Keith McCrary

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Jason Schwartz with KEITH McCRARY – Caricaturist, Waldorf School educator, Church pastor in San Francisco during the 60’s Summer of Love & Flower Power… great fun conversation and fun exploration of an interesting guy. 4-18-2019

Summary & Transcript Below…

1. 1. 1. 1. Introduction and Background of Keith McCrary: Artist, Educator, Clergyman, and Renaissance Man

• [00:01] The host Jason Schwartz opens the show “The Neutral Zone” on Maui’s 88.5 FM, greeting listeners and highlighting the special occasion of multiple birthdays, including a guest introduction.
• [01:31] Keith McCrary is introduced as a “man for all seasons,” a Renaissance man with 27 years on Maui. Jason emphasizes that only special guests appear on the show, underscoring Keith’s unique background.
• [02:07] Keith describes himself as an artist, teacher, clergyman, and dancer. His dance style is free-form, improvisational modern dance, often solo, reflecting his multifaceted creativity.
• [03:28] Despite being a senior citizen, Keith’s energy and diverse pursuits stand out. He’s been a Waldorf educator for over 45 years, a fact that surprises Jason due to Keith’s youthful demeanor.
• [04:08] Keith began caricature art right out of college, drawing humorous exaggerated portraits to “make people look funnier than they already do.” He shares amusing anecdotes about clients’ reactions, including one woman who disliked her caricature despite her husband’s amusement.
• [06:34] Keith explains the skill of caricature drawing involves a unique “astigmatism and a slightly warped mind,” allowing him to capture profiles quickly, often in five minutes. He has drawn over 100,000 caricatures since 1957.
• [08:00] He also created caricatures of notable figures like Bill Clinton, infusing humor and social commentary reminiscent of Mad Magazine. Keith humorously claims to have run for mayor of Maui “for his wife.”
• [09:19] The conversation shifts to Keith’s spiritual and pastoral background, including his connection to Reverend James D. Kimmel and his time as a Methodist pastor in San Francisco during the cultural upheaval of the 1960s.

1. 1. 1. 1. 09:19 → 25:49 | Spiritual and Cultural Context: Waldorf Education, Freedom, and Societal Observations

• [09:56] Keith recounts his pastoral work in San Francisco from 1966 to 1969, coinciding with the “Summer of Love” and major cultural transformations. He reflects on the freedom of expression and brotherhood that defined this era.
• [12:36] He discusses the importance of freedom in education, thought, religion, and scientific inquiry, contrasting these ideals with the current economic and governmental challenges, especially the dominance of competition over cooperation.
• [13:13] Keith introduces Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf school movement 100 years ago, emphasizing Steiner’s vision for a socially conscious, spiritually informed education.
• [15:13] Keith shares how he discovered Waldorf education in the late 1950s and early 1960s, initially through a small school in Sacramento. The environment deeply resonated with him because of its genuine care for children.
• [17:47] He explains Steiner’s broader contributions, including biodynamic agriculture and the “threefold social organism,” a sociopolitical concept aiming for harmony between cultural, economic, and political spheres.
• [19:10] Steiner was also a clairvoyant and involved in Theosophy but maintained his independence from theosophical organizations, which Keith finds significant.
• [21:17] Keith describes marijuana’s spiritual symbolism through the lens of Steiner’s philosophy, suggesting the plant’s spirit can both aid and mislead users, especially daily users who may be pacified or distracted from reality.
• [24:35] The discussion turns to social inequity and the “haves and have-nots” dilemma, with Keith advocating for social cooperation rather than competition. He stresses the need for community engagement beyond government action.
• [25:49] The segment closes with Keith emphasizing cooperation as a critical modality for societal progress, setting the stage for deeper exploration after a commercial break.

1. 1. 1. 1. 26:27 → 38:19 | Cooperation, War, and Waldorf Teaching: The Role of Ancient Languages and Humor in Education

• [29:43] Returning from the break, Keith elaborates on cooperation versus competition through a personal anecdote about playing ping pong without emphasizing winning or losing, highlighting joy and connection over rivalry.
• [31:03] Keith reflects on his experience living through multiple wars, including WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, sharing his perspective as someone who respected service but chose to avoid combat.
• [32:18] Keith currently teaches part-time at a Waldorf high school on Maui, focusing on ancient Greek and Latin, subjects rarely taught today but essential in classical Waldorf education.
• [32:58] He explains that expanding students’ vocabulary through ancient languages broadens their consciousness and ability to express complex ideas, making these lessons more than linguistic exercises.
• [33:37] Humor is a key teaching tool for Keith. He shares a playful story about his muse named “Hugh More,” which engages students and makes learning enjoyable.
• [34:15] Keith teaches kids to recite the Greek alphabet with playful accents (Texas, French, English, Italian), making language learning a fun and memorable experience.
• [35:32] The curriculum links language to culture and history, covering ancient civilizations from Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, teaching Latin in the sixth grade and integrating arts and sciences.
• [37:36] Keith affirms that Waldorf education balances practical and philosophical knowledge, using age-appropriate methods like starting with simple shapes to introduce writing and drawing concepts in early grades.
• [39:35] He notes that while Waldorf schools are private and parents pay tuition, public school teachers sometimes attend summer courses to learn Waldorf methods, indicating some cross-pollination of educational ideas.

