Lower School
2775 Newport Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
PH 734.995.4141
High School
2230 Pontiac Trail
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
PH 734.669.9394
FAQs
- What is Waldorf education?
- Who was Rudolf Steiner?
- What is the philosophy behind Waldorf education?
- What is the Waldorf philosophy towards reading?
- Are Waldorf schools religious?
- Waldorf elementary students stay with the same teacher for 8 years. Why?
- How are conflicts between students and teachers handled?
- What is “anthroposophy”?
- Do Waldorf graduates perform on standardized tests and later in college?
- Why is there an emphasis placed on festivals and ceremonies in Waldorf schools?
- Why is TV watching so discouraged by Waldorf schools?
- How do Waldorf children fare if they transfer to regular schools?
What is Waldorf education?
Waldorf education is a deeply insightful application of learning based on the study of humanity with developing consciousness of self and the surrounding world. There is a consistent philosophy of child development underlying the Waldorf curriculum: from Kindergarten through high school, subjects are introduced in an age-appropriate fashion.
Waldorf schools honor and protect the wonder of childhood, and are safe, secure, nurturing environments. Waldorf graduates are academically advantaged with respect to their public school counterparts, and consistently gain admission to top universities.
Who was Rudolf Steiner?
Dr. Rudolf Steiner was a highly respected and published scientific, literary and philosophical scholar particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. He later came to incorporate his scientific investigations with his interest in spiritual development, becoming a forerunner in the field of spiritual scientific investigation for the modern 20th century individual.
Steiner’s background in history and civilizations coupled with his observation led to the formation of Waldorf education.
What is the philosophy behind Waldorf education?
Consistent with his philosophy of anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner designed a curriculum responsive to the developmental phases in childhood and nurturing of children's imaginations. He thought that schools should cater to the needs of children rather than the demands of the government or economic forces, so he developed schools that encourage creativity and free-thinking.
What is the Waldorf philosophy towards reading?
Waldorf education is deeply bound up with the oral tradition, typically beginning with the teacher telling the children fairy tales throughout kindergarten and first grade. The oral approach is used all through Waldorf education: mastery of oral communication is seen as being integral to all learning.
Reading instruction, as such, is deferred. Instead, writing is taught first. During the first grade year the children explore how our alphabet came about, discovering, as the ancients did, how each letter's form evolved out of a pictograph. Writing thus evolves out of the children's art, and their ability to read likewise evolves as a natural and, indeed, comparatively effortless stage of their mastery of language.
Are Waldorf schools religious?
No, not in the sense of subscribing to the beliefs of a particular religious denomination or sect. Waldorf schools, however, tend to be spiritually oriented and are based out of a generally Christian perspective. The historic festivals of Christianity, and of other major religions as well, are observed in the class rooms and in school assemblies.
Classes in religious doctrine are not part of the Waldorf curriculum, and children of all religious backgrounds attend Waldorf schools. Spiritual guidance is aimed at awakening the child's natural reverence for the wonder and beauty of life.
Waldorf elementary students stay with the same teacher for 8 years. Why?
Between the ages of seven and fourteen, children learn best through acceptance and emulation of authority, just as in their earlier years they learned through imitation. In elementary school, particularly in the lower grades, the child is just beginning to expand his or her experience beyond home and family. The class becomes a type of ‘family’ as well, with its own authority figure - the teacher - in a role analogous to parent.
With this approach, the students and teachers come to know each other very well, and the teacher is able to find over the years the best ways of helping individual children in their schooling. The class teacher also becomes like an additional family member for most of the families in his/her class.
How are conflicts between students and teachers handled?
This is a very common concern among parents when they first hear about the ‘class teacher’ method. However, in practice, the situation seems to arise very rarely, especially so when the teacher has been able to establish a relationship with the class right from the first grade. Given the sort of person who is motivated to become a Waldorf teacher, incompatibility with a child is infrequent: understanding the child's needs and temperament is central to the teacher's role and training. If problems of this sort should occur, the faculty as a whole would work with the teacher and the family to determine and undertake whatever corrective action would be in the best interests of the child and of the class.
What is “anthroposophy”?
The term comes from the Greek anthropos-sophia or “human wisdom.” Steiner expanded an exacting scientific method by which one could do research for her/himself into the spiritual worlds. The investigation, known also as Spiritual Science is an obvious complement to the Natural Sciences. Through study and practiced observation, one awakens to his/her own inner nature and the spiritual realities of outer nature and the cosmos. The awareness of those relationships brings a greater reverence for all of life.
Many individuals since have applied this knowledge in various practical and cultural ways in communities around the world. Most notably, Waldorf schools have made significant impact on the world. Curative education for mentally and emotionally handicapped adults and children has established a deep understanding and work with people who have this difficult destiny. Bio-dynamic farming and gardening greatly expand the range of techniques available to organic agriculture. Anthroposophical medicine and pharmacy, although less widely known in the US, are subjects of growing interest.
While anthroposophy forms the theoretical basis to the teaching methods used in Waldorf schools, it is not taught to the students.
Do Waldorf graduates perform on standardized tests and later in college?
To the best of our knowledge, no controlled studies have been done on these questions, but anecdotal evidence collected from various sources would seem to suggest that Waldorf graduates tend to score toward the high end on standardized examinations such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test. As far as higher education goes, Waldorf graduates have been accepted to and graduated from some of the world’s most prestigious colleges and universities.
Why is there an emphasis placed on festivals and ceremonies in Waldorf schools?
Seasonal festivals serve to connect humanity with the rhythms of nature and of the cosmos. The festivals originated in ancient cultures, yet have been adapted over time. To join the seasonal moods of the year, in a festive way, benefits the inner life of the soul. Celebrating is an art. There is joy in the anticipation, the preparation, the celebration itself, and the memories.
Why is TV watching so discouraged by Waldorf schools?
The reasons for this have as much to do with the physical effects of the medium on the developing child as with the (to say the least) questionable content of much of the programming. Electronic media are believed by Waldorf teachers to seriously hamper the development of the child's imagination - a faculty which is believed to be central to the healthy development of the individual. Computer use by young children is also discouraged.
Waldorf teachers are not, by the way, alone in this belief. Several books have been written in recent years expressing concern with the effect of television on young children. See, for instance, Endangered Minds by Jane Healy, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander, or The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn.
How do Waldorf children fare if they transfer to regular schools?
Transitions to public schools, when anticipated, are generally not problematical. The most common transition is from an eight grade Waldorf school to a more traditional high school, and usually takes place without significant difficulties.
Transitions in the lower grades, particularly between the first and fourth grades, can potentially be more of a problem because of significant differences in the pace of the various curriculums. A second grader from a traditional school will be further ahead in reading in comparison with a Waldorf schooled second grader; however, the Waldorf schooled child will be ahead in arithmetic.