HAWTHORN PRESS

A Second Classroom
Parent-Teacher Relationships in a Waldorf School
What does a healthy, successful school look like? 
Is it is all about measurable outcomes, test scores, 
and pass/fail grades set by the government? 
Can learning be quantified in short-term measurements or does real learning take 
years to manifest in a career or biography. All seem to agree that a healthy school 
is also a community and that community depends on the quality of 
relationships-chiefly the relationships among students, teachers, and parents. 
This book features a comprehensive examination of the parent-teacher relationship 
in all its dimensions, from parent evenings and conferences to communication, 
conflict, and the life-cycle of parent involvement in their school. In between the 
chapters on practical advice are sections that consider the issues from a deeper, 
spiritual dimension. This book is intended to stimulate conversation, self reflection 
and relational practices that awaken community life in and around our schools. 
"The world of parent-teacher relations has grown more complex over the years 
and at its worst can feel like a minefield. Torin demines and demystifies the 
experience with information, insights, stories, and warmth, creating a safe passage 
for teachers and parents." -Joan Almon, Waldorf educator and cofounder of 
Alliance for Childhood "Readers of my books will appreciate Torin's approach t
o parent-teacher relations. He looks at the key issues through various lenses and 
gives both practical and spiritual advice to all who seek to build healthy 
relationships around our school-age children. 
I highly recommend this new book!" -Thomas Moore, 
bestselling author of Care of the Soul "What Torin has so sensitively 
crafted here will give you greater simplicity and spaciousness in school 
community life. I highly recommend this book to all parents and teachers, 
but especially to those connected to Waldorf schools." -Kim John Payne, M.Ed., 
author of Simplicity Parenting and Beyond Winning "This book is a call for parents 
and teachers to work more effectively together on behalf of our children. Torin uses 
a variety of approaches to stimulate conversation and help us strengthen the 
communities around our schools. 
I highly recommend this provocative book!" -David Sobel, 
author of Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities

 252pages

 paperback/ ISBN-13: 978-1621480631

• • Publisher: Steiner Books (April 1, 2014)