1. 1. 1. 1. 40:09 → 53:28 | Storytelling, Visual Learning, and the Role of Imagination in Education

• [40:58] Keith discusses a children’s story series he created featuring recurring characters like a lost princess and Bubba the balloon man to foster continuity and engagement across grades.
• [42:48] On Facebook Live, Keith demonstrates how he turns a simple wiggly line on a board into a caricature or drawing, illustrating creativity as a tool to expand consciousness in students.
• [46:01] He shares a self-caricature with humor and humility, emphasizing the importance of creativity and self-expression in his teaching.
• [47:36] Keith mentions inspiring students, including one who went on to work at Pixar, highlighting the lasting impact of his art and teaching.
• [49:33] Jason comments on Keith’s unique presence, combining the wisdom of an artist and a former pastor, with Keith attributing his growth to continuous learning and spiritual exploration.
• [50:20] Keith recounts how he came to Maui through connections in the Waldorf community and describes the island as “love at first sight,” marking a significant chapter in his life.
• [51:39] The conversation turns to the value of seniors engaging in education, encouraging older adults to learn new skills, including technology, and contribute to schools as mentors and helpers.
• [52:49] Keith encapsulates Waldorf education with the triad “head, heart, and hands,” emphasizing a holistic approach that nurtures intellect, emotion, and practical skills.
• [53:28] He expresses interest in creating a podcast combining auditory and visual elements to reach different age groups effectively, promoting imagination over screen time especially for younger children.

1. 1. 1. 1. 54:07 → 56:06 | Biodynamic Agriculture, Final Thoughts, and Closing Remarks

• [54:46] Keith explains biodynamic agriculture, developed by Rudolf Steiner, as a method focused on revitalizing soil health to produce nutritious food. He mentions local biodynamic farms on Maui, including one with an apiary.
• [55:35] The host notes time is almost up but expresses hope to have Keith return for further discussion.
• [55:50] The show concludes with Jason thanking Keith for sharing his wisdom and stories, inviting listeners to tune in again next week for more engaging conversations on The Neutral Zone.

1. 1. 1. Key Insights and Themes

• Renaissance Man: Keith McCrary embodies a rare blend of artist, educator, clergyman, and dancer, reflecting a lifelong commitment to creativity and learning.
• Waldorf Education: Rooted in Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual philosophy, Waldorf education nurtures the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, and practically—using arts and storytelling as core methods.
• Freedom and Cooperation: Keith highlights the value of freedom of thought, expression, and equality, advocating a societal shift from competition to cooperative living.
• Cultural Relevance: Teaching ancient languages and connecting them to history and culture expands consciousness and enriches vocabulary, aiding personal growth.
• Creative Teaching: Humor, imaginative storytelling, and interactive art exercises make learning engaging and meaningful for students.
• Spirituality and Practicality: Keith’s path from Methodist pastor to Waldorf educator and caricature artist illustrates the integration of spirituality with practical life and education.
• Community and Lifelong Learning: Encouraging seniors to remain active in education and technology fosters intergenerational wisdom and community strength.
• Biodynamic Agriculture: Steiner’s holistic farming approach emphasizes soil health and ecological balance, reflecting a broader worldview of interconnectedness.

1. 1. 1. Conclusion

This engaging interview presents Keith McCrary as a multifaceted individual whose life work bridges art, education, spirituality, and social vision. His insights into Waldorf education, cultural history, and the importance of cooperation offer valuable perspectives for educators, parents, and community members alike. The conversation invites reflection on how we educate future generations and nurture society’s collective well-being through freedom, creativity, and holistic understanding.

00:01

good morning it’s Monday April 8th at 11 a.m. I’m Jason Schwartz this is the neutral drone welcome to our show [Music] a man sold [Music] they damn sure watch his hand [Music] my Wow hi this is Jason Schwartz I’m here in kaku 88.5 FM the voice of Maui at 11:00 a.m. the neutral zone is anything but neutral I have so much fun here today is Airielle’s birthday it’s my brother’s birthday   happy birthday all we have a special guest you know I don’t have people on

01:31

her unless they’re special and today we have someone that I am so happy to meet a man for all seasons many of you know him that’s what’s so fun about this show people are on Maui many years how long you been here many years 27 27 years this is Keith McCrary Keith welcome to our show thank you very much I was gonna say what What’s My Line ain’t no we’re gonna just but as we go you’re gonna say well this guy is a man for all seasons it’s like Renaissance man and that’s

