This document has been produced by the Waldorf Education mailing list as a brief introduction to the subject of Waldorf schooling. To subscribe to the Waldorf mailing list, send the following command to LISTSERV@SJUVM (on BITNet) or to LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (on the Internet) in the BODY of e-mail:
SUBSCRIBE WALDORF yourfirstname yourlastname
For example: SUBSCRIBE WALDORF Rudolf Steiner
If you have specific questions or need further information, you can contact the list owner, David "Lefty" Schlesinger via email at lefty@apple.com or dns@netcom.com.
1. What is Waldorf education?
Waldorf education is a unique and distinctive approach to educating children that is practiced in Waldorf schools worldwide. Waldorf schools collectively form the largest, and quite possibly the fastest growing, group of independent private schools in the world. There is no centralized administrative structure governing all Waldorf schools; each is administratively independent, but there are established associations which provide resources, publish materials, sponsor conferences, and promote the movement.
2. What is unique about Waldorf education? How is it different from other alternatives (public schooling, Montessori, unschooling, etc.)?
The best overall statement on what is unique about Waldorf education is to be found in the stated goals of the schooling: "to produce individuals who are able, in and of themselves, to impart meaning to their lives".
The aim of Waldorf schooling is to educate the whole child, "head, heart and hands". The curriculum is as broad as time will allow, and balances academics subjects with artistic and practical actvities.
Waldorf teachers are dedicated to creating a genuine love of learning within each child. By freely using arts and activities in the service of teaching academics, an internal motivation to learn is developed in the students, doing away with the need for competitive testing and grading.
Some distinctive features of Waldorf education include the following:
3. What is the curriculum at a Waldorf school like?
The Waldorf curriculum is designed to be responsive to the various phases of a child's development. The relationship between student and teacher is, likewise, recognized to be both crucial and changing throughout the course of childhood and early adolescence.
The main subjects, such as history, language arts, science and mathematics are, as mentioned, taught in main lesson blocks of two to three hours per day, with each block lasting from three to five weeks.
The total Waldorf curriculum has been likened to an ascending spiral: subjects are revisited several times, but each new exposure affords greater depth and new insights into the subject at hand.
A typical Lower School curriculum would likely look something like the following:
4. How did Waldorf education get started?
In 1919, Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian philosopher, scientist and artist, was invited to give a series of lectures to the workers of the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany. As a result, the factory's owner, Emil Molt, asked Steiner to establish and lead a school for the children of the factory's employees. Steiner agreed to do so on four conditions: the school should be open to all children; it should be coeducational; it should be a unified twelve-year school; and that the teachers, those who would be working directly with the children, should take the leading role in the running of the school, with a minimum of interference from governmental or economic concerns. Molt agreed to the conditions and, after a training period for the prospective teachers, die Freie Waldorfschule (the Free Waldorf School) was opened September 7, 1919.
5. How many Waldorf schools are there?
Currently, there are more than 600 Waldorf schools in over 32 countries serving approximately 120,000 students. Approximately 125 Waldorf schools are currently operating in North America. There are also public Waldorf programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Detroit, Michigan.
A directory of North American Waldorf schools is maintained by the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). See the "Miscellaneous" section at the end of this FAQ for the address and phone number.
6. What is the philosophy behind Waldorf education?
Consistent with his philosophy called anthroposophy, Steiner designed a curriculum responsive to the developmental phases in childhood and nurturing of children's imaginations. He thought that schools should cater to the needs of children rather than the demands of the government or economic forces, so he developed schools that encourage creativity and free-thinking.
7. Why should I send my child to a Waldorf school?
The main reason is that Waldorf schools honor and protect the wonder of childhood. Every effort is expended to make Waldorf schools safe, secure and nurturing environments for the children, and to protect their childhoods from harmful influences from the broader society.
Secondly, Waldorf education has a consistent philosophy of child development underlying the curriculum. All subjects are introduced in age-appropriate fashion.
Finally, Waldorf schools produce graduates who are academically advantaged with respect to their public school counterparts, and who consistently gain admission to top universities.
