Steiner Waldorf Education

Background
In 1861 Rudolf Steiner was born in Austria and his ideas did not only apply to education, but they also applied to medicine, agriculture and social reforms. In 1919 the first Steiner school was opened in Stuttgart for children of workers who were employed at the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory. EmilMolt was the managing director after donating money to the school and he asked Dr Rudolf Steiner to lead the school during its early stages of development. Steiner had an insight to the work that went on within the school system, and then went on to create a worldwide movement of schools called Steiner schools. These schools today are fully comprehensive and pupils from the age of three to eighteen (recommended) are welcome, as well as children from all faiths and backgrounds (Ltd, 2013).

“Learning is the key to human development, but it is not a simple, homogenous process. What to learn, when to learn, and how to learn are arrived at through a conscious and careful study of children as well as a comprehensive understanding of the human being through all stages of human development” (Puckeridge, 2012). – Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf Education (Ed.Brien Masters)

                                                                                            (Brunsvold, 2011)

Curriculum
The curriculum is based on the whole development of a child, which includes spiritual, physical, moral and academic. As a child develops the curriculum engages those abilities of the growing child, for example, in Kindergarten this would be done through guided creative play. A curriculum like this enables Steiner schools to respond to each pupil at their own developing needs (Puckeridge, 2012).
Class trips play an important part throughout Steiner schools and play and learning outside the classroom are also important factors. An example of this is that in Class nine, pupils may go on a language trip abroad (Ltd, 2013).

Kindergarten

In a Steiner Kindergarten, the children are surrounded by a beautiful, truthful and harmonious environment (Puckeridge, 2012). Children are usually enrolled when they are three or over and each of the kindergarten groups have 16 children of mixed ages rising to seven. Reading and writing are not introduced at this stage because Steiner believed that children learn these skills more effectively when they are given plenty of time to develop socially, emotionally and physically (Ltd, 2013). Activities in a Steiner Kindergarten include creative play, baking, drawing, music and gardening. Social skills are also fostered by introducing care taking; an example of this would be setting a table by using napkins, flowers and glasses (Puckeridge, 2012).

Lower School (7-14)

At the age of seven, children formally start school by entering class 1, the first class of lower school. When entering this class they will be introduced to their class teacher, who usually stays with them throughout the next eight years. This curriculum is structured to help children’s imagination and their learning readiness. Core subjects are taught within lower school during 3-4 week block periods in the main lesson. These include English, Mathematics, History, and Geography. Lessons during the rest of the school day differ including lessons in games, land work, Music and Modern Languages (Ltd, 2013).

Upper School (14-19)

The academic challenge now begins as the children leave their class teacher at the end of class eight. In the upper school, the curriculum aims to foster clear independent thinking through the use of questions, discussion and criticism. General subject lessons include Languages, Sports and Religious Studies, as well as main lessons such as English Literature, History of Drama, and Poetry (Ltd, 2013).

Below is a video showing Steiner Education:

(Films, 2012)

References

Brunsvold, D., 2011. Rudolf Steiner Audio. [Art] (Dennis Klocek Site).

  Films, S., 2012. YouTube. [Online]
Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhHQwihcOfY
[Accessed 29 December 2013].

  Ltd, S. W. S. F., 2013. Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship. [Online]
Available at: http://www.steinerwaldorf.org.uk/whatissteinereducation.html
[Accessed 29 December 2013].

Puckeridge, T., 2012. Steiner Education Australia. [Online]
Available at: http://steinereducation.edu.au/steiner-education/
[Accessed 29 December 2013].