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N E WS
The Hawthorne Valley School
Fe b r u a r y, 2 0 0 4
B
WA L D O R F
EDUCATION
F O R H E A D,
H E A R T,
HIGH SCHOOL
Students
AND HANDS
The generation graduating from high school in
EMBRACE this post-millennial era is a group unlike any of
Socially Responsible its predecessors. They are
the first generation to have
BUSINESS grown up since the Internet became the global
conduit of information. And they are coming of
age in a time of unprecedented globalization—one
marked by global conflict, environmental worries,
and economic uncertainty.
I n s i d e
Letters 2
In the Grades 3
School News 7
Compassion in War 10
Parents at HVS 12
Events of Interest 13
Classified 15
ECONOMICS TEACHER GARY LAMB AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TACKLE
SERIOUS GLOBAL ISSUES. THROUGH THEIR STUDIES OF A DAM SMITH,
K ARL M ARX, AND RUDOLF STEINER, STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT THE
CONCEPTUAL BASIS OF CAPITALISM, SOCIALISM, AND ASSOCIATIVE ECONOMICS.
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Hawthorne Valley School News
Yet many of this generation receive be overwhelmed by it. My goal with
little opportunity during school to this course is to give them enough
Resources for
consider how they could help solve knowledge of mainstream economic further Study
some of these urgent challenges. structures and alternatives so that they
Studies have shown that this group, can begin to understand what is going FAIR TRADE
dubbed by pollsters as the “e- on and feel that they can eventually Alternative Trade Organizations are
generation,” is imbued with important make a difference in the world.” commited to work directly
qualities: optimism, confidence, with indigenous peoples and to
and high values regarding civic duty, I THINK ABOUT IT market their products directly
morality, and diversity. As they face to end consumers.
EVERY DAY
their college years or the prospect of EQUAL EXCHANGE ~ This worker-
entering the workforce directly, they
are interested in making a difference.
This situation inspired Gary Lamb,
T he students worked together in
groups of five to create their
business plans, which they presented
owned cooperative pioneered Fair
Trade. www.equalexchange.com
THE FAIR TRADE FEDERATION ~
a high school teacher at Hawthorne to an audience of faculty, parents, The FTF works to educate cus-
Valley School in Columbia County, and others in the school community. tomers about the importance of
to develop an intensive course in All the students found the course fairly traded products. www.fair
economics that focused not just on invigorating and eye-opening. tradefederation.com
how to be productive but also how to “Most people don’t get to learn GLOBAL EXCHANGE ~ This Inde-
be socially responsible in the process. this side of economics in school,” pendent non-profit works to edu-
For four weeks this fall, the students said Stephanie Hartka, whose group cate and advocate work around
at this independent Waldorf school developed a business plan for the international social justice issues.
investigated the main features of “Rise Up Café,” a combination café, www.global exchange.org
capitalism and socialism, and then music shop and bookstore with space TRANSFAIR USA ~ This non-profit
looked into emerging alternative eco- and programs for young and old to third party fair trade certifier
nomic movements such as fair trade attend concerts, discussion groups, authenticates that coffee has been
distribution, community supported art exhibits, and lectures. Their purchased in accordance with FLO
agriculture, community land trusts, proposed environmental policy for standards. www.fairtradeusa.org
associative economics, and socially the enterprise includes provisions
responsible investment. They visited for the installation of solar panels on COMMUNITY-
a local factory, heard guest speakers their building to generate renewable SUPPORTED
on alternative business models, and
created business plans for socially
energy and the use of recycled paper AGRICULTURE
products whenever possible. The café
responsible enterprises including a would favor local farmers and fair AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST
windmill manufacturer, community- A public policy research center
trade suppliers for its ingredients.