8. Who was Rudolf Steiner?
Dr. Rudolf Steiner was a highly respected and well-published scientific, literary and philosophical scholar who was particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. He later came to incorporate his scientific investigations with his interest in spiritual development. He became a forerunner in the field of spiritual-scientific investigation for the modern 20th century individual.
His background in history and civilizations coupled with his observation in life gave the world the gift of Waldorf Education. It is a deeply insightful application of learning based on the Study of Humanity with developing consciousness of self and the surrounding world.
9. How is reading taught in a Waldorf school? Why do Waldorf students wait until 2nd grade to begin learning to read?
Waldorf education is deeply bound up with the oral tradition, typically beginning with the teacher telling the children fairy tales throughout kindergarten and first grade. The oral approach is used all through Waldorf education: mastery of oral communication is seen as being integral to all learning.
Reading instruction, as such, is deferred. Instead, writing is taught first. During the first grade year the children explore how our alphabet came about, discovering, as the ancients did, how each letter's form evolved out of a pictograph. Writing thus evolves out of the children's art, and their ability to read likewise evolves as a natural and, indeed, comparatively effortless stage of their mastery of language.
10. Why is so much emphasis put on festivals and ceremonies? What are Michaelmas, St. John's Day, etc.?
Seasonal festivals serve to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos. The festivals originated in ancient cultures, yet have been adapted over time. To join the seasonal moods of the year, in a festive way, benefits the inner life of the soul. Celebrating is an art. There is joy in the anticipation, the preparation, the celebration itself, and the memories.
The four seasonal festivals are Michaelmas (fall), Christmas (winter), Easter (spring), and St. John (summer).
Michaelmas, September 29: St. Michael is known as the conqueror of the dragon, the heavenly hero with his starry sword (cosmic iron) who gives strength to people.
Christmas: An ancient festival; celebrated when the sun sends the least power to the earth, as a festival which awakens in the human being an inkling of the very wellsprings of existence, of an eternal reality. It is a time when the soul withdraws into the innermost depths to experience within itself the inner spiritual light.
Easter derives its name from pre-Christian goddess symbols of rebirth, fertility and spring. The renewal of man's being is celebrated with that of the earth. Ancient symbols of the hare and egg are both known as signs of the return of life after winter's sleep.
St. John - June 24 - Midsummer Day: Ancient peoples, watching the sun reach its high point at this time, lit bonfires to encourage it to shine and ripen their crops. It is a time when the cosmos brings the spiritual to man - a time when the spiritual, which animates and weaves through everything in nature, is revealed.
11. Why do Waldorf Schools discourage TV watching?
The reasons for this have as much to do with the physical effects of the medium on the developing child as with the (to say the least) questionable content of much of the programming. Electronic media are believed by Waldorf teachers to seriously hamper the development of the child's imagination - a faculty which is believed to be central to the healthy development of the individual. Computer use by young children is also discouraged.
Waldorf teachers are not, by the way, alone in this belief. Several books have been written in recent years expressing concern with the effect of television on young children. See, for instance, Endangered Minds by Jane Healy, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander, or The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn.
12. What is the annual tuition of a Waldorf school?
This will vary significantly from school to school, but in the United States, tuition fees seem to range from $3500 to $8000, with $5500 being a fairly representative amount. Most Waldorf schools have active tuition assistance programs and many offer "sibling discounts". Some have a stated principle that they will not deny a child a Waldorf education based strictly on financial considerations.
13. What kind of training do Waldorf teachers have?
While requirements within individual schools may vary, as a rule Class Teachers will have both a university degree and teaching certification from a recognized Waldorf teacher training college or institute. Some Waldorf training programs can also grant B.A. degrees in conjunction with Waldorf teaching certification. Typically, the course of study for teachers is from two to three years and includes practice teaching in a Waldorf school under the supervision of experienced Waldorf teachers. Teachers must also satisfy whatever state credentialing and licensing requirements might apply.
Rudolf Steiner, speaking in Oxford in 1922, defined "three golden rules" for teachers: "to receive the child in gratitude from the world it comes from; to educate the child with love; and to lead the child into the true freedom which belongs to man."
