Mandy Irwin felt an immediate rapport with the system at Michael Park School. Photo / Graeme Sedal
Where: AUT North Shore campus, ph 0800 AUT UNI (288 864), website www.autuni.ac.nz, email: courseinfo@autac.nz
Course length: Three years full-time / maximum six years part-time
Course cost (2007): approx $4185
Starting date: July 21, 2008
Application deadline: June 27, 2008
Prerequisite: Certain NCEA/Cambridge levels required
Starting salary: approx $40.5K
Career opportunities: Graduates can work in Steiner Schools or state primary schools, and teach overseas Steiner
Steiner education is one of the world's fastest growing, independent school systems. It is based on Austrian Dr Rudolf Steiner's work integrating a holistic cognitive, affective and experiential approach to teaching and learning.
The arts are an important medium for engaging and enriching learning. This can lead to
the misconception that Steiner education suits the more artistically inclined, but not so, says Gaylene Denford-Wood, former senior lecturer in education at AUT. Steiner education aims to challenge every child to realise their true potential whether the child be "gifted", "special needs" or somewhere within the broad spectrum that constitutes "the norm"; and whether the child's inclination is towards science or mathematics, languages, history, the arts or physical education.
AUT introduced the B Ed Steiner (Primary) Teaching degree in 2005. As well as the generic content in literacy, child development, psychology and pedagogy, Steiner graduates have additional understanding of constitutional types and temperaments and how learning and teaching can best cater for these characteristics. They have also learned to "take themselves on" in terms of their reflective practice. It becomes personally rewarding and professionally stimulating.
THE TEACHER
Mandy Irwin, 28.
Class two teacher at Michael Park Rudolf Steiner School, Ellerslie.
Graduated 2006
I originally signed up to study Montessori primary through AUT and then the Steiner option became available. I didn't know about the Steiner education system until I visited Michael Park School. I knew right then that not only did I want to major in Steiner but I wanted to work at the school. I found it was more my style dealing with the whole child and moral and social learning. They believe it is as important as academic learning.
Last year I taught class one with about 30 7&45;year&45;olds and in 2008 will have the same group in class two.
Each year has a theme. Last year I used fairytales so when we did maths we introduced the four operations through telling stories that I made up about four little gnomes. There was Mr Plus, Mr Minus, Mr Times and Mr Divide. Children use creativity and have that idea in their imagination; it's giving them a pictorial image of the learning. We also do a lot of the New Zealand curriculum.
A unique feature of Steiner is that teachers stay with the same group of children &45; for at least four years. And we have a lot of parental involvement at Steiner schools.
AUT gave me a foundation of Steiner education, the theories of anthroposophy (research into wisdom of man) and the ideas behind teaching it.
It also gave me a good opportunity for hands on and student teaching experiences, as Michael Park School accepts only students from this programme.
What I liked about AUT was the flexibility to cope with studying and daily life and they planned the university time for maximum benefit. There were small classes so it could cater for our needs. And no exams, which is a big thing because I'm not too good with exams.
Next year I will start on a part&45;time, two&45;year, in&45;service certificate of Rudolf Steiner education for practising teachers; and it's taught at Taruna, in Hawkes Bay. We do extramural study to give us more teaching knowledge.
THE PRINCIPAL
Dee Whitby, principal, Michael Park Rudolf Steiner School
Mandy was absolutely the best possible candidate for the position. She came well grounded with the AUT training. You could see that she had learnt to transfer her theory into practical knowledge. She has a real connection with the children and she was able to transfer that into teaching and learning. She fitted right in.
With Steiner, like any teacher, the basics are the same.
You are looking for someone who is passionate about the profession, committed to being part of a child's learning and to walk alongside them while they become lifelong learners.
To be a Steiner teacher is to have a real understanding of the curriculum as related to child development. It is important that everything meets where the child is at; and Mandy understands that. And being committed to partnership with parents.
AUT targets what a student's individual needs and strengths and challenges are.
All the lectures, all the workshops are personalised. They have smaller groups. Contemporary research is brought into practical work for the students and the tutors work with them to put it into practice in the classroom.
