Working at the Lauenstein

 

The type of children who lived there:

·         Downs syndrome

·         Albinos

·         Epileptics

·         Lacking in self-esteem

·         Depressed

·         Anxious

·         Attention deficit / hyperactive 

·         Bi-polar 

y    Many of these children would now be in mainstream education. Which is better – isolating them or keeping them in our society? 

   Quirky cures and diseases 

·         Mother was frightened during pregnancy

·         Injection of thyroid gland secretion – with very strict instructions as to exactly how

·         Something has come through from the previous incarnation.

·         Time between death and birth quite short

·         Algae injections

·         Eurythmy* especially on legs to prevent fits

·         Kink in astral body

·         Poor health in parents

·         Connection with sulphur for albinos

·         Sugar injections

·         D6 injections

·         The child should learn to make boots.  

      Clara loved the way Rudolf Steiner worked with children. He was there for instance on the day the home was opened on 18 June 1924 and spoke to children and parents individually. However she found some of his ideas bizarre. What do you think?

Eurythmy

Body movement = "visible speech"

Communication through non-verbal gestures

Movements = sounds and words

Comes from Greek "harmonious / beautiful movement"

Sacred dance 

In the Waldorf schools, eurythmy is very important and there are strict guidelines for each grade. How does it compare with your P.E. lessons? 

Try to find some videos of eurythmy. What are its main qualities, do you think? 

 

 

 

 

 

Places that Clara Lehrs knew

 Mecklenburg

Flat country side: ponds and marshes 

Jews living there: bankers, lawyers, doctors, rabbis 

Germans: poor

Clara lived in the Schwerin part of Mecklenburg.

There is a beautiful castle in Schwerin  

Berlin

Clara enjoyed café society.

She took the children riding on the trams.

She lived there at the time of the ‘belle époque.”

Lots of green space was created in Berlin.

It changed a lot in the 30 years she lived there. 

Lauenstein

This was a residential centre for children with severe learning difficulties.

Clara was house-keeper.

It was in Jena.

Her daughter and son-in-law also lived in Jena.

It was based on Rudolf Steiner’s ideas. 

Stuttgart

Clara sold her pearls to help finance the house on Schellberg Street.

It was used to board students and teachers of the first Waldorf School.

It was called the “little Goethenaum”.

She allowed a class of disabled children to meet in her cellar.

There is a”Stolperstein” outside the house now.