Sleep: An Unobserved Element in Education

Recent research suggests that sleep is unnecessary for human beings. Our waking consciousness could, therefore, be extended so that we could do without sleep altogether. Audrey McAllen, however, believes that sleep is vital for physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. An essential element in her remedial work with children is to encourage the development of a healthy relationship to sleep. This work explores the experiences of the soul during sleep. Topics covered are: the relationship of sleeping and dreaming; the threefold experience of sleep; Rudolf Steiner's research into the nature of sleep; the human being's relationship to space; the moral colour exercises - as exercises for remedical work; and accounts of remedial work with children. Audrey McAllen is the author of "Teaching Children to Write" and "The Extra Lesson".