Parents embrace awhole-child school

By CARMEN GREIVE

ENORMOUS interest in alternative forms of schooling has resulted in a part-time learning centre embedded in the Steiner philosophy.

Developed by scholar Rudolf Steiner, the Steiner or Waldorf philosophy is about educating the whole child ? "head, heart and hands" ? through a curriculum which balances academic subjects with artistic and practical activities.

A Steiner cultural arts program is expected to open at Ipswich next month, aimed at supporting home-schooled children.

According to organiser Ruth Busteed, the part-time co-operative learning centre is the first step towards the Limestone Hill Steiner School which is expected to open next year.

About 40 Ipswich families have supported plans for the school.

The cultural arts centre will run two days a week teaching children foreign language, drama, literature, horticulture and the arts.

Two teachers have been confirmed for the centre and a further four have registered their interest.

Ms Busteed said the response indicated a return to a more natural form of educa-tion in an age of increasing commecialism.

"We want to slow down a bit, stop the rush and let children discover things in their own time," she said.

"It's about recognising the creativity of each individual child; (teaching) a sense of beauty, its truth and the responsibility we have for keeping the world safe and peaceful."

There are at least six Steiner schools in Queensland.