Why participate in the friendship initiative?
There are many good reasons to create a Friendship School Initiative. Our main focus is how a Friendship School Initative can give a broad and rich pedegogical experience for our children.
1. Creating friendships between children from different countries
We grow as human beings through the cultivation of friendships. It is an important lesson to learn that a child is a child, not so different from yourself. Even though they come from a differt country, speak a different language it is possible to play together and understand one another.
2. Contribute to a better understanding of cultural differences.
Through the FSI a bridge can be built between different cultures as well as the cultivating of a true interest and appreciation for our human differences. This type of knowledge and insight can have a huge, positive impact upon the childs maturing process and understanding of what it means to being willing for his/her fellow mankind.
3. Motivation to learn a foreign language.
The interest and motivation for learning a language that is achieved by speaking and writing to a friend living in a foreign country makes it possible for the children to achieve better results in both spoken and written languages than by ordinary lessons.
4. Interest in world geography
Imangine getting a letter from a friend living in a different corner" of the globe! Where the children have a different, maybe very different, school day. A different lifestyle! Think about being able to write something interesting about your daily life, your school, family, etc. How our culture and language helps us to create the ideas we have about ourselves, our identity and self esteem.
5. A visit between two Friendship schools
There are few things more exciting for a school class than traveling to another country, or receiving a visit from a class from another country. This kind of a class trip can, of course be expensive, but can be an experience one carries with them their whole life!
6. Teachers might find new insight.
Teachers from different countries have different experiences and knowledge, that might contribute to new insight and knowledge, that the childen might benefit from.
The International Steiner Waldorf Parents Network (ISWPN),
www.waldorfparents.net,
webmaster
waldorfparents.net
