As parents ourselves, we were constantly confronted with these questions:
What is the purpose of education?
What is the point in a child spending 6+ hours in school every day?
What kind of education today would best prepare our children for tomorrow’s world?
In searching for a suitable kindergarten, the two of us separately stumbled upon a place where the pastel colors, sunlit classrooms, aromatic bakery, and, most importantly, gentle and loving teachers together formed the most wonderful setting for our children’s pre-school years. We had the privilege of observing the amazing growth of our children at a Waldorf kindergarten, which inspired a profound appreciation of Waldorf education in each of us.
As we studied Rudolf Steiner’s wide range of insights, we became motivated to set up a Waldorf primary school in our beloved birthplace.
Waldorf education was founded on the insights of Rudolf Steiner, an early 20th century Austrian philosopher. This approach emphasizes observing and meeting the physical, emotional, and intellectual developmental needs of a child with loving devotion. The curriculum and school life are arranged so that there is a correlation between what a child experiences as his/her own inner and outer growth and what is experienced in the classroom and school.
The first Waldorf school was founded by Steiner in Stuttgart, Germany, at the request of the owner of Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory. As more and more parents discover this unique approach, their enthusiasm for Waldorf education came to fuel one of the fastest growing independent school movements in the world.
Given the hectic pace of urban life, we believe that Waldorf education is especially relevant for children in today’s Hong Kong. We invite you to join us in bringing this unique pedagogical approach to Hong Kong. Please subscribe to our news or contact us at info@iws.edu.hk.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Maggie Chan & Sharon Tsui
Co-founders of Island Waldorf School of Hong Kong