Foundation Studies, 2009 — 2011
The Foundation Studies Program explores aspects of human development and cultural
evolution as inspired by Rudolf Steiner. By bringing areas of human knowledge into
relationship with each other, we build a context for our personal experience and
find an inner ground of certainty in our lives. Transcending the belief that knowledge
arises in the thinking mind only, explorations in a variety of artistic activities
are central to the studies.
The path will include many subjects such as Inner Development, Life Phases, Temperaments,
Soul and Planetary Types, Physiology, Fairytales, Archetypes, Cycles of the Year,
Art History and Evolution of Consciousness, Music, Color and Form in Painting.
In the Foundation Studies Program we offer a transformative journey as we train the faculties needed to achieve an awareness of a unified whole. We will seek to
answer questions.... Who we are? What is our relationship to others, to nature and to the being of the Earth? How will we awaken to our right vocation? Where
are we in ourselves and the wider world? How can our creative thoughts and deeds influence world happenings and shape the future? It is an inner journey that will
bring us to ourselves and bring us out into the world.
Working with Rudolf Steiner's insights along with artistic activities and inner work, the Foundation Studies Program will explore the nature of the human being
- body, soul and spirit. We will work on our own biographies and seek the deeper meaning of life and strive to create new forms of practical work and community building.
The program will meet one Saturday a month with no classes in December but with an extended weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in January. The days will run from 9
am until 4:30 pm. Beginning in January a study group working with some of Rudolf Steiner's basic texts will meet at least once a month.
The program will be a two year commitment.
This program fulfills the requirements for Foundation Studies needed by the different
Waldorf teacher training programs.
Calendar
On Oct. 24, 4-6p.m., our first event will serve to come together. We will get to know each other through conversation and group exercises. The program will be introduced and there will be ample time for questions.
On Nov. 14, 10-12 a.m., our second event will be both a short introduction to the arts followed by artistic work.
On Dec. 17, 7:30-8 p.m., the Brooklyn Waldorf School will provide a special time dedicated to our group in order to walk the Advent Spira.
The Foundation Studies course will meet on the following dates
(9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.):
January 9, 2010
January 30, 2010
February 27, 2010
March 20, 2010
April 17, 2010
May 15, 2010
June 5, 2010
May 19, 2010
The Foundation Studies study group will take place on the following dates:
(7 p.m. - 9 p.m.):
January 13 and 27, 2010
February 10, 2010
March 3 and 17, 2010
April 7 and 21, 2010
May 5 and 19, 2010
Application and Fees
The cost of this two year program is $2,500 per year, plus a $50 registration fee and a $50 materials fee. To Apply, please download the registration form complete and mail it to:
Foundation Studies
The Brooklyn Waldorf School
126 St. Felix Street
Brooklyn NY 11217
Questions can be directed to Sono Kuwayama at foundationstudies@brooklynwaldorf.org
Faculty
Brigitte Bley—Swinston M.Ed., has worked for fifteen years as an adult educator in
the arts. For the past ten years she was part of the resident faculty of
Sunbridge College, NY, where she taught in the Foundation Studies,Teacher Education,
Early Childhood and Biographyand Social Art Programs. She received her education
as an art teacher in Berlin, Germany and is an alumna of the Teacher Education Program at Sunbridge
College. She taught high school art at the Rudolf Steiner School in New York. Brigitte continues to study and deepen her own artistry at the
Art Student League in New York City.
Jennifer Brooks Quinn is a biography counselor and Waldorf teacher at Green Meadow Waldorf School,
who has offered many courses and retreats in Mexico and the U.S. on
themes that arise from Rudolf Steiner's understanding of human
development and biography work. She was the director of the part-time
Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy at Sunbridge College for 10 years
and was a co-founder of Lifeways in Spring Valley.
Signe Schaefer directed Foundation Studies at Sunbridge College, a Waldorf
teacher training college in Spring Valley, NY, for over 20 years. She
continues to co-direct the part-time Biography and Social Art Program
at the College and also offers workshops and courses on various
questions of human development and anthroposophy, both nationally and
internationally, most recently in Thailand and China. She was a
co-author of 'Ariadne's Awakening: Taking up the Threads of
Consciousness', and co-editor of 'More Lifeways', a book on parenting.
She is very happy that her grandchildren are now students at The
Brooklyn Waldorf School.
