Everything you need to know about Steiner-Waldorf education

No, not Waldorf like Blair in Gossip Girl, nor Waldorf like salad. Today we are talking about pedagogy with a sister method of Montessori.

Who is Steiner-Waldorf?

“Steiner-Waldorf” is actually the name of a pedagogy developed by a certain Austrian philosopher named Rudolf Steiner . Waldorf echoes the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory workers who attended lectures given by Mr. Steiner. Following these lectures, Steiner was asked to set up schools. A first “free Waldorf school” was inaugurated in 1919 and mainly welcomed children of workers.

What pedagogy?

The “Steiner-Waldorf” pedagogy is based on the inadequacy of the school. According to it, the limits of education lie in the exclusivity given “ to the training of the intellect and the transmission of abstract knowledge ”.
This somewhat unusual pedagogy aims to replace “ambition, fear and competition” with “love, confidence and enthusiasm”.
The main idea, as with Topla, is to believe in the child!

According to the testimony of Rebecca SHANKLAND, public health trainer, Doctor in clinical psychology and psychopathology (Paris 8 University): “The child is respected in his individuality and uniqueness. He is not a blank page on which the school must print knowledge, but rather a being with potential that we will allow to reveal itself.”

Which schools?

The first school was opened in 1919 in Germany and the pedagogy gradually spread throughout Europe. However, these schools were banned under the Nazi regime!

After the war, schools opened all around the world: in America, Australia and Africa.

Today there are 250,000 students in 1,000 schools and 2,000 kindergartens around the world. In France there are 2,500 students and 22 schools.
The school is organized as a unique educational establishment, preventing academic failure.

And what do we actually do there?

In kindergartens, games, stories, or songs are played. School learning begins around the age of 7. The teachings aim to raise awareness of a problem in today's world. As with Topla, the goal is to do before approaching the issues from an abstract point of view.
This pedagogy draws on several aspects such as openness to the world or social integration (training citizens who will find their place in the society of tomorrow).

For more information on the Steiner-Waldorf method, please visit their website > http://steiner-waldorf.org/