Lakeside School: From Mud to New Blossoms

Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm offers birth – 2nd grade (soon to be 3rd grade) education based on the Waldorf philosophy on a working farm in Essex, NY.

As I write this, outside there is a crusty thick layer of ice and snow covering the earth. Though the sun is bright and unfailingly rising earlier each day, the temperature still reads -14 degrees on my way to work today. If it were not for the new energy and burgeoning growth of each child in the Kindergarten I may have lost all hope that Spring will soon arrive. It takes a lot of Faith and Trust to believe that under this dormant cold, and frozen ground there are seeds laying in waiting for the nurturing of the sun and the moisture of the snow melt and rains to come. These seeds are readying to burst forth with new growth. This is much like the Faith we must foster for the natural development of each child in the Kindergarten.

We can learn a lot from the seasons and their rhythms. If we observe a child’s cycles of development, we may experience the mirroring of earthly cycles. In winter we all need the rest, quiet and inner time to gather and renew our strength. This restful period is absolutely necessary for the opportunity for new growth. It is truly a mystery what lies within a protected seed coat, silent and sleeping under the earth. What will this transform into in coming months? This same mystery and questioning can be expressed about the dormant capabilities and unique characteristics laying in waiting in each child.

After this dark and dormant time we must not forget a season unto itself; MUD SEASON! Mixed up in all the glory of spring is the Mud! MUD the earthy element that is quite messy, unpredictable, and comes in many forms. These adjectives can easily be applied to a child’s development. The battle between the archetypal characters of King Winter, Mrs. Thaw and Lady Spring can go on for months, with serious backslides to former seasons, and leaps forward promising to bring green grass overnight. This work of growing and transforming is never linear and can be quite disorganized and messy. In the end, we can be assured that Spring will come. The snow will be a distant memory and the green will cover the landscape again. We can also be assured that each of the children will be strengthened by each of their battles, wading through some mucky paths, they will emerge with new blossoms of spring.

Written by Robin Gucker – Kindergarten Teacher