Posted on 03/12/2024 7:10:08 PM PDT by rey
What does anyone here know about the Waldorf education system and the person upon who it is based, Rudolph Steiner?
The school near us flies a flag with an image of the earth on it; no US flag. I know they are into biodynamics. Most of the folks I know who are really into biodynamics are usually pretty out there. I also know that many of the people who pioneered various education systems that came out of Germany during the era of John Dewey were socialists or strongly leaned that way.
What constructive information can you provide other than nut cases, crackpots, or communists? I would like to understand where they are coming from. There is nothing that I could find that was critical of Waldorf which makes me doubly suspicious.
Thanks.
The Waldorf education system, also known as Steiner Education, has garnered both praise and criticism. Let’s delve into some of the key criticisms:
No Early Focus on Academics:
Waldorf schools prioritize protecting children from external pressures, including curriculum outcomes, standardized tests, and adult news.
Until around age 7, basic literacy and numeracy skills take a backseat, with learning occurring through storytelling, drawing, and oral communication.
Critics argue that delaying academic focus might put Waldorf students at a disadvantage compared to their peers. However, studies show that Waldorf-educated children tend to catch up and even outperform non-Waldorf students in standardized tests by later grades1.
Lack of Technology:
Waldorf education emphasizes natural environments and aesthetics. Toys are often made of wood, and technology is limited.
While this approach encourages creativity and sensory experiences, critics worry that it may not adequately prepare students for a technology-driven world.
Mystical Nature of Anthroposophy:
Anthroposophy, founded by Rudolf Steiner (the creator of Waldorf education), underpins the Waldorf philosophy.
Critics find the incorporation of esoteric ideas into the curriculum problematic and consider anthroposophy mystical.
Vaccine Hesitancy:
Due to the emphasis on natural living, some Waldorf parents choose not to vaccinate their children.
This stance has been linked to outbreaks of infectious diseases in Waldorf schools.
Spiritual Focus:
Waldorf education integrates spiritual elements, which can be controversial for families with diverse beliefs.
Critics argue that the spiritual aspects may not align with secular or non-anthroposophical perspectives.
Late Introduction to Academics:
While some appreciate the delayed academic pressure, others fear that students might fall behind.
Research suggests that Waldorf students eventually perform well academically, but this concern persists.
Limited Parental Choice:
Waldorf schools adhere to a specific pedagogical approach, leaving little room for individualized learning paths.
Critics argue that this lack of flexibility may not suit every child’s needs.
And all of that courtesy of CoPilot. lol Hope it helps!
—> No Early Focus on Academics:
Waldorf schools prioritize protecting children from external pressures, including curriculum outcomes, standardized tests, and adult news.
—>Until around age 7, basic literacy and numeracy skills take a backseat, with learning occurring through storytelling, drawing, and oral communication.
That is how Japanese schools work.
A friend’s ex wife taught at a Waldorf school and his son went thru the system. I thought it was ultra mega woke but the kid is now grown and a successful lawyer. And a MAGA guy.
There’s the educational side of Waldorf education and the occult and political sides. Another post has already addressed the educational side. On the occult side, Rudolf Steiner interacted closely with the founders of German and Austrian Theosophy and Ariosophy (i.e. Aryan Theosophy, an influence on Nazism), including the leaders of the German cult Aleister Crowley infamously joined, the OTO, which Steiner also represented for a time. Steiner became a front man for Alois Mailander, a Rosicrucian who practiced a form of the occult “sex magick” similar to Crowley’s. As far as Anthroposophy’s political orientation, as you’ve gathered, they tend to lean socialist, an orientation which goes back to a Swiss radical colony named Monte Verita where Steiner and the OTO rubbed shoulders with the likes of Bakunin and Lenin and other leaders of the revolutionary underground in the Bolshevik era. Monte Verita was kind of an early 20th century prototype for the hippie movement.
I went to Rudolph Steiner in High school back in the 70’s.
Loved it...
...except for Eurythmy class. Teacher was a dork.
I don’t recall any indoctrination except I think it was there that I learned about homeopathy. Healing the natural way instead of depending on drugs.
We had two week class trips to a farm and became mini farmers. That was GREAT! MOOO!
