What does a healthy, successful school look like? Is it all about measurable outcomes, test scores, and pass/fail grades set by the government? Can learning be quantified in short-term measurements or does real learning take years to manifest in a career or biography? All seem to agree that a healthy school is also a community and that community depends on the quality of relationships—chiefly the relationships among students, teachers, and parents. This book features a comprehensive examination of the parent–teacher relationship in all its dimensions, from parent evenings and conferences to communication, conflict, and the life-cycle of parent involvement in their school. In between the chapters on practical advice are sections that consider the issues from a deeper, spiritual dimension. This book is intended to stimulate conversation, self-reflection, and relational practices that awaken community life in and around our schools.

This is a lively, colorful, and absorbing account of a class teacher's journey with his class, from first grade through the eighth grade in a Waldorf school. Straightforward and humorous, School as a Journey provides an excellent introduction to the daily activities of a Waldorf school classroom. Torin Finser --who is now Director of Waldorf Teacher Training at Antioch New England Graduate School --wrote this book especially for parents, prospective parents, and educators who are new to Waldorf education. Filled with pedagogical gems, tips, and resources, School as a Journey will also prove an invaluable resource for those who are currently Waldorf class teachers. For those who wish to delve more deeply into this revolutionary form of education, the author has also included extensive documentation, with references to the works of Rudolf Steiner and of others experienced in Waldorf education. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this revolutionary form of education.

School as a Journey is a lively, colorful, absorbing account of one Waldorf's teacher's journey with his class through the curriculum from first through eighth grades. A moving story, told in a straightforward, anecdotal, humorous style, it is and excellent introduction to what goes on inside the classroom of a Waldorf school. School as a journey was written with both parents and educators in mind. Filled with pedagogical gems, it will be an invaluable resource for understanding the practical implications of Rudolf Steiner's in sight into child development. Extensively documented, it can serve as a study text for anymone wishing to go deeper into the works of Rudolf Steiner and others experienced in Waldorf education.

The vocation of teaching has been under considerable pressure over the last several decades. Unions would push teachers to count hours and demand breaks and benefits, while every teacher's heart knows that students need attention that is difficult to count in hours or wages. Standardized tests and demands to prove their competence make teachers relinquish their own knowledge of the mysteries of child development and the need for compassion and grace. Torin Finser uses his decades of knowledge of teaching both children and aspiring teachers, and adults in many walks of life to describe full-heartedly how important the preparation of teachers is and how rich the possibilities for teachers to influence the coming generation. He thrills with the future teachers hold in potential through their teaching. This is a book worth reading and then considering, for everyone, not only for teachers or those wishing to become teachers. Our young carry the promise of the coming days, and how we speak to them, love them, teach them now, holds the future. Very few books deeply describe the importance of teacher preparation. This is a golden contribution to that library of insightful contemplation of this all important, and future-bearing calling - the call to teach!

First, one might ask: Why not just read the first three books? After all, Rudolf Steiner wrote them in such a way that the very act of reading them can awaken new faculties. Who could ever duplicate that? It might even seem presumptuous to select passages from books that were constructed by an initiate. To those who have these and other objections, I have the following response: My hope is that the pages in this book serve as an invitation, so that those who work with this material will then be motivated to go to the original texts and work with them more intensively. —Torin Finser

As a result of today's crisis in education, people are beginning to realize that schools involve far more than providing children with knowledge and skills. Schools are communities and, like all communities, may be healthy or unhealthy. School Renewal addresses the problems and challenges of a school community. Through the use of fairy tales, myths, and the personal experience of Waldorf education, Torin Finser describes how both teachers and parents can come to grips with common problems such as burnout, interpersonal conflicts, and the traps of routine. Most important, the author stresses that an educational community must come to terms with the many unseen dimensions of each individual. He shows how these little-understood aspects of the mind can be cultivated and nourished to keep the school and education alive. School Renewal does not offer formulas and slapdash solutions. Rather, it encourages a whole new way of thinking about education and personal growth - for children and for the adults who care about them. "...if one wish could be granted me on behalf of school renewal, I would ask for significant improvement in the quality of sleep afforded to parents and teachers. No other change has the potential to do more good than simply eliminating the state of chronic exhaustion found by the end of the week in most schools." "Torin Finser understands what it's like to deeply care about the education of our children. His message will be a healing balm for those open to his wise and practical counsel. I want to rush out and buy a copy of this book for every teacher and parent I know." --Eric Utne, founder of Utne Reader "Extremely accessible, down to earth, and full of very important insights. I highly recommend this book." --Dave Alsop, Chairman, Association of Waldorf Schools of North America "Splendid ... not just teachers, but parents, students, and just plain stressed-out citizens would benefit from the wisdom, information, and insight Finser offers." --Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child and Evolution's End "Wise guidance for those of us who want to be good stewards of our children and the schools that serve them." -- Parker J. Palmer, author of The Courage to Teach and Let Your Life Speak "An exciting and refreshing book for parents and teachers ... in his clear and concise writing, Torin has shown us how to bring common sense back to our schools." --Jim Grant, Executive Director, Staff Development for Educators "For Finser, school renewal is about self-development ... the suggestions offered here contribute to new ways of thinking about education and personal growth. Highly recommended for school administrators, teachers, community groups, and parents." --Library Journal "Shows that a healthy school community is one that is able to recognize and work with the problems that can mar even the most liberal and creative educational systems: burnout, stress, and interpersonal conflict." --NAPRA Review