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MEMBERSHIP
There are two categories of membership of the RSSA
- full members and associate members.
Steps in becoming a member school:
- Initial contact with either the Executive Officer,
the Public Officer, or a member school delegate to
the RSSA and seek sponsorship as an initial step in
applying for membership
- Recognition in writing from a RSSA meeting that
a formal relationship exists between the sponsor and
sponsored school. (See guidelines for sponsorship
below) A sponsored school will need to bear
the financial costs of sponsorship incurred by the
sponsor school. It may however approach the
Treasurer of the RSSA for assistance.
- Over a period of months, a relationship will be
built between the two schools which will include exchange
of visits and information, provision of administrative
and curriculum support, and classroom observations.
At a time deemed appropriate by the sponsor and sponsored
school, the decision will be made to proceed to the
next step of seeking membership.
- Presentation of written and verbal recommendation
by the sponsor school to a RSSA delegates' meeting
where the applicant school will also give a presentation
- If accepted, formal written recognition of membership
status will be granted by the RSSA.
PROCEDURES FOR SPONSOR SCHOOLS
Process for Formalising the Sponsor/Sponsored School
Relationship
- A written request from the school seeking membership
to the College of Teachers of a full member school
seeking sponsorship by that school
- A written acceptance or non-acceptance by the College
of Teachers of the member school, detailing the conditions
of acceptance or reasons for the non-acceptance.
(In the case of a letter of non-acceptance, then a
recommendation to another school or to the Executive
Officer for referral on to another school or to an
individual)
- Copies of the above correspondence relating to the
process of sponsorship are to be sent to the registered
office of the RSSA. Please note Member schools
may jointly sponsor a new school provided that there
is mutual agreement.
- Once a sponsor/sponsored school relationship has
been formally acknowledged, the work of developing
and maintaining the relationship should be taken up
by one or two people from each school who exchange
contact information. For the member school this
task may be fulfilled by the RSSA delegate and for
the sponsored School it may be fulfilled by a pioneering
teacher and/or administrator.
- A link person works as a mentor, facilitating the
flow of information and expertise with regard to the
particular needs of the sponsored school.
- The link person will:
- Initiate and facilitate contacts within the sponsor
school
- Visit the sponsored school on a regular basis
- Invite teachers from the sponsored school to visit
sponsor school in return and participate in
the in-service training where appropriate
- Pass on any relevant information or issues arising
from the minutes of RSSA meetings
- Provide administrative and curriculum support from
the school's resources and/or seek assistance from
RSSA
- Supply and familiarise the sponsored school with
Memorandum and Articles of the Association and its
Constitution
After the decision has been made that the sponsored
school is ready for presentation at the next delegates'
meeting, the sponsor school should prepare a written
and verbal report which should cover such things as
a brief history of the school and its development. Further
areas to comment on should include:
- The integrity of the curriculum and the effectiveness
of the methodology, according to Steiner principles
- The administrative structures that reflect Steiner's
threefold social principles and their relevance to
the whole school community.
- Appropriate policies and procedures in place to
meet all the educational, administrative and legislative
requirements - including reporting procedures
- Financial viability of the school to this point
and evidence of strategic planning for the future
- Legal status of the school and the nature of its
incorporation or otherwise. The nature and objects
of the constitution and the objects of the school's
association, as well as the location of responsibility
of legal tenure
- The existence of a functioning College of Teachers,
regularly engaged in the deepening study of Steiner
Education, in addition to administrative work
- Current and future opportunities for professional
development of teachers, as well as effective peer
support and evaluation/appraisal procedures
- The use of an official school letterhead which acknowledges
the name Rudolf Steiner or Waldorf Education in their
name
- Existence of an Anthroposophical study group in
the school community
- Parent/community education initiatives
Please note that a prerequisite for membership for
any school under the Constitution is that it is currently
registered in its state and that it has been operating
for more than 2 years.
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