14. Why do Waldorf students stay with the same teacher for 8 years?
Between the ages of seven and fourteen, children learn best through acceptance and emulation of authority, just as in their earlier years they learned through imitation. In elementary school, particularly in the lower grades, the child is just beginning to expand his or her experience beyond home and family. The class becomes a type of "family" as well, with its own authority figure -- the teacher -- in a role analogous to parent.
With this approach, the students and teachers come to know each other very well, and the teacher is able to find over the years the best ways of helping individual children in their schooling. The class teacher also becomes like an additional family member for most of the families in his/her class.
It's worth noting that this approach was the norm in the days of the "little red schoolhouse".
15. How are personality conflicts between students and teachers handled?
This is a very common concern among parents when they first hear about the "Class Teacher" method. However, in practice, the situation seems to arise very rarely, especially so when the teacher has been able to establish a relationship with the class right from the first grade. Given the sort of person who is motivated to become a Waldorf teacher, incompatibility with a child is infrequent: understanding the child's needs and temperament is central to the teacher's role and training. If problems of this sort should occur, the faculty as a whole would work with the teacher and the family to determine and undertake whatever corrective action would be in the best interests of the child and of the class.
16. Are Waldorf schools religious?
In the sense of subscribing to the beliefs of a particular religious denomination or sect, no. Waldorf schools, however, tend to be spiritually oriented and are based out of a generally Christian perspective. The historic festivals of Christianity, and of other major religions as well, are observed in the class rooms and in school assemblies. Classes in religious doctrine are not part of the Waldorf curriculum, and children of all religious backgrounds attend Waldorf schools. Spiritual guidance is aimed at awakening the child's natural reverence for the wonder and beauty of life.
17. How do Waldorf children fare when they transfer to "regular" schools? Is it true that once you start Waldorf schooling it is difficult to "make it" in public schools?
Generally, transitions to public schools, when they are anticipated, are not problematical. The most common transition is from an eight grade Waldorf school to a more traditional high school, and, from all reports, usually takes place without significant difficulties.
Transitions in the lower grades, particularly between the first and fourth grades, can potentially be more of a problem, because of the significant differences in the pacing of the various curriculums. A second grader from a traditional school will be further ahead in reading in comparison with a Waldorf-schooled second grader; however, the Waldorf-schooled child will be ahead in arithmetic.
18. What is anthroposophy?
The term "anthroposophy' comes from the Greek "anthropos-sophia" or "human wisdom". Steiner expanded an exacting scientific method by which one could do research for her/himself into the spiritual worlds. The investigation, known also as Spiritual Science is an obvious complement to the Natural Sciences we have come to accept. Through study and practiced observation, one awakens to his/her own inner nature and the spiritual realities of outer nature and the cosmos. The awareness of those relationships brings a greater reverence for all of life.
Steiner and many individuals since, who share his basic views, have applied this knowledge in various practical and cultural ways in communities around the world. Most notably, Waldorf schools have made significant impact on the world. Curative education, for mentally and emotionally handicapped adults and children, has established a deep understanding and work with people who have this difficult destiny. Bio-dynamic farming and gardening greatly expand the range of techniques available to organic agriculture. Anthroposophical medicine and pharmacy, although less widely known in the U.S., are subjects of growing interest.
It should be stressed that while anthroposophy forms the theoretical basis to the teaching methods used in Waldorf schools, it is not taught to the students.
Anthroposophy has its roots in the perceptions,already gained, into the spiritual world. Yet these are no more than the roots. The branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruits of Anthroposophy grow into all the fields of human life and action.
Rudolf Steiner
19. Where can one get more information on Anthroposophy on the Internet?
A good resource for information on Anthroposophy is the LISTSERV@SJUVM.STJOHNS.EDU (on the Internet) in the BODY of e-mail:
SUBSCRIBE STEINER yourfirstname yourlastname
For example: SUBSCRIBE STEINER Rudolf Steiner
If you have specific questions or need further information, you can contact the list owner, David "Lefty" Schlesinger via email at lefty@apple.com or dns@netcom.com.