02:07

what we only bring Renaissance men and women on this show and if you would know anyone else bring them on down Keith you know well I met Keith in an unusual way for some but we have a wonderful front desk I guess she’s in charge of everything Susie here at ikkaku and Kak you radio and when I got off one show someone calling was a phone ringing someone’s phone must be right anyway um I said I’m looking for interesting guests and she said right out of her mouth Keith McCrary is an interesting uh so

02:49

when we first spoke and I spoke to you I’m gonna keep talking here so I want you to jump in but what do you say well if I said what do you do Keith what would you say I would say I’m an artist and a teacher and a clergyman and a dancer a dancers that’s new to my list what kind of dancing well it’s something of a free-form style I you know I modern dance would return improvisational dance basically it’s it’s unique to me and other people do similar things but I just get off on any

03:28

music classical modern rock and roll whatever with partners or not yeah mostly just by myself okay well this is radio but we have Facebook live so we may do a little performance a little later but you know each of those were the sit no one would know but Keith is a senior citizen like myself hmm and what really intrigued me is when I said so what do you do and he said well I’ve spent how many years you were a Waldorf School yes I’ve been a wonderful educator for over 45 years 45 how could

04:08

you be only look like 45 now I may be very kind so if I look backwards and I count 45 mm-hmm I say 45 I think of our president so I shouldn’t say that word too many but I just happened to bring it up okay he born I thought about him 45 years ago I was envisioning because of the second thing you told me which was you’re an artist you’re a caricature I’m sure you do fine art as well but um you’ve done caricature art for also as many years right that’s true I actually began that right out of college and it’s

04:46

been a kind of catch up a thing when the dental bills pile up then I get busy drawing phony faces and my job there is really to draw people that so to make them look funnier than they already do well you know I think when we stand in front of a caricature artist out in the world we think that they’re gonna see our most noble traits and put us on a pedestal and make us look like we have done no wrong but you’re right it is the funny ones that you you look at them and put him in a situation

05:20

that’s unique you ever have people say oh my goodness That’s not me absolutely I had one lady who was just so incensed and interestingly after I drawn her husband at a nightclub in Austin Texas and I they were Jewish and she whispered in my ear oh please make us nose big and hook it and I thought this lady is off-the-wall already and then and she thought it was very funny what I drew and it was it was fairly well done it was in pastel colors and all but when I drew her her husband thought it was also

05:58

very funny but she and she hated it I just had not just tucked it in my bag and said no obligation have you grabbed it for Prosperity no I threw it away I’m sure the wall of shame you don’t keep that you know no no so you done a lot of how many you can do them quick I always was amazed that you could capture someone’s essence hmm and I guess it takes practice was that from our class we can actually what’s necessary is that you have to have an astigmatism and a slightly work mind and

06:34

then I just draw what I see but in reality whatever whatever that is I do them in about five minutes the black and white sketches and it’s an amazing kind of phenomenon where you’re really revealing something especially because I only do profiles seldom the people see their profiles except then you know clothing stores with a33 mirrors going so full profile one eye yeah I just draw the left eye which itself is interesting in the left ear if it’s showing and I’ve drawn actually over a hundred thousand of them since

07:19

1957 Wow now you could probably tell ninety if were you doing this as a child 1957 when you get out of college what’s your little year 22 yes you were born probably at the age of my parents 1935 35 while my mom was 1024 hmm but 35 yeah it’s funny as I’m getting older I find they have more and more friends that are older than me we are you know I’m young people should take note the older people still have lots of skills when you see people retiring at 65 may have another 40 years

08:00

or so well I don’t know about you I’m feeling fine a hundred thousand characters since 1957 all right you doing for fun also you do one right presidents and what kinds of stuff you know I did it actually did one a Bill Clinton that’s the last one I did but I had him with a missing tooth saying what me worried our world now it does in my mind Mad Magazine you know we’ve got visited with spy versus spy only wonderful little characters yeah Alfred elumen what me worried he should run the during this

08:41

year for president again I think did he do that once maybe I think he did probably and Pat Paulsen Reynolds a good people remember him too good for you well you know I ran for mayor of Maui so I’m a claim to fame myself fantastic but I ran for my wife because she was trying to get away from me oh you ran for her from her yeah no both depends on the day so I’m now so we’re gonna have to see how these overlap but and we’re in 1957 we’ve gone back 20 years so since he got out of college see or at

09:19

least 20 when you’re in college yep there’s 37 and a couple more like you say but the part that was interesting I have a friend that I lived with here on-island who was a wonderful man named Reverend James D Kimmel now he’s a reverend through I think that was Universal Life Church he was 45 years 45 years well he just passed away in this last year that he was Student of the Year ranch a book oh yeah I’ve written that dipped into that I have a copy of and part 4 of the ranch a book is the

09:56

life and teachings of Jesus Christ so the people that are Christian would find that amazing and wonderful like an expanded version of the Bible which I know some people saying is blasphemous but some of it is really very insightful and I thought really very good anyway he was in San Francisco and Haight Ashbury and it is in the the scene he was I guess they called them the pot preacher no but you were a reverend or a pass-through what were you I was a I’ve been called both I’ve been called

