Roseway Waldorf

The children are told animal fables, those from Aesop, Lafontain, traditional African fables and others. These fables show the unique characteristics of each animal: the-regal lion, the cunning jackal, the foolish chicken, the wise owl. These characteristics are also found in the human community. As the teacher tells these stories, children are encouraged to make their own comparisons and judgments in a non-threatening way. Class Two is also the year the children are told stories of the Saints; for example St George and the Dragon, St Francis and the Wolf, St Kevin and the Birds, St Christopher etc. These show that spiritual strength is different from physical strength and has to be won in a different way. The children discover that certain human beings have overcome their weaknesses through the grace of self discipline and courage and have become examples to all humankind. Through these stories of animals and saints and those created by the teacher to characterize local hills, trees and animals, the truth of the different elements of the environment is imaginatively revealed to the children. In this way the feelings of reverence, love, wonder and gratitude for creation are evoked.