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The Waldorf School is an alternative path to your child’s education. Waldorf schools in Poland are experimental in nature, therefore they are supervised by the school board. The philosophy of the Waldorf school is fundamentally different from that promoted in public state schools. What are the ideas behind the founders of the Waldorf School? Learn the main principles of this alternative education.
- In a Waldorf school, the teacher is to act as the child’s guardian and guide. It is the teacher who should adapt to the child’s creativity, not the other way around
- It can be said that in the Waldorf school, the child is placed at the center and a lot of emphasis is placed on his individualism, creativity and freedom.
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Waldorf school – history
The Waldorf school was the work of Rudolf Steiner, who was an Austrian philosopher. Rudolf Steiner formulated his assumptions at the turn of the 1919th and 7th centuries, and they were first implemented in the school at the Waldorff-Astoria plant in Stuttgart in XNUMX. This is where the name of the alternative school comes from. Rudolf Steiner is considered the founder of anthroposophy. In the context of education, its main assumption is the development of a child, in which developmental jumps occur every XNUMX years. In a Waldorf school, the teacher is to act as the child’s guardian and guide. It is the teacher who should adapt to the child’s creativity, not the other way around. It can be said that in the Waldorf school, children are placed at the center and a lot of emphasis is placed on their individuality, creativity and freedom.
Waldorf School – Individual Curriculum
A characteristic feature of the Waldorf school, which makes it similar to the Montessori school, is the lack of a standardized curriculum. Children attending Waldorf School choose their own activities and assignments. In addition, they can work at their own pace, and the teacher’s role is to look after and help with assignments. This rule is supposed to arouse curiosity in children and inspire them to new interests and passions.
Waldorf school – a child in the center
In the Waldorf school, the child is placed at the center, but also treated as one coherent whole. A teacher at a Waldorf school must ensure that a child develops cognitive, artistic and practical skills. At the same time, the teacher instills in the children the values important for the Waldorf school, i.e. respect, empathy, freedom, responsibility and independence.
Waldorf school – art and creativity
The Waldorf School relies heavily on art in its broadest sense. Art and creativity occur at every stage of this alternative education. Children who attend the Waldorf school will learn about visual arts, theater, music, crafts and poetry. Classes often start with some creative art form. It can be a song, a poem, or a story. This approach is to ensure that the child fully engages in activities and undertaken activities.
Waldorf School – Imagination
In addition to educating creativity in the Waldorf school, great attention is paid to the development of the child’s imagination. This is especially true of education in the younger classes. Classes at a Waldorf school are often based on role play, group play or outdoor activities. Classes are conducted in such a way that the child has the best chance to act freely and develop his imagination.
Waldorf school – practice instead of theory
Formalized teaching at the Waldorf school comes much later than it is at the public state school. In the first years of learning, the classes are practical. Children learn to clean, cook or take care of the garden. In this way, children acquire practical skills, become responsible and helpful. It is worth mentioning, however, that teaching mathematics or reading begins in the first stage of education in a Waldorf school.