Waldorf Education - An Introductory Reader
Excerpts from lectures and written works by Rudolf Steiner
Compiled with an introduction, commentary and notes
by Christopher Clouder

Waldorf Education - An Introductory Reader: Rudolf Steiner's comprehensive approach to education and child development has been gaining recognition for the many decades since its inception with the founding of the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart in Germany in 1919. Founded on his perception of the developing child as a complex being of body, soul and spirit, and emphasising the need to address the intimate dynamics of these three principles and their inter-relatedness, Waldorf education sets itself the task of not only developing each child's inherent abilities but in such a way that the person's overall physical and mental health, as well as his experience of personal well-being, are realised in the process.

Steiner's own experience as an educator, which began professionally at the age of 15 while still at school, extended throughout his adult life and included the training of students with special needs as well as those requiring regular methods of tuition. The fruits of this hard-won experience, fertilised by his recognised gift of spiritual perception of the human being, has given rise to a method of education that treats of the whole human being -  not just as a useful member of society but as a balanced and fulfilled human being for his or her own benefit.

Steiner wrote and lectured at length on the subject of education, as well as taking part in the establishment of schools and the training of teachers. The present volume does not cover the whole of his work on Waldorf education but it does cover the essential principles and is an excellent starting point for educators and parents, and anyone interested in learning about a comprehensive educational system which is based on the intrinsic nature of the whole human being.

Contents:

• A social basis for education

• The spirit of the Waldorf school

• Educational methods based on anthroposophy

• The child at play

• Teaching from a foundation of spiritual insight and education in the light of spiritual science

• The adolescent after the fourteenth year

• Science, art, religion and morality

• The spiritual grounds of education

• The role of caring in education

• The roots of education and the kingdom of childhood

• Address at a parents' evening

• Education in the wider social context
   

Rudolf Steiner Press
218pp; paperback; 17.5cm x 12.5cm
ISBN: 1 85584 118 5

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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