:30am-12pm and 12:30-2:00pm ET
In order to receive a Certificate of Attendance, you must attend all three sessions.
Cost
$175 includes $25 non-refundable registration fee
Discount options
15% off for
- Schools sending more than one participant, or
- Sunbridge teacher education program graduates, or
- Payments made in Canadian dollars
Free for eligible current Sunbridge program students in good standing (plus a $25 non-refundable registration fee)
Discounts may not be combined. Eligibility will be verified by Sunbridge staff.
Participants will be sent reading in advance of the workshop.
Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20
We reserve the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.
Sunbridge is a New York State Education Department Approved Sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (NYSED CTLE), enabling teachers of any background to choose Sunbridge for their CLTE/CEU professional development credits. Check to see if your state honors our status.