jointly created by American Farm-
building restaurants and coffee shops, The Café’s profits would go partly to land trust and Northern Illinois
an advertising agency, and a stringed a donor fund to support arts programs University in 1991 helps to protect
instrument manufacturer that trains in public schools, scholarships for America’s agricultural lands and
and employs socially disadvantaged students who attend private schools, to encourage healthy farming
individuals. and tuition support for employees and practices. www.farmlandinfo.org
“Students who are about to grad- patrons who attend college. ROBYN VAN EN CENTER FOR CSA
uate are often equally apprehensive “Before this course, I thought RESOURCES ~ This organization fac-
and excited,” said Mr. Lamb. “They economics studies sounded really ilitates connections to further the
are very attuned to both the good boring,” said Ms. Hartka. “But it isn’t success of CSA’s. www. csacenter.org
and bad in the world, and as a at all! I’ve become so conscious of
consequence, sometimes there is LOCAL FOOD WORKS fosters
how and what I consume, and how sustainable local food systems
tension in their souls as they struggle important it is to know what you through the development of local
to understand the social problems are fueling or supporting as a daily food networks. www.localfood
they see and to figure out what they consumer. Economics is every-day works.org
can do about them. They can easily life. I’ll definitely study it in college, if
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Hawthorne Valley School News
there is somewhere where I can learn at fair prices that really support
SOCIALLY this kind of economics.” them and their families, usually far
RESPONSIBLE According to the Global Entre- above market levels. He also spoke
INVESTMENT preneurship Monitor, more than 1500
four-year universities and colleges
to us about their worker-owned
cooperative structure of the business.
& BUSINESS now offer entrepreneurship classes, The students really like to meet and
compared with only 450 such course hear about creative people doing
THE RUDOLF STEINER FOUNDA- since 1997. But, apart from ethics innovative things out of a concern for
TION creates social benefit through classes, there is little available on others rather than merely working out
global services that include philan- alternative economic and business of self-interest.”
thropic management, community
models.
investment, lending, grantmaking,
advising, and educational programs. Mr. Lamb is aware of this CREATING A PERSONAL
www.rsfoundation.org and, consequently, is working on RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
developing college-level courses and WORKERS AND
ASSOCIATIVE ECONOMICS NET- programs in alternative economics.
WORK offers seminars, publications THEIR WORK
and courses, and research into He is discussing possible courses with
the nature and tasks of modern
economic life. www.associative.eco
nomics.com
colleges both locally and in Central
America. “My students often want
to continue learning about alternative
F or Hawthorne Valley senior Jonah
Thomas, the process of deciding
what business to create grew easily
SOCIAL INVESTMENT FORUM ~ This economic approaches when they go out of the creative inspiration the
national nonprofit membership to college.” he said, “But I am finding course provided. His group devised
organization promoting the con- that most business and economic a stringed-instrument manufacturer,
cept, practice and growth of soc- courses are not really up to date with
ially responsible investing. www. the new and innovative activities
socialinvest.org happening right now. They seem to
BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSI- focus on what worked in the past, not
BILITY (BSR) is a global organ- what is needed for the future.”
ization that helps member com- Drawing upon 25 years in business
panies achieve success in ways and not-for-profit administration,
that respect ethical values, people, Lamb also gives workshops on global-
communities and the environment. ization for adults interested in learning
www.bsr.org about sustainable development and
socially responsible business.
Lamb believes that we need to
IN THE VALLEY examine new models. “They exist,”
HAWTHORNE VALLEY ASSOCIATION he explained. “Creative companies
& HAWTHORNE VALLEY FARM ~ like Equal Exchange, a $13 million
HVA promotes cultural renewal company that pioneered the Fair Trade
through education, agriculture, movement, are proving that new
and the arts. www.hawthornevalley economic models can be both socially
farm.org responsible and economically viable.
GARY LAMB ~ Associative eco- One of their staff came to speak to our
nomics consultant, teacher, author. high-school class about how fair trade Guest speaker Kevin Hollender of Equal
Email: garylamb@usadatanet.net distributors are purchasing coffee Exchange, explained the Fair Trade
TUROSE GIFT SHOPPE ~ Offers from farmers in developing countries movement that his company helped create.
Fair Trade gift items from around
the world. 518-672-0052
“IN SO MANY BUSINESSES TODAY, THE WORKER HAS NO
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORK THEY DO.”
