Rudolf Steiner was born in the late 19th century and grew up in Austria. He was a intelligent being who delved into many different fields of scientific study and philosophy. Working from various philosophical traditions as well as natural science, Steiner developed a three-fold vision of the human being, comprising the body, soul, and spirit. He named this spiritual element of his work Anthroposophy. His other work extended into medicine and pharmacology; into biodynamic agriculture and farming; and eventually into political and social activism. His educational endeavor, Waldorf Education, was a joint effort born out of this activism movement in the aftermath of WWI. 

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Emil Molt, director of the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory, invited Rudolf Steiner to come create and develop a school for all children of his factory employees in hopes to provide the human right of education to all children. He sought a balanced education that included the arts and cultural refinement. This was far different than what had been allowed to the under classes before.  The methods and results impressed many. Steiner lectured across Europe and helping to establish more schools throughout Europe. Later the Waldorf Education Pedagogy became more unified and solid in its methods, philosophies, and principles. This allowed for even more growth and for many to benefit from Molt’s and Steiner’s efforts.  Now with about 1,100 schools and over 2,000 kindergartens around the globe, Waldorf education “has become the largest free school movement in the world.” 

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But no matter where the school is in the world and how it is adapted to the local needs, Steiner’s education philosophy “is about building capacity and bringing forward what is within every human being. It is process driven; the opposite to what many Western public schooling systems base their existence upon- industrial idealism which is product driven and control based. Waldorf education is about developing the whole being, nurturing community, and the respect and reverence for life, the Earth and all other beings. The environment is designed to bring out the creativity, wonder and curiosity of every learner. Connection is as important - connection to self, others, the earth and to Source or God or the Universe or whatever you call the higher powers. Human beings are seen as spiritual, emotional, cognizant and physical in form, and all these aspects are respected, revered and catered for in Waldorf education. All teaching and learning is based on these principles.” 

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“It is important that we discover an educational method where people learn to learn and go on learning their whole lives” (Steiner) because they learned to love it. This is what Waldorf education has done for the past 100 years and will continue to do as schools open worldwide drawing those looking for an education that awakens the whole child to the beauty and goodness around them.

 

Sources:

https://www.steiner.edu/history/

https://www.waldorf-100.org/en/waldorf-education/history/ 

https://www.thearkeducation.co.nz/blog/steiner-developing-the-capacity-of-humanity