10:31

hardcore us as well when I was the pastor of the First Methodist Church in San Francisco from 1966 to 1969 well that is the Summer of Love that’s when I I graduated high school in 1969 so as I was growing up and I was on the East Coast and we were celebrating what was going on in the west coast and it was an amazing and amazing wonderful time when was the Chicago thing 68 right right in Chicago Convention Democratic convention in 68 see the Republicans do it the Democrats do they all fight and bicker

11:13

and throw and hit we got to get over this mmm not sure well so Kimmel came from there and the raised two beautiful boys that are now men and you also you from the same area did you know and then probably doesn’t know him I knew I worked with a group of ministers at Downtown Methodist Church and a few other denominations and the night minister it was a good friend of mine a guy who was you know but do it at or beginning at about ten o’clock at night and go till 6:00 in the morning what was the biggest thing that you

11:53

remember from that era oh wait a minute you you got asking me to remember that era oh yeah yeah era or error yeah there you go well actually it was the freedom of expression that’s what comes to mind it was a very different time than what we’re experiencing now not that we are oppressed at least not so you’d notice it as well as some might now freedom would be the thing I think I would indicate is probably for most I mean I think about brotherly Brotherhood I think about equality and freedom is more

12:36

the from the cultural realm any rate that’s where it belongs you know you’ve got to have freedom of Education freedom of thought freedom of religion you’ve got to have freedom of insight into scientific matters you know you’ve got to have Brotherhood and more in the economic realm it seems to me which seems very contrary to what we have going because competition has kind of twisted that and co-opted the governmental realm is you know so very in the governmental realm you need equality but any rate that I’m talking

13:13

in some obscure way about the thought of a man named Rudolf Steiner who founded the Waldorf school movement 100 years ago Wow so to me it’s interesting because I’m just gonna tell my little camel story because it sure Reverend Jim Kimmel [Music] many people remember from around here and meditated news friend and still well Willie Nelson here is know what kind of stuff but he had lived in a farm in Ohio and it was a swimming champion came to Hawaii but first he was in San Francisco and he lost it as Hera his inheritance

13:54

because he was the one in the Time magazine that got married in San Francisco Park naked oh my and so that’s when his father disinherited in touch but that was he was really a wonderful guy when you say freedom mm-hmm I know I just take my hat off to Jim Kimmel those were good times so from those days he went in conventional route you were a Methodist Reverend pastor young that’s right how did that match up with what was coming out of society was it a good match it was at the time the Methodist Church was

14:34

on the cutting edge of many of the things that have been established in our time gay marriage for example or the freedom of thought that would actually in Methodism in particular as the one unique thing of the bishop point even you know you get ordained has to ask one question and that is are you going on to perfection well that’s a big order but it doesn’t mean that you reach it you’re just striking and that spoke to me actually it Cohen sides and complements what Rudolf Steiner was about which was

15:13

the evolution of consciousness so did you discover Rudolf Steiner and the Waldorf method why you were pastor there in the church and actually a little before I was teaching high school and students in the late 50s and early 60s and I drove I was first of all started in in Texas because I’d gone to university in Austin and a couple of years there and then one year in a public school in Sacramento a suburb of Sacramento and I saw this little sign it said it was more than a sign it was a sign it was it was

15:54

something that said Sacramento Walter of school and I had no idea what that was and I drove down a long driveway to what had been an open house for you know a housing development they had two bedroom house and here you had you know nobody there was long after school no children except for a receptionist secretary and when she took me into the first grade room and that was all it was now it’s one of the largest Waldorf schools in the country but I had walked into that first grade room and there was this

16:29

immediate palpable feeling that my oh my this is the place where they care about children like I had never experienced before and it was that that really caught my attention deeply Wow two weeks later I got a letter from a friend that gone to high school in college with seeing a Keith I just met a thing called Waldorf education we don’t need to start a private school of our own which we had considered and then he had a little announcement with a $30 check and I go to this conference down in Los Angeles

17:06

area and I did and that was the beginning of learning more about what it was and I had to put that all on the back burner for about ten years before I could be ready for all of the esoteric aspects of and the deeper aspects of Waldorf education so when I think of a Rudolf Steiner I’ve heard his name and I was a spiritual esoteric circles and trying more than I’ve heard his name in education with Waldorf so I actually didn’t know that waldorf was a creation or members of Rudolf Steiner yeah

17:47

biodynamic agriculture and a good bit more of activities the one thing called the threefold social organism which I’ve just come from a conference about that it was ignored when the Treaty of Versailles was being formulated after World War one but Rose diner was asked you know to write something that would might just be a you know a preferable social organism that wouldn’t result in another war like they had just experienced and when that didn’t happen he formed the one the first Walter of

18:26

school one or two industrialist got the picture and said will you know you want to start a school here here’s my factory and having to be a Waldorf Factory curiously enough a Waldorf cigarette factory in Stuttgart Germany and in 1919 he established the first Waldorf School there for the children of the workers in that battery Wow how does he tie into the spiritual movement so heavily well he was profoundly spiritually developed to put it in a word he was clairvoyant and he was able to perceive things that

19:10

most of us cannot but he excuse me he had a background in theosophy didn’t that wasn’t his he was the secretary for the general section of the Theosophical Society he never joined her differences interesting that’s manly Hall I know it was like that was more on a pissant and Madame Blavatsky oh yeah that’s the all that that’s interesting yeah in Los Angeles I thought it was the Theosophical sorry might could have been I got a bit I know the man the nasally called the history of the golden ages

19:55

which you know goes through extraordinary number of different disciplines and so when I hear Rudolf Steiners name might somehow remember it in the you know important second mmm-hmm so for sure he wanted to teach a different way that you embraced so were you a reverend and the teacher at the same time I’m guessing well I’d still have the ordination rights I still perform weddings and funerals and baptisms but I haven’t had a situation since 1969 actually I had a little love for ray up in the Sierras at and a

20:39

Valley for an experimental church there but I preferred being in the Bay Area so I moved back down and drew funny faces at the wharf you know it me number one you said you saw me you might have seen me at the wharf in 67 huh all right I’m sure you read that well but you know that’s it really was funny because it was just an interesting timing that I was born in 1951 so I was fifteen sixteen seventeen it was my blossoming years and then I went to college and things were getting active Oh

21:17

where did we go here what had happened to us I want to say us you are our teachers where did we go what has happened to those idealist young adults with visions and mmm-hmm lay around if you will its this will sound a little bit out of out of the mainstream as we were experiencing it but I think one of the curious things about marijuana’s is that the being behind the plant the spiritual being if one can imagine that behind the plant which people who follow Steiners thought and could relate to

21:57

that being is wonderful and it’s very wise very highly developed in himself or herself and the color mary-jane okay and marijuana in this currency but here is a being who can delude people get them off track just when they’re about to accomplish something of the karmic importance that being is has the capability of blocking what could you actually think that that it was a an ingredient in the misdirection yeah I think it you know it’s I’m not speaking medicinally I think it’s great power and and sickness

22:45

you know significant and in cases of deep depression you know the elation that’s and the euphoria that’s possible there is something to be acknowledged and appreciated but as I’m talking about the person who is a daily user right and in anything we talk about there are always exceptions to your rule when you’re thinking that for the general population it pacified and and gave them joy that didn’t have a basis in reality and reality kind of ran away like I’d say like federal government the county

23:24

government all right what like things that we’re here in Maui County marijuana a lot lots of subjects about marijuana so much people finding benefit I guess there’s a funny line between you know some people like you say trying to get a little euphoria because they’re sort of uncomfortable with all the things that are going on and they give their power up to the government don’t mmm-hmm the freedom in the power is with us that isn’t in the government that’s for sure we’re the leaders they should be

23:56

following when we do we’re the doers I hearing in you so here you are all these years ago our generation went this way mmm-hmm no not all of them I mean I sometimes I can tell you when I smoked pot nezam I have a friend that was 98 years old and she used to say one puff and I’m brilliant hahaha two puffs no oh well so you know everything was interesting but a lot of people have looked at marijuana in many ways and some I think it’s because the greed factor came up mm-hmm you’re here

24:35

and I really am very uncomfortable with the fact that there haves and have-nots mm-hmm some say that’s socialist and I say is just something about being social you have a problem with all right I mean when you take a social as a social thing and you give it an East you’ve created this sudden you’re either for it or against it and criticizing it that’s to me that’s what politics is we all hear the words spoken of what we want things to be but I don’t know always if people

25:12

that are getting there have a clue hmm some have a clue but you know there’s lots of things it takes to make the government work and one thing I think it needs is us mm-hmm in the private sector you’re here loving each other caring about each other and genuinely being the difference we’ve been we’re waiting for something and it’s us waking up to who we are your hair and the role of the cultural sphere I can go back to that lease and that triad yes is to educate both the political and governmental as well as

25:49

the economic realm that you know the capitalism has had its day and I’m not suggesting socialism in place but I want to get beyond capitalism and recognize that we don’t have to compete always we can cooperate well I we’re gonna come back to this I’m here with Keith McCrary we’re gonna take a break for our sponsors and people Keith McCrary I’m Jason Schwartz this is kak you the neutral zone we’re gonna go to sponsors and be right back continue the story cuz you speak

26:27

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at 7 a.m. on kak u 88.5 FM the voice of Maui we are back I’m Jason Schwartz here with Keith McCrary Renaissance man and educator we were talking before the break about cooperation being I say senior to and us and I wanna cut you off [Music] cooperation is an essential modality that needs to be recovered and and lived into in contrast to competition and I think about something as simple as playing ping pong which I enjoy doing and I found that every time I win I feel a little puffed up and every time I lose

29:43

I feel a little down and so I’ve changed the rules at my house where I have a table and I play 5 10 15 minutes with a good opponent you know someone I’m incomparable or not you know and we just enjoy playing you know I get a good shot off she or he gets such a good shot off that’s fine you know that that’s what it’s about it’s not about keeping score nice score that is an absolute you know I’m I was mentioning during the break to Keith the Charter for my nonprofit the

30:18

Maui Arts and Music is that is that together working in cooperation extraordinary great benefit competition is fun but if we take it all personally and we really there is no winner and loser in a game where we all bow some people get a charge out of it but I think as a whole world needs to better understand cooperation your hair and you’ve lived through a couple of wars yeah right a few of them yeah I was 10 when the ww2 was complete and fortunately I was 18 when the Korean conflict was over so I didn’t have to

31:03

actually analyst or dodge there and the bullet as it were and I had Vietnam was my thing I went to collagen I went they had the draft by number times and I declared myself eligible in September and they didn’t use me by the end of the year so I didn’t get free school but I have all my limbs and you know I I respect all the people that went and served our country and served our world you know trying to make it peaceful world through a very ugly thing cold war mm-hmm yeah curious paradox isn’t it

31:40

though yeah now you were telling me you are still teaching what do you like teaching with what’s yours well what I’m doing now is this part-time you know I taught at the high school level because the Moller school has a high school and you know in Makkah well and after who we know about but I’ve for many many years I’ve taught ancient Greek and Latin and not very commonly done in our time but in the original Walter of schools that was expected including you know the classical Greek as well as the Koine

32:18

Greek which is the New Testament Greek I took two and a half years of Greek in college because I was thinking of going into the ministry and I wanted to be prepared in those in that realm right but now it’s a matter of doing it to expand children’s vocabulary and if you expand the vocabulary what comes along with that is an expansion of consciousness if you have more words to express yourself and describe something you are more able to grasp it you’re more able to experience it so I teach

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ancient Greek with a little humor in fact I have a I should warn you should have warned you before I I have amuse his name is Hugh and his parents he has a life of his own his parents thought it would be funny if they named him Hugh because their last name was more and so you get Hugh more and that’s my meme it’s one of my muses I have two others I won’t go into dad what’s your middle initial are no humor are you are you are mo it’s humor you and no it’s hu g8 yeah you know Hugh more so and I

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thought you are more yeah I’m on occasion I am more than I is that your your caricature signature well no but it is the actually the author and the main character of the story I’m creating called gullible troubles and even well I won’t go into human anymore because I want to come back to the Greek and I teach that with humor and one way to do that after the children have learned and we’re talking 10 11 year olds after they’ve learned to say Alpha Beta Gamma Delta and so forth rhythmically as well

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as you know Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Zeta you know that kind of thing they get it down cold and I share with them how and where I learned it it was at the University of Texas and so my classmates didn’t say it the way that I say it normally so I get them to put their thumbs in their belts and you know both the legs a little bit and speak with a real good Texas accent and say Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Zeta ADA theta and so forth and it then I do it with a with a French accent and

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an English accent and an Italian accent and they live like that all that you can eleven-year-old yeah right it’s very funny because I learned Latin yeah starting in junior high school uh-huh good every three years a lot excellent excellent and Greek I didn’t do it very different than yeah well you’ve got a different alphabet all together you know it looks different claim do they come with cultures when you teach them or you know absolutely in fact the fifth grade curriculum is about ancient

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civilizations and it goes from Persia you know actually India the Persia of Egypt and then to Greece and then in sixth grade we pick up the Roman civilization that’s when we teach Latin we see yeah but I’m delighted that you had three years of Latin I learned more English in Latin than anything I heard the word pluperfect and Dena Raley’s looked at me when I say those things yes indeed and prepare periphrastic I saw that one I don’t even know that one well we don’t know right but the keeping it

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light and humorous and I had each one of the Greek letters I actually draw a picture up and I will include it in a picture like like the word Alfa you know the letter alpha it looks like this in the lower case and I’d make that a head of an angel and Angeles which is the Greek word for messenger and the young gallows shows up in words like Los Angeles and evangelists and Evangel itself the name the girl’s name quite often or Evangeline and then a go to another word and talk about all the

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different meanings like a cross meaning above and paulus meaning city in the Acropolis is the place above the city of Athens where there was a great Parthenon you know a beautiful building that had a scene a sculpture of her inside the kids must love having as a teacher and still do no thank you that’s it works for me and I think it works for the children and the parents the parents get involved too I am I’m very happy to hear that that kind of education is going on now hmm I’ve heard

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from I want to call them public educators let’s say people in the public school system that they don’t feel that their children are coming away with rules hmm do you at Waldorf have a curriculum that is directly applicable in the world that just gives them a philosophy louder it’s amazing wisdom and the curriculum it’s age-appropriate always so that you begin with fairy tales in the first grade as well as you know career prior to the first grade and then it’ll shift in the second grade –

