WECAN Conference: Black Lives Matter
The 2021 WECAN (Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America) conference theme was: Black Lives Matter in the Waldorf Early Childhood Classroom and Communities.
Our early childhood team attended this conference, and share their thoughts with us here.
Aliya Birdoff
Cedar Rose Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
For as long as I’ve been a part of Waldorf communities, I have been given the implicit (and sometimes explicit) message that social justice and anthroposophy conflict with each other. There has been an idea that in order to protect childhood, we don’t want to awaken young children too soon with too much information. We want to ensure that the young child experiences the world as good. These notions have led to not addressing issues of race, gender, class, and identity with young children out of the assumption that these concepts are somehow awakening to them.
After this conference, I feel assured that this narrative is changing in the Waldorf community. By the age of 3 years old, children have already internalized racial and gender narratives. By encouraging identity development, we are not awakening them to something they do not already recognize. It is the responsibility of the adult to interrupt the systems and stories already internalized by young children.
Julie Sauton
Sunflower Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Class
It’s hard to put in words what this conference meant to me. There were so many golden nuggets that it’s hard to choose even just a few, so I will attempt to capture what it meant to me as a whole. It was a profound experience to have WECAN acknowledge and show accountability for the experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQA+ colleagues and families in our schools. It was inspiring and insightful to hear a keynote speaker whose work is built on the tenets of antiracism, social justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement. I was so moved to have my identity, ideals, and beliefs being celebrated and acknowledged in this Waldorf movement that is so close to my heart. It has brought me to a pivotal point in my career as a Waldorf teacher; to bring my full self, taking risks and “growing my edge,” and holding everyone in our community with compassion and love.
There’s no denying that we’re all living in a new world, and what better way to guide our children into it than with bravery, humility, and compassion.
Cecelia McClellan
Juniper Connected Learning Class
This year’s WECAN conference was themed “Toward a kinder, more compassionate society: Black Lives Matter in Early Childhood Classrooms and Communities,” with keynote speaker Lalena Garcia.
Never could I have imagined that this type of conference would ever be offered during my teaching career or lifetime. All those who organized this event held a deep capacity of understanding where and how our pedagogy and practices are in desperate need of reforming and reorganizing.
WECAN, as an umbrella of early childhood teachers in Waldorf schools, took every opportunity to be accountable for, humble enough, and truthful of shortcomings. It was beautiful to witness the incredible courage and willingness to be vulnerable and to GROW!
Just as eyes and hearts all over the world have been opened, leaders in Waldorf education are also deeply looking at how we can grow, change, and transform our offerings to the children. As early childhood teachers, we are always looking to “our children.” A big part of our job is in our own inner reflection: How could I have answered that differently? How can I do better tomorrow?
For our umbrella of WECAN to take up this responsibility as a whole is nothing short of courageous and exciting. What has been unspoken for many years is now coming into light.
One of the panel discussions was on “liberating the black crayon.” As I entered into my teacher training in 1999, I remember the whiteness and paleness and pinkness of how things were presented. Being one of a few POC teachers, I think that “back in the day” I did my best just to fit in. Thankfully, I always had freedom in my own classroom, and always pushed the edge in bringing a diverse, culturally inclusive curriculum.
For all of us teachers, this is just the beginning for growth and development and it will take each one of us to dedicate ourselves to continuing to educate ourselves, seek ourselves and our truth, and to better know ourselves. To be a part of the movement during this pivotal moment brings me great pride to continue to be part of the Waldorf early childhood movement.
Overall, this conference has brought me into another training, a call to action. I recently enrolled in a follow-up conference with Lalena Garcia called “Rooted 2021: Framework and Education for Creating an Antiracist Environment for Children.” This course also inspired me to sign up for another conference later in March through Sunbridge College called “Calling it Like it Is: Uncovering and Dismantling Racism in the Waldorf Movement.”
Doing my part with love and honesty!
Saara Fahey
Huckleberry Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Celebrate joy! The diverse world in which we live is beautiful. A celebratory approach to diversity and inclusivity in early childhood resonated deeply with me. The language we use, stories, books, art work, and relevant festivals are ways to ensure our classrooms and the content we provide are representative of the wider world in which we live.
Don’t try to change everything at once. Choose one thing, and learn to bring it authentically before adding something else.