We teach our students to recognize and appreciate the world as a miraculous place. We help them see that they have a role in the care and nurture of the environment. We imbue a spirit of beauty in each and guide the child as he creates this beauty for himself. The child, however young, can emulate the inherent good and order in his world and can be taught to nurture and care for it – a small plant must be watered and its leaves polished, a gecko must be fed and stroked and a garden must be cultivated so that the herbs can flavor our food. All these things open the eyes of the child to wonder and to beauty that is both of nature and of man.
Suzuki Schools are located in urban environments, and we bring the natural world into the school itself: our lobby area was designed with habitats for fish, birds and reptiles. The children frequently visit and observe these creatures and their offspring. The Schools also display extensive sensory boards of different natural elements including woods, rocks, furs, sea shells, fossils and insects.
The children also plant gardens in the spring and summer, and the herbs and vegetables are harvested by the children and used by our cooks for their meals. We also recycle at the school and the children are taught the importance of conserving items that can be reused rather than thrown away.
The materials with which the children work are beautiful in themselves, made of polished woods and metals which draw the hand and eye. Porcelain bowls are used to sort dried seeds and are handled gently and carefully. Embroidery thread is thoughtfully chosen from a rich spectrum of colors; number rods are light and smooth to the touch. Through simple lines and natural textures, the child learns to discard the inferior material and choose what is beautiful in his environment.