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well let me back up and to say you start with ask a straight and a curved line and that’s the beginnings of writing as well as form drawing and every letter that you ever will write and every number that you ever will write as a combination or a curved line or a combination of the two and I’ve created a story around that with a little lost princess learning of that from mr. pedagogue who who I was happy to share his knowledge and to make observations that the battlements of her castle have

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straight lines and the rolling hills beyond that have the curve and it just goes on from there these kids must have I just thinking of myself you but does kids when they come out of wall or school sounds like they come with a a a well-rounded education and because the word is sure for sure you know the arts the sciences we teach everything through art in the first seven years or you know from not seven years a seven-year cycle is from 7 to 14 do you ever have discussions with public schools about

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their curriculum you know things like that cuz it sounds like they’re your successes you’re a private school so the only way people come as if parents think it’s worth it mm-hmm to pay to get education for their kids right and I am doing it so this is the public do they seek you and actually though they’re in one place and on the mainland that I know of there’s probably other places there are courses in the summer time for public school teachers to learn about what we do in terms of methodology and

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curriculum I see yeah so it’s it’s you know it it needs to be more expanded and it brings me actually to another topic if ma hours as I’m quite interested in ikkaku in Turku is our TV component he has as a possible way of bringing something of what I’ve experienced for 45 plus years and a podcast video as well as audio to make it more available because I’ve got a story you’ll be interested in this is not amaz’d both I have a story that contain the same characters can grow from first

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grade all the way through eighth grade some join along the way but the littlest princess meets Bubba and the balloon man and Bubba and the balloon men learn about the alphabet and so these are all characters that walk these kids through their education so that’s great and they all get int one introduced to the other so this continuity mm-hmm sounds great you’re right Maxie in many measurement come in in the third grade and Maxie is gentleman chunky and and I’m big and he he likes to measure big things and his sister

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there’s a twin sister many measures the little ones and they move in next door to Bubba and they become France and go to the same school is this a published book of yours not yet it is it’s been printed it’s in print but it hasn’t I’ve sent it out to some friends of mine for cooperative roof yeah and improve reading as well as you know collaborating because you know they may some of them already I’ve said oh you really need a little bit of this and a little bit of that and all right

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have some good some big help and they were in a new world with a delivery system that can get all around the globe so yeah may that be a great success for you and for all of us thank you thank you love so now I don’t know what’s on this board but there’s a board you carried in here yeah for radio if you’re not watching you don’t know what what board what but we’re on Facebook live and you’ll find us on Maui neutral zone calm afterwards you can see this again and we’re gonna also be on ikkaku we want

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everyone to know about it all it comes aboard all right this is the first side okay seems to be at the moment too empty will it help if if I hold it or you need some help me I’d like for you to draw a wiggly line okay and almost try to make something out of it and and you can use a lot of it there or not cool you want one line earth just you know it can be any yeah one line over here and see if I can make it out can you make it out on that I am not sure if it’s gonna let me see here if you move your neck we have

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shadows so what I move yourself back for a second I think they may be able to see it if you’re watching TV you’re gonna see try another another one and then I’m gonna take a quick snapshot for later okay I’ll just use this as an example okay this is something that I found is helpful to expand the consciousness of students and and of myself on occasion I will simply take this and make this into a well maybe you know I thought I was fine who had drawn the nostril for me essentially and now

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I’ll just take off over here and just very simply draw you know and I hear we have probably ought to give him an ear just to make him look a little more human I see yeah you know a tooth or two in the middle here so what I’ve found is that that if I’ve got five minutes extra in a period and nothing to do I’ll bring out bring up one of the students to draw a wiggly line on the chalkboard primarily but on a whiteboard it works as well this giving a little more hair and maybe a maybe a little mustache step

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out of its shadow for a second I say there you are great so there is a an easy way to this shift this around and what’s our time frame well we have oh gosh eleven minutes we’re good okay so just give you a little picture you know something that I would sometimes draw for the students or for myself I always put my daughter’s from naming and somebody else’s name you might want to move your hand down so they can see it instead there’s our camera is easy okay okay and did you okay we’ve got to do do I see a

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caricature artist here yeah I think I had it for a second great this woman you jumping again low maybe on the other hand maybe you’re a gender bender oh yeah anyway it’s supposed to be something of a caricature of yours truly I was gonna say self-portrait yeah and I like the one I think I mean it’s very clear it’s a signature of you yeah and he and you know the critic in me says well I could have done this better but done that better and I flattered myself a little bit probably and okay yeah I

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could put the beret on there to just you you probably have heard this before but you know God and his wisdom gave a few people perfect hits and the rest he came here I did never heard that yeah so that’s why both people are proud of their heads Yeah right so I would just go you’re not in the screen so once you sit down we’ll let you do you know I want to sit in fact I think that’s really um I’m gonna have you sit ah and yes just for the fun of it mm-hmm cuz why we’re here yes this one

