History Of Waldorf
Waldorf Teaching Methods were Designed with the Growing Child in Mind.
How It Started?
Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian scientist, philosopher and anthroposophist gave lectures, shortly after the First World War about the nature of man. He stressed the importance of the teaching in a holistic way that will address the three fold aspect of the human beings. He said that in the heart of a Waldorf teacher lives the unwavering commitment to help each student reach for his or her highest potential. His lectures were so inspiring that he was requested to lead a group of teachers in Stuttgart, Germany, to create a school based on these principles. Thus, in 1919, the foundations for Waldorf teaching the children to enable them to grow up to become true individuals with inner strength, intellectual capacity, adaptability, empathy for humanity and environment, sound judgment and will power to put ideals into practice. In short, the goal is to prepare children for life in a challenging modern world.
Waldorf Education Methods
1. Child Development is the Key
“Education and development are seeds one to the other: the key is the humanisation of schools and the development of a comprehensive curriculum based on the worth of the whole individual.”
– Steve Biko
A child‘s development must be carefully and lovingly guided if he or she is to have a firm foundation. The curriculum of the Waldorf School is unique in the central focus that it attributes to child development. Each year the child ripens to another level and the natural modes of learning change dramatically in the three principle phases: Pre-School, Primary School and High School. Within these phases there is much transition. Each child has her own needs, her own temperament and her own level of capability relative to thought, feeling and action. A versatile, creative personality is formed through the harmonious interaction of intellect, emotions and will based voluntary and sometimes guided activity.
In the holistic approach of Waldorf education the health and well-being of the child is central. In the Waldorf school movement specific therapies have emerged that can provide support to such children, such as curative eurhythmy and extra lesson therapy.
2. The Curriculum
The curriculum is designed with the growing child in mind. Year on year, following the developmental stages of childhood, the curriculum mirrors the inner development of the child and seeks to give the child experiences that they are unconsciously yearning for. This makes the unit lessons relevant and interesting to the child. All the important areas offered in conventional schools are more than adequately taught – with an approach carefully developed for each age but the timing might be different. The breadth of the curriculum is a unique aspect of Waldorf Education and children are given daily practice in Math, English and Language. The important point to be noted is Waldorf methods do not impose on one specific curriculum.
3. Creative Responsibility
For a Waldorf teacher, educating the child is not just an academic responsibility but a creative responsibility too. We cannot know the demands which the future will place upon our children, but it is clear that inner strength, intellectual flexibility, empathy and sound independent judgment will be the qualities vital to their future. In a worldview where the intellect is much prized, Waldorf education provides more holistic approach to education. Every lesson, at every age, aims to address the child and later the student in this three-fold way. To facilitate this in the pre-primary stage, the school day begins with a lively half-hour session that is designed to evoke all three aspects of learning and which concentrates on one subject for an average period of three weeks.
4. The Teacher
The teacher aims to become a worthy authority and a role model for the student. Commitment, care and positivity foster mutual respect, bonding and help to develop self-discipline in the child. A close study of child psychology and child development prepares the teacher to meet the different temperaments and the growth phases of each child. Waldorf teacher training also aims to develop in the teacher, a constant striving for inner mobility and empathy – essential quality components of creative teaching. This is one of the cornerstones supporting the Waldorf ethos. In the heart of a Waldorf teacher lives the commitment to help each student reach for his or her highest potential.
