Waldorf education, based on Rudolph Steiner’s philosophy, aims to educate the whole person through age-appropriate learning. It emphasizes non-competition, creativity, and critical thinking while providing equal instruction in arts, music, foreign languages, and academics. Waldorf graduates tend to outperform their peers on standardized tests. Prominent psychologists and sociologists have praised the Waldorf method, and famous graduates include Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock.
Waldorf education is based on a unique philosophy of education developed by Rudolph Steiner. The Waldorf School aims to educate “the heart, the hands and the head,” in theory allowing a child to develop as a whole person. Waldorf education is the largest independent education movement in the United States and Europe with over 900 schools currently teaching Waldorf methods.
The Waldorf philosophy is based on the belief that children learn different things best at certain stages of development when their spirituality, intellect, and physical abilities are in tune with the information presented to them. For example, unlike traditional daycare centers in the United States, Waldorf Kindergarten children are not taught to read. Instead, popular poems, stories and legends are taught which are the basis for developing reading skills according to the Waldorf philosophy. Children are not exposed to written language until the age of six or seven. Children who are emerging in adolescence are introduced to ancient Greek and Roman history due to the belief that adolescence faces intense turmoil and inner conflict. The Greek and Roman theme is in keeping with this change.
Waldorf education is highly attuned to the developmental needs of children of specific ages. However, the children’s curriculum provides equal instruction in the arts, music, foreign languages, and academics versus a focus on academics with short ‘specials’ in traditional education.
Above all, the Waldorf philosophy of education places a strong emphasis on non-competition, respect for nature and other human beings. Children are strongly encouraged to maximize their creativity and think for themselves critically as individuals. Waldorf education also argues that children need plenty of time to move and play. Every morning the children spend time doing eurythmy. Eurythmy is the art of movement which is done together with the recitation of the verses.
Waldorf school graduates generally tend to outperform their traditionally schooled peers on standardized tests. This is because students are taught subjects in depth, focusing on one lesson for three to five weeks. In these lesson blocks the topic is examined traditionally but also from other critical points of view, for example for its social consequences, philosophical value etc.
Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy that underpins the Waldorf method of education has been highly appreciated by prominent psychologists and sociologists such as Jean Piget who incorporated these methods into his model of child development. Some famous Waldorf graduates include actress Jennifer Aniston, Julianna Margulies, Kenneth Chenault and Sandra Bullock.
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