The Spirit of the Waldorf School
Lectures Surrounding the Founding of the First Waldorf School,
Stuttgart 1919 and An Essay from The Social Future, February 1920
6 lectures by Rudolf Steiner

At the close of the First World War, all of the achievements and greatness of nineteenth century Europe - its social structures, its spiritual values and worldly optimism - had eroded. In its place stood the shards of civilization amongst nations of bewildered peoples.

In response to this, Emil Molt, director of the Waldorf-Astoria Cigarette Factory and student of Rudolf Steiner, decided to establish a school to educate and rejuvenate young people toward the creation of a new culture. Steiner agreed to act as consultant, and so the Waldorf school movement was born.

The goal of this education was that, through living inner work, guided by the insights of Rudolf Steiner, the teachers would develop in the children such power of thought, depth of feeling, and strength of will that they would emerge from their school years as full members of  human society, able to bring new, intelligent and creative impulses into the world.

The Spirit of the Waldorf School lectures, given by Steiner to guide and assist the new movement, occurred around the opening of the first Waldorf school. They serve as an excellent and inspiring introduction to Waldorf education as a whole. Here Steiner outlines - with freshness and immediacy - the goals and intentions of a new form of education and speaks to parents of prospective students. He explains the school's guiding principles and describes how parents must participate, with understanding and interest, in the awakening of their children's creative forces so that a healthier society can come about.

Contents include:
·    - The intent of the Waldorf school
·    - The spirit of the Waldorf school
·    - Spiritual science and education
·    - A lecture for prospective parents
·    - The social-educational significance of spiritual science
·    - Supersensible knowledge & educational life
·    - The educational objective of the Waldorf school in Stuttgart

Trans: R. F. Lathe, N. P. Whittaker (6 lectures, Stuttgart 24 Aug to 27 Nov 1919, GA297, & 1 essay, Feb 1920, from GA24); 189pp
Anthroposophic Press
ISBN: 0 88010 394 9; 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.
 

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