Opting In to Experiential Education

Henry shared three ways that students can opt-in at High Mowing.

Lean in to Hands-on Learning

While art is a foundation of Waldorf education, hands-on learning goes well beyond artistic projects. Teachers create opportunities for students to experience the feeling of a subject, from history to mathematics.

What did it feel like to make a scientific discovery?

What does it feel like to live in another culture or during another time?

Henry described a class that "involved using toy bows on bicycles to recreate the hunting and fighting styles of ancient Mongolia." Learning by doing is often a full-body experience. In the case of the lesson about hunting in Mongolia, to engage the core muscles required for balance while aiming with precision at a target was a profound lesson about the skills that led to the rise of an ancient culture.

Build Relationships with Your Teachers

Waldorf teachers push students out of their comfort zones, yet teachers are also their biggest supporters. Henry noted that "the teachers and staff members are here for you and want you to succeed. No one is rooting for you as much as they are."

Henry described a journey that began with a math teacher who encouraged him to try out chorus, a subject that he wasn't particularly drawn to. Eventually he found himself singing and dancing in the annual musical production. And what's more, he enjoyed it!

The deep trust that develops between students and their teachers lays the groundwork for students to show up to class knowing that every lesson may challenge them to engage in a new way. In doing so, they learn new things about themselves and who they want to be in this world.

Embrace the Diversity on Campus

As the only Waldorf boarding high school in North America, High Mowing School attracts students from across the United States and around the world. This diversity allows students to be exposed to one another's ideas, beliefs, and traditions. When students share from their own experience, they deepen the learning experience for everyone while also clarifying who they want to be in this world.

Choosing a close-knit learning community with a huge amount of diversity requires a balance of strength and vulnerability, both in and out of the classroom. From clubs to elective classes, opportunities abound to explore new things alongside different groups of people. Yet, trying something new may be scary or difficult at first.

Henry encouraged his classmates that trying something outside your comfort zone is worth it.  "Join that club or create a new one," he advised. "Try out for a team or go to the sidelines to cheer on our amazing athletes. Participate. The opportunities are here, and it is up to you to find, create, and use them."

You can watch Henry’s full speech here.