Rudolf Steiner established The Independent Waldorf School in 1919 (in Stuttgart) as a result of an invitation from the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory to develop a school for the children for its workers. Steiner aimed to develop the whole human being of head, heart and body with an emphasis on developing self-awareness and judgment. There are over 750 Waldorf schools in 44 countries. Most are private schools with several public schools using Waldorf methods to enrich their programs.

Features

• Early Childhood. Until age seven, children absorb the world primarily through their senses and respond through imitation.
• Middle Childhood. From seven through fourteen, the world is explored using a more conscious level through imagination - seeing pictures, hearing stories, divining meanings. The emphasis is on educating feelings and emotions.
• Adolescence. After age fourteen, the imaginative learning develop into more rational and abstract reasoning skills.
• Waldorf uses a spiral curriculum so that knowledge in each subject area deepens and widens each year. Foreign languages are often taught from the first grade on and physics from the sixth grade.
• Arts and practical skills are considered an essential part of the educational process throughout all grades.
• Throughout elementary school, the teacher continues with the same class from one grade to the next (also see related news item on "looping"). Specialist teachers replace class teachers in high school.
• A curriculum outline is provided at the end the article Waldorf Education ... an Introduction by Henry Barnes at the AWSNA site.

Books
Clouder, Christopher & Rawson, Martyn. (1998). Waldorf Education. Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic Press.
Fenner, Pam & Rivers, Karen, Editors. Waldorf Education - A Family Guide. Amesbury, MA: Michaelmas Press.
Jaffke, Freya. (1997). Work and Play in Early Childhood. Hudson, NY: Anthroposophic Press.
Pusch, Ruth. (1999). Waldorf Schools: Kindergarten and Early Grades. Spring Valley, NY: Mercury Press.
Pusch, Ruth. (1999). Waldorf Schools: Upper Grades and High School. Spring Valley, NY: Mercury Press.

On-line Information
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA). Includes Barnes' excellent introductory article about Waldorf Education.

Rudolf Steiner College. One of America's leading Waldorf teacher education colleges. It is also a center for anthroposophical studies. Fair Oaks, California. (Sacramento)

Bob and Nancy's Services - large web site for information on Waldorf schools and Anthroposophy.

Waldorf School Association of Ontario.

Home | Models and Theories

Updated January 26, 2000