Associazione Libera Scuola Waldorf

The association Libera Scuola Waldorf di Palermo, is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1986, to which teachers and parents belong with the aim to promote the pedagogy and the educational activities based on anthroposophy, and to implement other educational activities open to everybody, particularly children and young people who live in disadvantaged conditions. The association is part of an international movement with more than 1000 Waldorf schools, inspired by the principles of Steiner pedagogy and, since 1992, it manages a kindergarten and an officially recognized school up to class 5. Furthermore, the association, in line with the requirements set by the Federation of Waldorf Schools which operates in connection with the MIUR (Ministry of Education), supports and prepares children whose families have chosen home-schooling. The main objective of the association is to promote and spread Steiner education according to which the human being is not only the bearer of ideas and thoughts, but also and above all of feelings and spirituality. In order to be complete, the education must include the body, the soul and the spirit by taking care of the acts of thinking, feeling and willing. The Waldorf pedagogy, intended as art, concentrates on the balanced development of children in accordance with their phases of growth. The teaching of intellectual subjects is always accompanied by artistic and manual-work subjects which alternate according to a well-defined rhythm. In order to provide children with a safe environment in which they are able to develop harmoniously their faculties, the class teacher will accompany them during the 8 years of the primary school cycle. Specialised teachers are employed as far as manual-work subjects, physical education and foreign languages are concerned. By growing up together, children live their class as a social entity in which anyone can develop abilities, overcome difficulties and grow in one’s own individuality. Concurrently with the educational activities of the first five classes and with the support of home-schooling for the middle school (years 6, 7 and 8), the association promotes other activities aimed at integrating children in a wider path of development of which teaching is part of it. Such activities, which are part of a “cultural calendar” approved by the members’ meeting at the beginning of each year, also include other private (such as cultural associations) and public institutions (such as universities and city councils): a) Excursions connected with the seasons and specific holidays, organised in order to have children and families live the atmosphere of the seasons and cultivate the social aspects. These activities play a very important role as they involve the families in the didactic life making them feel part of a social body. b) Christmas and Easter bazars and pedagogical exhibitions during which the pedagogy and its outcomes are shown to the families and anybody who is external to the association. c) Musical activities; the association has its own orchestra to which the older pupils belong. d) Courses and seminars for adults about pedagogical anthroposophical and artistic matters (singing, eurythmy, painting etc.) e) An educational vegetable garden, managed in collaboration with other associations and the Fondazione Whitaker to promote among students and families the know-how of farming techniques and the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture. The activities of the association are not addressed exclusively to its members, but they aim to involve anyone who wants to approach the world of the “alternative and inclusive pedagogies”, or anyone who simply wishes to participate to the cultural-artistic initiatives offered.