My name is Erik Nieuwkoop. I have been a Geography teacher for classes 7 to 12 in a Dutch Waldorfschool for thirteen years now. During these years I became more and more enthusiastic about Waldorf education. This enthusiasm also lead me abroad to Waldorf teacher training projects in India and even a ‘gap year’ to Australia where my family and me stayed, worked and attended to lessons at a Waldorf school.
The warm welcome in every Waldorf community created a good atmospere to live and learn. One important thing I found out and really experienced, is the universal character of Waldorf education; it doesn’t matter in what culture the school is based, the vision and philosophy forms a real clear and steady basis. Students “tune in” on one another really quickly, as I also saw my own kids blend in, in their new environment abroad.
Eight years ago I attended to the Oceanography lessons at the Andamans. This put education in a whole new perpective. I was being submerged in the main theme (Oceanography); The main lesson, was the leading lesson and various other activities (arts, movement, diving, observing) contributed to the subject. This approach, organising education from a more holistic perspective, the “Waldorf way”, made a deep, forming impression.
The warm welcome in every Waldorf community created a good atmospere to live and learn. One important thing I found out and really experienced, is the universal character of Waldorf education; it doesn’t matter in what culture the school is based, the vision and philosophy forms a real clear and steady basis. Students “tune in” on one another really quickly, as I also saw my own kids blend in, in their new environment abroad.
Eight years ago I attended to the Oceanography lessons at the Andamans. This put education in a whole new perpective. I was being submerged in the main theme (Oceanography); The main lesson, was the leading lesson and various other activities (arts, movement, diving, observing) contributed to the subject. This approach, organising education from a more holistic perspective, the “Waldorf way”, made a deep, forming impression.
