As the mother of three school-age children, I realize how important the style of teaching is. I am not so interested anymore in what my children learn as I am in how they learn and whether they enjoy learning.

When we first moved to San Miguel de Allende there were several options for schools for my two youngest children, and so we began our tour of the schools. Our first stop was the Waldorf school, Colegio Los Charcos. As it happened, this was the only school we visited because we fell in love with it instantly without even knowing what a Waldorf school really was. There was just a je ne sais quoi about the place.

It was only after we had enrolled the children that I started to research the Waldorf philosophy and discovered that our instincts had been correct and we had found a method of teaching that seemed to be geared toward the development of the child instead of to the parents or to the mandate of some ministry of education. What I discovered was an art-based school, holistic in nature and with an integrated curriculum that married physical, mental and intellectual development at each stage of a child's life. No more cramming or learning by rote, just developmentally appropriate information that seemed to flow naturally into each child. 

The philosophy was started in 1919 when a man named Rudolph Steiner-a scientist, artist and educator-opened a school for the children of the workers of the Waldorf Astoria factory in Stuttgart, Germany. His concept of education was radical at the time, but his philosophy was soon adopted around the world, and now there are over 900 Waldorf schools in 44 countries.

The Waldorf concept is not for the faint of heart, however. Reading, writing and arithmetic are not pushed on the children in the youngest grades; instead, they are introduced through a more organic method. One long-time San Miguel resident, Claire Collins, says this about her son's Waldorf education: "People would ask me if my son was going to learn things faster at a Waldorf school. I would tell them that they'll probably learn to tell time at the same time but my son will have a greater sense of what time is." She also mentioned the quality of the artwork she saw at the Waldorf school. There were pictures of trees that really had the "feeling" of a tree and weren't just simple children's renderings. 

In preschool the development of social skills, imagination and creativity of the child is encouraged through stories and interactive play. The repetition of orally told fables and myths teaches morals and responsibility and broadens the child's vocabulary. Writing evolves from drawing, and reading emerges soon after in the higher grades without pressure. Counting and rhythmic games introduce number skills, and a love of nature is fostered with hikes outside and tending to gardens, which prepare children for more advanced biology and scientific study in later years. 

Music, handwork, movement and foreign languages are also highly valued studies in a Waldorf school. One or two other languages are normally introduced in grade one through the use of songs and verse. Sometimes the handwork classes are conducted in a foreign language as well, which allows for the children to adopt the sounds of a language before having to focus on its spelling or grammar. The handwork itself introduces concepts of design and geometry and the discipline to start and complete projects by oneself. Singing and learning to play musical instruments are used liberally to teach pattern and expression, dexterity and dedication. 

Each day the main lesson is conducted for approximately two hours. The children focus on one subject using various approaches from reading to drawing to painting to acting, and then they record what they have learned in their main lesson books that look like big scrapbooks. Preprinted workbooks are not used, allowing the children to record their learning and express themselves in their own ways. These subjects last for several weeks, so by the time a segment has ended the children truly understand the topic from a variety of different angles. 

Afternoon lessons are usually designed such that the whole child can be active. Handwork, music or gym is conducted at this time of the day so that fatigue can be avoided and to enhance a balanced learning by the end of the day. The classrooms are also beautifully decorated with colored walls and fresh flowers, hand-painted artwork and a simplicity that is hard to find in most other schools. 

Overall, the Waldorf philosophy seems to incorporate a sense of discovery that we have found lacking in our public school system back home. Our children's self-esteem has flourished, and they love going to school. (In two years we have not had anyone "pretend to be sick" as an "excuse" to stay home!) And if you don't want to take my word for it, this is what Kenneth Chenault, graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School and current Chairman and CEO of American Express, had to say about his Waldorf education: "Waldorf taught me how to think for myself, to be responsible for my decisions." This kind of outcome does not necessarily spring from a traditional learning style. This came from a foundation of learning in a Waldorf environment.

For those of you who would like to learn more about the Waldorf style of teaching there will be an introduction to the Waldorf school on Saturday, March 4, from 10-12 at the Colegio Los Charcos. Meet at the parking lot in front of Kike's Supermarket at 9:30am for a ride out to the school, or arrange your own transportation. Driving instructions are given on the school's website at www.waldorfsanmiguel.org/kathysite/contact/map.htm.

Introduction to Colegio Los Charcos
Saturday, March 4 
10am-noon
Rancho Los Charcos

Jóvenes Adelante scholarship recipients give thanks
By Lynn Padre

Speaking in both Spanish and English, 11 top Mexican students from area colleges and universities discussed their majors and said "thank you" on February 12 to the sponsors of Jóvenes Adelante, a group that started in San Miguel de Allende's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship five years ago. Currently there are 19 students in the program.

