Growing Older Happens Incidentally

It is a constant process of contraction and growth, full of questions, doubts, attempts, and occasional mistakes. This issue is about growing older and how, among others, a school doctor, a teacher, and a mother deal with this phenomenon. «Parents» (in German: Eltern) not only sounds like «growing older» (in German Ältern), but that is exactly where the word comes from. Since the early Middle Ages, it has been used in German to describe those who precede the child in terms of age and experience. In this definition, parenthood is not tied to biology, but is always a question of role modeling, care, and taking responsibility. 
Our colleague Ann-Katrin Neundorf, on the other hand, spoke with biological parents who had their first child while still in school.

The contributions in this issue reflect this diversity, and our cover image, a self-portrait by Leopold Gröber from the Neue Waldorfschule Dresden, poignantly illustrates the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The texts show how children and young people develop, how delicate their emotional processes are, and how necessary it is for adults to be attentive and at the same time to act with restraint. They make it clear that parenthood means not only responsibility for the outer life, that is food, security, education, but also for the inner space: for trust, freedom, and orientation. This dimension is particularly evident in Waldorf education. Here, education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about a shared path of development. Parents and teachers are partners in the task of creating a space for children to resonate in which independence can grow.

This issue of Erziehungskunst also covers many other important topics. For example, Eva Wörner, chair of Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen (Association of Independent Waldorf Schools in Germany), calls for all schools to address past cases of abuse or violence. 
I spoke to her about this, and she also addresses it in her Publisher's View. Ann-Katrin Neundorf interviewed Christine Laude and talked to her about bullying and how adults should deal with it.

I wish you a leafy and eventful November!