Soul Economy and Waldorf Education
16 lectures by Rudolf Steiner

This important course on education shows how the healthy development of the physical body forms the basis for the free development of children's soul and spirit. Too often in modern education, the enthusiasm for imparting information becomes a substitute for developing human faculties. This can lead to an overtaxing of memory and inner exhaustion of students instead of healthy development. In Waldorf education, the emphasis is on the efficient use of soul energy in developing real capacities in children.

The aims of Waldorf education are to arrange the entire teaching in such a way that within the shortest time the maximum amount of content can be given to the pupils with the simplest means possible. This helps the children to retain an overall view of their subjects, not so much intellectually but very much with regard to their feeling life.

It is obvious that such a method makes great demands upon the teacher. I feel convinced that if a teacher applies this method - which I should like to call a teaching based on "soul economy" - he or she will have to spend at least two or three hours of concentrated preparation in order to teach for about half an hour . . . this kind of private preparation is of fundamental importance.                                                                                 - Rudolf Steiner

This comprehensive volume contains a wealth of insights into the human being and will interest teachers, counsellors, and parents alike.

Trans. R. Everett (16 lectures, Dornach 23 Dec 1921 to 7 Jan 1922, GA303); 360pp
Anthroposophic Press
ISBN: 0 88010 138 5; paperback
 

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed ‘spiritual science’.  As a highly developed clairvoyant and spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the spirit'.

His many published works (written books and lectures) - which include his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual faculties.  He also provided indications for the renewal of many human activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout the world.