20. How does Waldorf deal with kids that don't get it academically?
Waldorf schools hesitate to categorize children, particularly in terms such as "slow" or "gifted". A given child's weaknesses in one area, whether cognitive, emotional or physical, will usually be balanced by strengths in another area. It is the teacher's job to try to bring the child's whole being into balance.
A child having difficulty with the material might be given extra help by the teacher or by parents; tutoring might also be arranged. Correspondingly, a child who picked up the material quickly might be given harder problems of the same sort to work on, or might be asked to help a child who was having trouble.
21. How well do Waldorf graduates do on standard tests? How well do Waldorf high school graduates do in college?
To the best of our knowledge, no controlled studies have been done on these questions, but anecdotal evidence collected from various sources would seem to suggest that Waldorf graduates tend to score toward the high end on standardized examinations such as the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. As far as higher education goes, Waldorf graduates have been accepted as students at, and have graduated from, some of the most prestigious colleges and universties in the United States.
22. What is eurythmy?
Most simply put, eurythmy is a dance-like art form in which music or speech are expressed in bodily movement; specific movements correspond to particular notes or sounds. It has also been called "visible speech" or "visible song". Eurythmy is part of the curriculum of all Waldorf schools, and while it often puzzles parents new to Waldorf education, children respond to its simple rhythms and exercises which help them strengthen and harmonize their body and their life forces; later, the older students work out elaborate eurythmic representations of poetry, drama and music, thereby gaining a deeper perception of the compositions and writings. Eurythmy enhances coordination and strengthens the ability to listen. When children experience themselves like an orchestra and have to keep a clear relationship in space with each other, a social strengthening also results.
Eurythmy is usually taught by a specialist who has been specifically trained in eurythmy, typically for at least four years. In addition to pedagogical eurythmy, there are also therapeutic ("curative") and performance-oriented forms of the art.
Anthroposophic Press
RR 4 Box 94 A 1
Hudson, NY 12534
Phone: 518/851-2054
Toll-Free FAX: 800/925-1795
Mercury Press
241 Hungry Hollow Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Phone: 914/425-9357
FAX: 914/425-2107
Rudolf Steiner College Bookstore
9200 Fair Oaks Boulevard
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Phone: 916/961-8729
Sunbridge College Bookshop
260 Hungry Hollow Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Phone: 914/425-0055
Antioch/New England Waldorf Teacher Training Program
40 Avon Street
Keene, NH 03431
Phone: 603/357-3122
[Rudolf Steiner College offers both a full-time program at the Fair Oaks Campus as well as an extension program in San Francisco.]
Rudolf Steiner College
9200 Fair Oaks Boulevard
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Phone: 916/961-8727
Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto
9100 Bathurst Street #4
Thornhill, Ontario L4J 8C7
CANADA
Phone: 905/764-7570
FAX: 905/889-3336
Rudolf Steiner Institute
Carol Petrash, Registrar
P.O. Box 207
Kensington, MD 20895-0207
Phone: 301/946-2099
Waldorf Institute of Sunbridge College
260 Hungry Hollow Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Phone: 914/425-0055
Waldorf Institute of Southern California
17100 Superior Street
Northridge, CA 91394
Phone: 818/349-1394
Waldorf Teacher Development Association
8211 Hendrie
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
Attn: Lora Valsi, Registrar
Phone: 810/545-8711
FAX: 810/541-1852
Eugene Waldorf School Teacher Training Program
Registrar
Waldorf Teacher Training
1350 McLean Blvd.
Eugene, OR 97405
Phone: 503/683-6951
[This section is a listing of mail order companies whose catalogs contain more-or-less Waldorf-like materials, supplies and products. The selection is highly subjective, and should be taken with a large grain of salt.]
[Originally started by some Waldorf parents, Hearthsong continues to sell a good variety of non-plastic toys, art and craft supplies, etc.]
Hearthsong
156 North Main Street
Sebastapol, CA 95472
Phone: 800/325-2502
FAX: 309/691-0591
[Music for Little People is a good source for simple percussion and pentatonic instruments, as well as cassettes and CDs.]
