On Saturday 25th November 2017, I made a familiar journey through country lanes I know well, to a quiet little valley with a very special place in my heart.
For six years (1983 – 1989) it was the route taken by our school bus, to what was then known as ‘Perry Court – Rudolf Steiner School.’ In later years the name altered to ‘Canterbury Steiner School.’
The purpose of this particular journey? To say a fond farewell. For a variety of reasons beyond the scope of this post, attendance (at a place once known for its student waiting list) had dwindled to unsustainable levels. Combined with other financial pressures, continuing to teach at the existing site proved no longer viable.
It was truly heart-breaking to see my old school in its last throes. Many happy ghosts danced before my eyes, as I took one final stroll along the paths of yesterday.
As I write this, my former classmate, Beth May, is working with a committed group to launch ‘Canterbury New School’ at a site close by. It is my fervent hope and prayer they will succeed, that Steiner education may not perish from the garden of England. If you have a heart for such things or are a former pupil, I encourage you to take a look at their website and perhaps consider getting involved.
In ‘How to Know Higher Worlds: A Modern Path of Initiation,’ Steiner made one of his characteristically profound and highly quotable statements. As a sensitive man, it is a sentence with which I wholeheartedly agree:
‘Feelings are for the soul what food is for the body.’
In the spirit of that wonderful phrase, I will leave you with a simple video I put together. It includes my own reflections on the closure, and what the place means to me. Incorporated are some basic camcorder footage taken on the day, images from my own years there, plus a few other shots that can be found drifting around the Internet for the time being.
If you are watching on certain devices, it may not be viewable due to copyright restrictions with the music. I used a mix of beloved musical motifs by inspired soundtrack composer, Randy Edelman. Any standard laptop or desktop computer should not present a problem, but some mobile platforms may disallow it. If an advert pops up, this is due to the copyright holder monetizing the video in exchange for allowing use of their musical property. I am not making anything out of it, and posted the video simply as a blessing for anyone who wishes to enjoy such a memento.
With love now and always,
John.
“Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility – these three forces are the very nerve of education.”
Rudolf Steiner.
For six years (1983 – 1989) it was the route taken by our school bus, to what was then known as ‘Perry Court – Rudolf Steiner School.’ In later years the name altered to ‘Canterbury Steiner School.’
The purpose of this particular journey? To say a fond farewell. For a variety of reasons beyond the scope of this post, attendance (at a place once known for its student waiting list) had dwindled to unsustainable levels. Combined with other financial pressures, continuing to teach at the existing site proved no longer viable.
It was truly heart-breaking to see my old school in its last throes. Many happy ghosts danced before my eyes, as I took one final stroll along the paths of yesterday.
As I write this, my former classmate, Beth May, is working with a committed group to launch ‘Canterbury New School’ at a site close by. It is my fervent hope and prayer they will succeed, that Steiner education may not perish from the garden of England. If you have a heart for such things or are a former pupil, I encourage you to take a look at their website and perhaps consider getting involved.
In ‘How to Know Higher Worlds: A Modern Path of Initiation,’ Steiner made one of his characteristically profound and highly quotable statements. As a sensitive man, it is a sentence with which I wholeheartedly agree:
‘Feelings are for the soul what food is for the body.’
In the spirit of that wonderful phrase, I will leave you with a simple video I put together. It includes my own reflections on the closure, and what the place means to me. Incorporated are some basic camcorder footage taken on the day, images from my own years there, plus a few other shots that can be found drifting around the Internet for the time being.
If you are watching on certain devices, it may not be viewable due to copyright restrictions with the music. I used a mix of beloved musical motifs by inspired soundtrack composer, Randy Edelman. Any standard laptop or desktop computer should not present a problem, but some mobile platforms may disallow it. If an advert pops up, this is due to the copyright holder monetizing the video in exchange for allowing use of their musical property. I am not making anything out of it, and posted the video simply as a blessing for anyone who wishes to enjoy such a memento.
With love now and always,
John.
“Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility – these three forces are the very nerve of education.”
Rudolf Steiner.
Rudolf Steiner