JONAH THOMAS, HVS SENIOR
3
Hawthorne Valley School News HAWTHORNE VALLEY SCHOOL NEWS
330 ROUTE 21C, GHENT, NY 12075
518-672-7092
www.hawthornevalleyschool.org
Published monthly for our students,
parents and grandparents, and for faculty,
alumni, and others interested in
staying abreast of the mission and
activities of Hawthorne Valley School.
Hawthorne Valley News strives to:
1. Enhance understanding of Waldorf
education at Hawthorne Valley School
2. Expand interest in and understanding
of the School’s mission and governance
3. Provide practical information about
School activities, needs and goals
4. Publish examples of work of students,
faculty, alumni, and others associated
with the School
5. Recognize and encourage community
Students produced and presented business plans volunteerism
for five socially-responsible businesses, 6. Give voice to the talents within the
community
and drew their own logos for each company.
Editor: Janet A. Cross 518-851-3580,
jcross@crossworldnetwork.com
Art Director: Jan Melchior, 845-642-3720
City Strings, based in Oakland, CA. see the end product and be proud of jhmelchior@optonline.net
The business centered on recreating it. In so many businesses today, the Committee: George Riley, Development
a modern version of European guilds, worker has no personal relationship Director, Regine Shemroske, Enrollment
Director, Richard Caro, Development
where inner-city individuals without to the work they do.” Associate, Candace Bachrach, Faculty Chair,
many employment opportunities could According to Thomas, Lamb’s Naomi Klavun, Faculty Liaison,
gain employment as apprentices and introduction to capitalist and socialist Bonnie Bell, Assistant Faculty Liaison
become true craftsmen and women, economics were good grounding for SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
producing violins, violas, cellos, an exploration of new and creative Hawthorne Valley News is published the
first week of each month, September
basses, and guitars, mostly from wood alternatives. At the end of the course through June. We invite readers to submit
produced in a City-Strings-owned tree block, the students were hungry for articles for consideration that relate to
farm. The business would be windmill- more. school activities and events. Hawthorne
Valley School reserves all editorial rights,
powered and would recycle heavily, Fellow student, Aiola Komenda including the right to reject any material it
right down to wood scraps transformed agreed. Her group devised a con- deems unsuitable for publication. Editorial
sulting and advertising agency called and advertising submission deadlines for
into children’s building blocks. Winter-Spring 2004 are as follows:
Employees and their families would Open Your Eyes, whose mission was to
educate the public about the socially RELEASE DATE ADS DUE EDITORIAL DUE
participate in cultural field trips, and February 5 January 19 January 19
long-term employees would eventually conscious companies it serves. Its March 4 February 19 February 23
share in the ownership of the firm. out-of-the gate client roster included April 1 March 19 March 19
“The idea of what the firm City Strings, Rise Up Café, and the other May 29 April 19 April 19
May 27 May 12 May 14
would build was secondary to our student creations from the course.
Ms. Komenda, who intends to All submissions are due by the deadline at 9
intent to elevate the consciousness am. They should be typed and delivered in
of the workers and offer them the major in social work and minor in hardcopy and on floppy disk or CD in the
opportunity to participate in a foreign languages when she enters Publications Mailbox at Hawthorne Valley
School, or via email to jcross@crossworld
cultural atmosphere they otherwise college, thought that economics network.com.
would not readily have access to,” would not interest her. She discovered
Display and classified advertising reservations
said Thomas, who is himself a otherwise. “I didn’t think I would like should also be made by contacting Janet
classical violist who is training at economics,” she said. “But I really Cross at 518-851-3580 or via email. Ad
enjoyed it. We had very lively debates materials can be submitted as hardcopy (high
The Manhattan School of Music. “We quality laser output), or as PDF, Quark,
wanted to create a business where the and came up with wide-ranging InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator or Word
workers could produce something solutions to problems that are part of files. They must be received by the deadlines
noted above. Send materials via email to
from start to fi nish, where they could the world we live in.” B
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