Ci-Xin Waldorf School
The graduation project...
The graduation project is the highlight for grade 12 students at Ci-Xin Waldorf School; students spend the year researching, exploring and connecting with the world. Each graduate is to present on stage for twenty minutes with topics ranging from literature, painting, ceramic arts, architecture, traditional dance, food culture, drum making, racing, philosophy, music, opera, film, volunteering, environmental, and tai chi, to name a few. Their aim is to not only learn from the topic, but to find meaning and to connect it to their current lives. With an unlimited breadth of subjects to select from, students delved into their individual interests. Presentations ranged from a traditional Israeli dance performance, a self-composed piece of music expressing experiences from a student’s final years of high school, to an 80,000 word novel written by a student who usually had few words to say.
Waldorf education bases its principals on the understanding of a child’s age and distinguishes three stages of development. Its humanistic approach to teaching allows children to develop at their own pace, while preserving their innate creativity. The system encourages children to express their ideas, to learn about themselves, and to understand what they truly want to strive for in life. Every child is capable of leading a meaningful life; self-awareness is an imperative part of the development. Waldorf education focuses on guiding children to look at life, and learn to make the most out of it.
After attending the graduation, Guan-Sheng Wang, a Ci-Xin Waldorf School parent and Professor of National Taipei University published an article, sharing personal encounters and in-depth conversations shared with the students. Wang specified that Waldorf educated children possess the maturity and aptitude of college students. The graduates communicated their works with great fluency. When conversing, Wang found that they have the ability to touch on the deepest of topics relating to family, friendship, love, dreams, and values; they also have a clear sense of awareness in their own course of life. The student presentation skills, exceeding that of a university student, have led Wang to realize the deeper meaning behind education.
In the article, Wang shared the story of a graduate he watched perform, who lost the ability to move freely due to an illness. During the course of her illness, she experienced great physical and emotional pain, and was not able to play her beloved piano. On the day of the presentation, words from the philosophical novel "Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None" by Friedrich Nietzsche, poured out of her. During her illness, the novel inspired her gravely. She presented to the audience her suffering and transformational journey and detailed the philosophies of Nietzche on freedom and willpower, philosophies that have shed a positive light to her life. The spirit of Nietzche’s work was present in her life; and the presentation was deeper and more touching than that of any college student Wang has ever taught. Through this experience we witness the true value of Waldorf education.
“A life is not worth living without examining.” – Socrates
About Waldorf Education
Waldorf education is a humanistic approach to education based on the philosophies of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Over one thousand schools worldwide has adopted the system. Waldorf aims to preserve creativity, develop character, rationality, and educates children to learn about the world and oneself through arts, literature, sciences, mathematics, philosophy, agriculture, architecture, and more.
Waldorf education is a humanistic approach to education based on the philosophies of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Over one thousand schools worldwide has adopted the system. Waldorf aims to preserve creativity, develop character, rationality, and educates children to learn about the world and oneself through arts, literature, sciences, mathematics, philosophy, agriculture, architecture, and more.