Music for Little People
P.O. Box 1460
Redway, CA 95560-1460
Phone: 800/727-2233
[Choroi Musical Instruments is the United States distributor for Choroi flutes, the beautifully-made wooden instruments used in most early Waldorf classes.]
Choroi Musical Instruments
4600 Minnesota Avenue
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Phone: (916) 966-1227
FAX: (916) 967-5141
email: Choroi@aol.com
[Chinaberry has an excellent selection of "Waldorf-friendly" children's fiction and parenting books, with detailed descriptions, broken down by reading level.]
Chinaberry Books
2780 Via Orange Way, Suite B
Spring Valley, CA 91978
Phone: 619/670-5200
FAX: 619/670-5203
[The Natural Baby Catalog has natural-fiber children's clothes as well as "dress-up" clothes for kids, wooden toys, and other useful supplies for infants and toddlers.]
The Natural Baby Catalog
816 Silvia Street, 800 B-S
Trenton, NJ 08628-3299
Phone: 609/771-9233
[Mercurius is a WHOLESALE supplier for schools and retailers. They carry Stockmar paints, chalks, and other art and craft materials, as well as main lesson books and other school supplies. Please note that they require a MINIMUM $150.00 order.]
Mercurius
8309 Mondon Way
Orangevale, CA 95662
Phone/FAX: 916/726-7567
[Nova carries a wide variety of the toys and supplies used in Waldorf kindergartens and upper-grade classes.]
Nova Natural Toys and Crafts
817 Chestnut Ridge Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Phone: 914/426-3757
[The Ark, run by one of the founders of the San Francisco Waldorf School, is another good source of "Waldorf-appropriate" books, toys, arts supplies, etc.]
The Ark
2968 Washington Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: 415/673-2529
[Homespun, located at the Lexington Waldorf School, also offers toys, books, cosmetics and gift items for the Waldorf community.]
Homespun
Lexington Waldorf School
739 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02173
Phone: 617/862-1829
[Heartwood Arts sells carved wooden gnomes, handmade wooden gnome houses, and other sculpted wooden toys developed from Waldorf pedagogy. One of the gnome houses they sell can be seen on the Web at http://www.worldinc.com/craftlink/william.htm]
Heartwood Arts
15 Tri Brook Road
Hillsdale, NY 12529
Phone: 800/488-9469
[For Keeps Friends, a home-based business, offers "Waldorf-style" dolls and clothes, as well as a "doll hospital" service.]
For Keeps Friends
353 Hudnutt
Ft. Sill, OK 73503
Phone: 405/357-8012
800/892-9403
[The Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) maintains a list of all Waldorf schools in North America, and publishes Renewal, a twice-yearly journal on Waldorf education.]
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
3911 Bannister Road
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Phone: 916/961-0927
email: awsna@igc.apc.org
[The Waldorf Kindergarten Association of North America maintains a list of all Waldorf kindergartens in North America.]
Waldorf Kindergarten Association of North America
1359 Alderton Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20906
Phone: 301/460-6287
[The Rudolf Steiner Library, the national lending library of the Anthroposophical Society, has an excellent selection of books on curriculum, childhood and other topics of interest to Waldorf teachers, parents of Waldorf students and home schoolers.]
Rudolf Steiner Library
R.D.2, Box 215
Ghent, NY 12075
Phone: 518/672-7690
[Oak Meadow School sells a "Waldorf-like" curriculum for use by home-schoolers]
Oak Meadow School
PO Box 740
Putney, VT 05346
email: oms@oakmeadow.com
Phone: 802/387-2021
FAX: 802/387-5108
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Joni Agostinelli, Bruce Bischof, John Bloom, Eddie Chang, Richard Darsie, Jenny Helmick, Gretchen Henderson, Linda Hoffman, Mary Holden, Terry Kilshaw, John Kimball, Edward Looney, Lynne McKechnie, Bill McKeeman, John Morris, Jodi Reed, Geoff Sears, Valdemar Setzer and Steve Spitalny.
Last updated: 28 October 1996
This page has been accessed 21206 times.
Comments? Write Lefty.