Tease, Torment, Bully

For this issue of Erziehungskunst, I spoke with Martin, a Waldorf father who experienced bullying and arbitrary treatment by teachers at a Waldorf school as a child. Today, he is involved in the parents' council at the same school. It was very moving for me to hear how he managed to come to terms with years of helplessness and how he is now able to talk about the past. 

According to a survey by Techniker Krankenkasse, one in six schoolchildren experiences bullying, often in the form of cyberbullying today. Adults must respond, closely examine the behavior, and work together—students, parents, and teachers—to find solutions. Bullying is violence. It is usually a group behavior, repeated, deliberate harassment, insults, or exclusion. It's about power. When others laugh when I insult someone, it encourages me to do it again. A school social worker in Berlin told Anne Brockmann how he responds when students are bullied. The author Astrid Frank urges all schools to address this issue, as preventive work in schools offers the best opportunity for a society that protects all individuals and strengthens the sense of community. Anne Brockmann also spoke with Kirsten Heberer, the contact person for mobbing at the Association of Waldorf Schools in Germany. She sees a connection between the occurrence of bullying and the decision-making and power structures at Waldorf schools. Neither an authoritarian nor an absolute laissez-faire style is helpful, she says, but rather collegial cooperation on an equal footing – with responsibilities, room for development, and transparency.

I would also like to draw your attention to Heidi Käfer's article on the new English literature published by the Pedagogical Research Center. Martyn Rawson proposes a three-stage model for teacher training in Waldorf schools: beginners, qualified teachers, and master teachers. Holger Grebe, a teacher in Balingen, invited his Israeli colleague Ofer Sagie to his class, giving his students the opportunity to meet a contemporary witness of the Middle East conflict.

I hope you enjoy reading this and wish you a people-friendly March.