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when people see that I hope they can see it well you know that’s not to what see well in everything otherwise it’s gonna look like here well you know do you have other artists spring forth out of your classroom I bet you’re and you inspire a lot of kids actually I had a boy watch me draw caricatures once in a school fair for about six hours he had now is as in his 20th year of working with Pixar Wow I mean he is is so far beyond me it’s just amazing right that’s a wonderful story I

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wanted to give you my card okay I don’t know if that’s screen able or not it says my card yes really the other side is a fairly decent caricature of yours truly oh yeah well we’re gonna we’re gonna get this on TV you’ll see it for sure all right director of advanced world education aw yes yeah that is a way of talking about teaching adults primarily and this is for you that’s just alright you know this logo this is a simple logo no it’s not me what it is is just a circle when

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I wanted an animation for this show is thinking about ozone and air is soft and pudgy and people come in and talk but then there’s always a lightning bolt someone coming in to try to kind of disrupt things that’s what we’re all about all right but my card I think that’s very good you guys will see this afterwards and you on radio you’re missing the fact that Keith looks he has a unique look I would say if I were going to describe him for you that can’t see I’ll just describe him to you those

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of you that know George Clooney he doesn’t look like George Clooney he’s gonna say that that was good no you really look like you look like an artist and you look like you look like a pastor who is now resigned and gone global when I hear you speaking I hear a man of great wisdom way expanded over conventional religiosity how did that happen over the years just keep learning keep growing not to and a lot of help and I’m upstairs as they sometimes how did Maui get into your to your movie my

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connection with Maui came through Virginia fish who is a figure in the this society and she did her practice teaching with me in Sacramento at the Sacramento vulgar of school and another man named Gary Beck Daniel who has since retired he also did his practice teaching and then they moved here and said come Keith give us those you know a series of lectures about Steiner and Waldorf education and my wife and I came it was love at first sight you know it turned it around once you get to know us like no I want to go back to that

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mainland all right it took us about nine years to get our ducks in a row and then we we sent our high school graduate off to the Ecuador where he learned Spanish very well and we came to Maui Wow yeah so and when I think about all this I think about how our world is a better place when we have someone like yourself a zoo you’re a mixture you know I mean it’s nice to hear that you’re still doing it and still there with kids mm-hmm I like to think that a lot of people that are seniors could stand to get back into the

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education system whether it’s helping teachers in schools or bringing their gifts to schools um I went and I tell people sometimes if you’re a senior why don’t you think about financial aid and go to college part-time get to know how to use these computers in these newfangled things these kids are doing mm-hmm kids they’re 20 you know they’re not kids anymore but this the whole world is so different and also just I find that my presence there I’m braver than they are I like ask

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questions and I mean you know I bring out things that are a little outside the lines mm-hmm and I find that a lot of our kids they’re smart enough to know them and that just need a little bit of help on choosing there’s so many things to look at now that’s for sure how does that why does the world work in waldorf when the world is expanding is like a core a core education and then expanded well i think you touched on a little earlier yourself I mean the what the key is is really here in the heart and then

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it goes from here into the brain and then it comes out here in the hands so its head heart and hands with one way of describing Waldorf education it is something that when I first came across Steiners work if there hadn’t been the practical application of it coming into an education movement I was shrugged and walked away but it’s been a an amazing and wonderful journey and I’m happy to be talking about it at this point and look forward to creating a podcast possibly that will continue

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the process Podcast does that have visual thinking also right yes yes I am I’d like to have both I’d like to have the auditory for young children because I don’t want them staring at a screen you know or all that time they need to use their imaginations and if they’re you’re hearing stories they’re creating mental pictures which is another way of talking about imagining things so the the out of the auditory is definitely preferable for the younger but by high school and and adults you

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know the visual can assist and you know it can be helpful so what you’re saying about auditory I imagine in this very visual world of Cibola computers and stuff so sometimes you put the computers down and use your senses more all right right well you were talking about bio agriculture yeah biodynamic yes well give us a little bit more hinted I mean I’m trying to understand for our audience those things that will kind of get them interested to go look right there are three or four biodynamic farms

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here on island and the one that comes to – in Kula and they have an apiary fantastic collection of bees and sell honey on a regular basis they do that at the farmer’s market in Makkah well I’m sorry in Pukalani and the bio dynamics is something that Steiner came up with right at the end of his life and he was concerned about the soil especially in this that’s what bio dynamics works on primarily is creating fresh and enliven Souls soil so that vegetables that grow there can be healthy to eat I can hardly imagine we

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are actually almost out of time Keith hmm you’re gonna have to come back I hope you sure will well it’d be happy too Keith McCrary man for all seasons thank you for joining us it has been a pleasure I hope you guys have enjoyed this show we’re gonna have Keith back this just ran away Keith really been a pleasure thank you for joining us here at the neutral zone Andy I appreciate you very much well it’s me attempt you Thank You loja and thank you guys for joining us we will see you next week

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here the neutral zone 11 o’clock on Mondays Aloha the neutral zone with me Jason Schwartz would like to thank Maui Arts and Music Association tree makers Foundation