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Waldorf education

Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, Ghent, New York
Michael Hall School, Forest Row, Sussex, UK
Waldorf school in Ismaning, Bavaria

Waldorf education, also known as Steiner education, is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils' intellectual, artistic, and practical skills, with a focus on imagination and creativity. Individual teachers have a great deal of autonomy in curriculum content, teaching methods, and governance. Qualitative assessments of student work are integrated into the daily life of the classroom, with standardized testing limited to what is required to enter post-secondary education.

The first Waldorf school opened in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany.[1] A century later, it has become the largest independent school movement in the world,[2] with more than 1,200 independent schools and nearly 2,000 kindergartens in 75 countries,[3] as well as more than 500 centers for special education in more than 40 countries.[4] There are also numerous Waldorf-based public schools,[5] charter schools, and academies, as well as a homeschooling movement.[6] Germany, the United States, and the Netherlands have the most Waldorf schools.[3]

Many Waldorf schools have faced controversy due to Steiner's connections to racist ideology[7][8][9] and magical thinking.[discuss] Others have faced regulatory audits and closure due to concerns over substandard treatment of children with special educational needs.[10] Critics of Waldorf education point out the mystical nature of anthroposophy and the incorporation of Steiner's esoteric ideas into the curriculum.[11][12] Waldorf schools have also been linked to the outbreak of infectious diseases due to the vaccine hesitancy of many Waldorf parents.[13][14][15]

  1. ^ Edmunds, Francis (2004). An Introduction to Steiner Education: The Waldorf School. Forest Row: Sophia Books. p. 86. ISBN 9781855841727.
  2. ^ Zdrazil, Tomas (2018). "Theorie-Praxis Verhältnis in der Waldorfpädagogik". In Kern, Holger; Zdrazil, Tomas; Götte, Wenzel Michael (eds.). Lehrerbildung in der Waldorfschule. Weinheim, Delaware: Juventa. p. 34. ISBN 9783779938293.
  3. ^ a b "Statistics for Waldorf schools worldwide" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  4. ^ "Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners". Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. ^ J. Vasagard, "A different class: the expansion of Steiner schools" Archived 2 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Guardian 25 May 2012
  6. ^ M. L. Stevens, "The Normalisation of Homeschooling in the USA", Evaluation & Research in Education Volume 17, Issue 2–3, 2003, pp. 90–100
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Concerned parents speak up about racism, discrimination at Waldorf School of Philadelphia". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. ^ Staufenberg, Jess (23 June 2020). "Steiner schools chief: what my time in prisons taught me about the UK's education mistakes". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ Bellano, Anthony (21 December 2015). "Waldorf School in Princeton Must Pay $58,000 in Discrimination Suit: AG". Princeton, New Jersey Patch. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ Rawlings, Roger (14 February 2007). "My Experience As a Waldorf Student". Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  12. ^ Beckner, Chrisianne (7 July 2005). "SN&R". Sacramento News & Review. Archived from the original on 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  13. ^ de Freytas-Tamura, Kimiko (13 June 2019). "Bastion of Anti-Vaccine Fervor: Progressive Waldorf Schools". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  14. ^ Francisco, Carol Pogash in San (28 May 2019). "As anti-vaxx dispute rages, attention turns to California's Waldorf schools". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. ^ Ernst, Edzard (March 2011). "Anthroposophy: A Risk Factor for Noncompliance With Measles Immunization". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 30 (3): 187–189. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3182024274. ISSN 0891-3668. PMID 21102363. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.

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