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After Waldorf
After Waldorf
This study looks into the inner workings of the Waldorf philosophy in order to understand how the students take its teachings into the greater world after they leave the school. The study asked 116 participants to reflect on their experiences after leaving the various Waldorf schools and considered how well they transitioned to their alternative learning environment. There were many differences in the responses of the participants however there were several themes that emerged that reflects both the flaws and virtues of the teaching methods of the different Waldorf schools. Participants indicated a proficiency in english and writing skills as well as critical thinking and artistic ability. In contrast, the participants found that they lacked skills or knowledge in the STEM field and testing. As a result of this the participants found that they had to work harder to overcome their disadvantages in these areas.
My Epilogue
My Epilogue
Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson
it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
I started my journey a very long time ago when for the first time I entered a kindergarten classroom. This kindergarten was a special place and a part of the Waldorf community that I would attend for fifteen years of my life. In college I would also decide to contribute to the Waldorf community and go back even if not the same school but to the wider community at large. I decided to perform this study when I was reflecting back on my own experiences entering college. I felt unprepared and that I had to play catch up and often thought I was the only one who had the struggles of adopting my entire work and study strategy.
When starting this study I knew I wanted multiple perspectives and ideas so I could get a better understanding, not just in one Waldorf community but the larger and global Waldorf community. The survey was sent out with the help of the contacts I had made in high school and college and with a matter of weeks we had one hundred and sixteen responses from across the country and around the world. And the more people participated the more I saw that I was not alone. There were others who had a similar experience to myself and were happy to share their experience.
I hope that through this study I can better help Waldorf and alternative educational fields in understanding their students. Understanding a situation and a point of view is the first step in causing a change so that no one feels as though they were alone in their struggles. These students should get the assurance that they need so that they don't have to start their new experiences at a disadvantage.
Quotes from survey
Quotes from survey
22. How do you describe Waldorf to someone who knows nothing about it?
"I usually describe it as a small artsy school that teaches and is structured in a non conventional more alternative way" - participant 74
"Weird, we made knives and learned abt transcendentalism" - participant 96
"A very small and weird school, but I loved it and it helped be become an understanding and well rounded person." - participant 8
"Nice hippies who hate technology and love chalk" - participant 110
"An alternative cult-style private school with an emphasis on outdoors and humanities" - participant 65
"Main lesson, arts oriented, diverse education, very strange events (michaelmas)" - participant 10
"Artsy and quirky. Arts and music play an important role in the Waldorf culture." - participant 62
"Cult with Gnomes and ferries haha. But seriously, I would say low tech school with small classes and lots of artistic stuff. You also spend lots of time outside, which I appriciate." - participant 86
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