Su Rubinoff has been an Early Childhood educator at MWS for more than 25 years and has completed an in-depth training in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation and Mediation at URI. With families already facing unprecedented challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Su used one of her regular parent letters to offer support in addressing tensions arising from the recent terrible events in Minneapolis and elsewhere.

Waldorf education was born in 1919 in response to the trauma and social upheaval of WWI. While teachers of older students might speak with their classes about difficult social issues, a different approach is needed with younger children. In this letter, Su uses her expertise in teaching children aged 3 – 6 years to share how parents can best support the continued healthy development of their child.

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

~ Nelson Mandela

Dear Friends,

I am so shook up by what is occurring in our country. A lot is being asked of you these days; to be parents, teachers, and now you need to be present for your child in a way that you rarely have needed to before. How do we, as adults, process the events of this past week?

As with many things we are careful with what we say to the young child, because they are not little adults, but so often they pick up our inner mood. I have to believe the world is good and that is what I want to pass along to the children. I want to give them hope! I have seen and heard images of hope, even amidst the terrible scenes unfolding around the world, and those are what I am holding on to.

We work with kindness daily at Meadowbrook and certainly in our class. While we do not presently have a lot of racial diversity, we still plant the seeds, either overtly or through being a role model worthy of imitation. We end of our circle time every day by saying this verse together:

Kind hearts are the gardens

Kind thoughts are the roots

Kind words are the blossoms

Kind deeds are the fruits.

The values of understanding, cooperation, listening, being inclusive, and so much more are alive in Morning Glory. Even our  very youngest children quickly learn our customs; if there is a problem, get help, (when another wants to join) ‘there is always room for one more’, and treat others the way you want to be treated. This is their foundation and I am hopeful it will grow with them through their lives.

But we all need to be doing better as humans, now! I want to change the world which is why I became a teacher, and it is so hard to do while I am at home and not with your wonderful children. I don’t know what your children are aware of, or what questions they are asking, but I am here to support you. To listen and try to figure this out. Together.

Take good care and remember to feed yourself, literally and figuratively!