Coordinated by President Virginia Wheelwright, Jóvenes Adelante, which means "Young People Go Forward," is dedicated to funding full college educations for superior Mexican students throughout their four-and-a-half-year college careers. The stipend is 1,000 pesos annually. All students, selected on the basis of high grades, motivation and potential, come from disadvantaged homes in San Miguel de Allende and surrounding ranches.

One student said she was grateful for the scholarship because she was the only one of her 10 brothers and sisters to receive such an opportunity. Another explained that she wanted to support her two severely learning disabled siblings by entering the communications field. Yet another told of having been raised by a single mother who had received no financial support, and he wished to give back to her. All students expressed a strong desire to succeed and make a contribution to society. This spring, the first four students in the program will graduate.

"A recent census indicated that only 18% of Mexicans in the state of Guanajuato have received any upper-school education of any kind," explained Wheelwright. "It is essential that Jóvenes Adelante supports more and more students to create a better-educated Mexican society." She stressed the one-on-one contact that makes the program so meaningful.

Call for plants and flowers
By Helen Rose

The Garden Club of San Miguel de Allende is putting out a public call to all residents in San Miguel for plants and flowers for its biennial plant show on Sunday, April 2, from 11am to 5pm at the Aldea Hotel. 

There is no entrance fee, and everyone is encouraged to enter flower arrangements with or without accompanying art objects. Please deliver a 3×5-inch card folded in half with the name of the plant on one side and the name of the exhibitor on the other.

Please drop off your plant and/or flower-you may enter more than one-on Saturday between 10am and noon. Helpers are available for large plants. The exhibitor should own the plants at least two months before the show. Entries should be picked up on Sunday between 5 and 6pm.

The plants and arrangements are judged on Saturday afternoon. Please call Jeannane Mitchell at 152-7809 for more information.



Bodega sale to benefit ALMA

ALMA (Spanish for "soul") provides a home for seniors (both Mexican and non-Mexican) regardless of their ability to pay. ALMA presently gives loving care, clothing and meals to over 30 people. Most are poor Mexicans, although there are several American residents whose monthly payment for a private room helps subsidize the other residents. ALMA provides a wonderful service to the community and depends almost entirely on donations.

Each month volunteers hold a sale of donated goods at the ALMA bodega in La Lejona. Typically the proceeds of a sale cover the cost of utilities for a month, meaning that a little bit more can be spent on comfort and care for the residents. It's nice to know that attending the sale and buying an item or two makes a difference.

At the sale you will find an eclectic mix of clothing, shoes, household and electrical items, as well as books, posters and LPs-all at great prices! Free tours of the facility, with an English-speaking guide, are available during the bodega sale hours.

If you have not previously visited ALMA, it is worth going just to see the facilities, and the residents always appreciate seeing a new face, even if it's only to say "Buenos días." 

During sale hours, the ALMA van (a two-tone metallic blue/silver Chevy) will provide a shuttle service, departing approximately every half hour from opposite Espino's grocery (near the "Y" formed by Ancha San Antonio and calles Zacateros and Codo).

If you have items to donate to the sale, please call Rosalie Gower at 154-0186.

ALMA bodega sale
Saturday, March 4, 10am-1pm
ALMA, Jacarandas 148, Col. La Lejona

Purim, Judaism's fun-filled holiday
By Arie Arazi

There is truly no other holiday like Purim! Purim is Judaism's most dramatic, fun-filled holiday. When else can you dress up like a bunny rabbit and eat doughy triangles filled with prunes and poppy seeds? Purim occurs on the 14th of Adar, this year on March 14.

The main event of Purim is the reading of the Book of Esther on Purim night and again the next day. Set in Persia 2,300 years ago, the "Megillah" (as it is commonly called) recounts how a seemingly unrelated series of events spun together to save the Jewish people from annihilation. On Purim morning, we bustle around town visiting friends and delivering tasty treats: Mishloach Manot. Purim is the day we reach out to embrace others and give gifts of money to the poor. Then comes the day's grand finale: the festive meal. We eat our fill and pamper our bodies.

We dress up in costumes, to let our defenses down, and open up to the deeper reality of ourselves and our world. All our current problems and life's imperfections blend into good, until they become one unified expression of the Almighty's infinite perfection. 

In San Miguel we will be celebrating Purim with a reading of The Megillah followed by a grand party. There will be music and entertainment, including a short play (Purim Spiel) and, of course, Hamentaschen! We encourage all participants to strip away inhibitions and come dressed in creative costumes.

For reservations and more details, please call Dorit at 154-4235 or Joanne at 152-0018. To ensure that sufficient food will be provided for all, our chef would appreciate your early reservations, no later than March 10.

Purim celebration
Tuesday, March 14, 5pm
Hotel Quinta Loreto
150 pesos
Reservations by March 10