Waldorf (Steiner) education is a humanistic approach to pedagogy based on the educational philosophy of the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Anthroposophy. The first Waldorf school was founded in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany when Emil Molt, the head of the Waldorf Cigarette factory there, asked Rudolf Steiner to develop an educational model and start a school for the children of his employees. At present there are 1,023 independent Waldorf schools, 2,000 kindergartens and 646 centers for special education, located in 60 countries. There are also Waldorf-based state schools, charter schools and academies, and home-schooling environments.
The educational philosophy’s overarching goal is to develop free, morally responsible, and integrated individuals equipped with a high degree of social competence. Teachers generally use formative (qualitative) rather than summative (quantitative) assessment methods, particularly in the pre-adolescent years. The schools have a high degree of autonomy to decide how best to construct their curricula and govern themselves.
Waldorf education is one of the largest independent, non-sectarian school movements n the world. The Steiner, Waldorf approach — integrating academic, practical and artistic work — educates children’s hearts and hands as well as their minds … creating citizens of the world. Here are some useful links: