Tucson Waldorf School is Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Denounces Racism Found in Waldorf Education’s History.
As such, we, the Tucson Waldorf School Community, agree wholeheartedly with the following position statements of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA):
- Waldorf schools and institutes embrace respect for human rights and for the diversity of humankind, and we believe that valuing and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion comprise a journey of both moral and educational importance.
- Through our commitment to social justice, we recognize the value of addressing the historical context and the endemic nature of racism and inequality.
- As cultural institutions rooted in our communities, we strive to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion through healthy policies and practices.
- We hold the dignity of life and the human being at the center of our work. Any speculations made by Steiner on skin color or ethnicity that are in contradiction to this principle are not the basis for Waldorf education and we unequivocally denounce such statements.
- We are committed to understanding the role of racism and the undermining of human dignity in our society and to strengthening our practices to contribute to the eradication of injustice.
- As Waldorf educators we hold the dignity of life and the human being at the center of our work. It is our responsibility to bear witness to what is happening in the world, to elevate the voices of marginalized people, to change the course of inequities, and to break down structural prejudice in all forms where it exists, particularly in Waldorf education.
Tucson Waldorf School accepts the invitation to join AWSNA in exploring the following questions and elevating our own commitments to racial justice:
- How do I participate, consciously or unconsciously in systemic racism?
- What meaningful actions will I take in service to the leadership and agency of people of color
- Where are the possibilities for me to prioritize racial justice in my work to further Waldorf education?
Join us in our work: We invite all members of the Tucson Waldorf community including parents and guardians, faculty and staff, board members, and alumni families to join us in our work. Whether you would like to share a story, ask for support, help us broaden our work throughout the community, join our study group, or attend a meeting – you are welcome. To let us know your interest or to learn more contact the DEI Committee at [email protected].
Tucson Waldorf School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee & Study Group
DEI Committee: The DEI Committee was established by the Board of Trustees in June 2020 and is in the process of being chartered through all realms of the school (Board of Trustees, College of Teachers, Administration & Parent Council). DEI Committee meetings are held once a month and are open to all members of our community. If you are interested in joining our meetings, please contact [email protected]
DEI Study Group: The DEI study group began in the fall of 2019 and is open to any interested community member. For the 2020-2021 year we will be focusing on free resources such as podcasts and online articles. This will allow us to be adaptable to the needs of our school, local, state and/or national communities. Contact [email protected] if you feel moved or inspired to join the study group.
History: Starting in 2018 the Early Childhood (now Playgarden) Faculty participated in a year-long diversity study resulting in an awakening that has inspired several Playgarden and Grades faculty members in enriching their own journey in DEI work both inside and outside the classroom.
During a summertime faculty in-service, Tucson Waldorf School invited Dr. Joaquin Munoz to speak about diversity and Waldorf Education. Dr. Munoz is a long-time friend of TWS whose research and teaching specializes in culturally relevant pedagogy as well as Waldorf Education.
In 2019 the Tucson Waldorf School MORE Committee initiated a diversity study that was reported at a Town Hall and a Diversity Study group was formed. ed above, copies of these books may be checked out from the lending library by contacting [email protected]
From the need expressed within the community, and with an eye towards strategic planning, in the Spring of 2020 the Board President made diversity a Board Priority and directed that a DEI Committee be created and chartered through all the realms (Board of Trustees, College of Teachers, Administration and Parent Council).
Join us in our work: We invite all members of the Tucson Waldorf community including parents and guardians, faculty and staff, board members, and alumni families to join us in our work. Whether you would like to share a story, ask for support, help us broaden our work throughout the community, join our study group, or attend a meeting – you are welcome. To let us know your interest or to learn more contact the DEI Committee at [email protected].
The DEI Committee and Study Group at Tucson Waldorf School acknowledges that the lands on which we teach, learn, grow, and thrive are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Hohokam, the Tohono O’odham and the Pascua Yaqui peoples who have been enriching this land for thousands of years. We are grateful to learn from the lifeways these Indigenous peoples have developed through the labor of their hearts, hands, and minds over the centuries. We acknowledge the historical injustices perpetrated on Indigenous people, that colonialism is still an ongoing process, and we strive to be mindful of our own participation.