Every month there was a main topic in the morning. At the end of the month each student created a book based on that topic.
The education there covered most everything and made sure to bring out the best in a student. It made sure we knew a little bit about everything and made us use our creative side.
I don’t know what it’s like now.
I loved going there!
The curriculum has just one goal: The creation and maintenance of a permanent class of obedient & blissful serfs...
In fact, that has become the sole purpose and result of all government schools since the 1970s...
The concept was first proposed by the Marxist Fabians in the late 1800s as the ONLY way to destroy America’s capitalist and freedom societal underpinnings...
It has successfully caused the American people to meekly and silently slip deeper and deeper into abject terror & tyranny without a significant whimper of protest...
As much as I find wrong in Wikipedia ( re some things, but especially about people ), the page that explains what the Waldorf Method is AND the one concerning ANTHROPOSOPHY, should send chills down any sane parents' spines, who might consider sending their progeny to such a school!
There were many "experimental" schools and education theories in the decades prior to WW II, in Europe and America; all of them garbage, in my opinion.
Waldorf is sort of a religion, but NOT like any religion known to other people. And the pedagogy is neck deep in that "religion" and lack of ANY "normal" teaching methods.
For those interested in what I did find out, go read about all of this on the Wikipedia site.
One clue...they believe in a strange form of reincarnation and the teaching structure follows that route.
The first few grades children draw, paint and grow things using ONLY an organic method, eschewing everything "modern"...meaning very ancient civilization methods.
Oh yes...and the schools are UN approved and partially funded in many different countries.
The hotels are great but the salads have too much mayonnaise.
That’s a late start for a writing system that uses over a thousand Chinese characters plus 100 additional phonetic syllabic characters in the kana system.
Yes, but apparently it still works and lays a great foundation.
Additionally, the students work together to clean their own classrooms. There are no janitors.
Yōmuin are janitors; they handle the heavier maintenance when students are there, plus not all schools permit students to handle the bathrooms.
Also, there are plenty of videos of people in various cities in Japan displaying a lack of knowledge of a lot of kanji (Chinese characters), even common kanji. There’s a reason why train stations have the station name in both kanji and hiragana, and even often romaji (Latin alphabet)
Julianna Margulies, Ellen Burstyn’s son and Chris Elliott went to Steiner. Chris was a real comedian even back in high school.
😆
I had three kids who went to Waldorf schools through the 8th grade (my ex was a Waldorf kindergarten teacher). All are happy, healthy, terrific kids. One is the head baseball coach at a D3 college. One was a standout high school QB, played college baseball with his brother, and now is making a name for himself as an award winning winemaker. My other child is married with 4 kids and is one of the kindest people I know.
The education seems to let children grow and excel at their own pace. I ignored the anthroposophy stuff. Too esoteric for me, but on a practical level it seemed to work well for my family.
I know about Chris Elliot and have enjoyed his comedy.
It’s interesting that their notable alumni are mostly in entertainment and a few in politics, mostly socialists. I could not find any alumni who are in anything technical. No engineers, industry leaders, anything like that.
There’s another Waldorf school not far that puts on a heck of a circus every year. As great as that is, I don’t see a tremendous need for circus performers. The arts are certainly important, but I don’t think much of a system that pushes out nothing but artists.
Steiner was brilliant, weird, and a heretic. When the Theosophists declared some Indian guy the 2nd Coming, he broke with them. Though there was a racist tinge to his thinking, the Nazis did not approve of him.
My kid did kindergarten through 8th grade and is a politcally conservative Catholic. She loved it and her teacher. She still communicates a lot with her teacher and her classmates.
I was on the scholarship committee. The applications confirmed my belief tnat, in our school at least, the parents were amomg the most immature, self-congratulatory, and self-centered people I’ve ever known. The faculty was better but they all were hard left.
I think the pedagogy was quite good. Lots of other stuff gave me the heebie-jeebies
What’s the OTO? I tried looking it up.
The OTO was an Victorian/Edwardian occult society. IIRC, Alistair Crowley ( THE BEAST ), either belonged to it once or tried to belong to it and then broke away and founded his own.
See post #19.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.