WALDORF STRAIGHT TALK
The first Waldorf School, Stuttgart, Germany.
Hello.
This site is an effort to offer straight answers to common questions about Waldorf schools (also known as Steiner schools), their policies and operations, the sort of education they provide, and the thinking behind them.
Questions are listed in the sidebar to the left. Just click on any question that interests you. (If the sidebar is hidden, click on the three short parallel lines in the upper left corner of the screen. This should make the sidebar appear.)
My name is Roger Rawlings. I am a former Waldorf school student and the host today of the website Waldorf Watch. The information I provide here is based on extensive research. Much of it is skeptical and even critical of Waldorf education, but I trust it is free of prejudice. I attempt to let the facts speak for themselves.
I provide many links to other sites where you can find additional information, both favorable and unfavorable to Waldorf.* If you want to read opinions that are wholly favorable to Waldorf schools, you can visit such sites as Why Waldorf Works, Defending Steiner, and Rudolf Steiner Web. You can also consult such sources as Wikipedia, but a word of caution is in order: Rudolf Steiner's followers are dedicated and energetic. They often exert great influence on public websites such as Wikipedia, bending them to the position they prefer. So take nothing for granted at any website you visit, including — of course — this one.
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* Trying to present all points of view can cause confusion. One site says "up," another site says "down;" one says "yes," the other say "no." Which is true?
I have worked to make sure that the answers provided here are true, so you may not need to look elsewhere for further information. But consistent with my advice that you should take no one's word without careful examination, I provide links to other sites to help you extend your inquiries, if you choose.
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INDEX
Here are some topics you may want to investigate. Clicking on the links will take you to the pages indicated. (Remember that the best way to begin most inquiries is to consult The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.)
Ahriman
Angels
Anthroposophical Headquarters
Anthroposophical Medicine
Anthroposophy
Arts-Intensive Curriculum
Astral body
Astrology
Atlantis
The Bible
Biodynamic Gardening
Brain
Christ
Clairvoyance
Class Teacher
Computers
Conditions of Consciousness
Cultural Epochs
Education
Ego
Elemental Beings
Epochs
Etheric body
Eurythmy
Evolution
Festivals
Freedom
Future Jupiter
Future Venus
Future Vulcan
Gnomes
Gods
Goetheanum
Great Epochs
Guardian(s) of the Threshold
Gurus
Head, Heart and Hands
Hierarchies
Higher Worlds
Holistic Education
Holy Grail
Human Stage of Evolution
"I"
Imagination
Incarnation
Initiation
Intellect
Jesus
Jupiter (and Future Jupiter)
Karma
Lazure
Lemuria
Lucifer
Main Lesson
Mars
Michael
Moon (and Old Moon)
Morning Verses
Music
Mysteries
Mystery Plays
Myths
Nature Spirits
Norse Myths
Occult Science
Occultism
Old Moon
Old Saturn
Old Sun
Organs of Clairvoyance
Painting
Parents - also see Waldorf Parents
Planetary Conditions
Planets
Polytheism
Prayers
Present Earth
Progressive Education
Racism
Reincarnation
Religion
Rhythm
Rosicrucianism
Saturn (and Old Saturn)
Science
Seven-Year Stages
Shaded Drawing
Soul World
Spirit-Soul
Spirit World
Spiritual Exercises
Spiritual Science
Steiner, Rudolf
Steiner Schools [see Waldorf Schools]
Steiner-Waldorf Schools [see Waldorf Schools]
Sun (and Old Sun)
Sun God
Supersensible
Technology
Teeth, Change of
Television
Temperaments
Thinking
Threefolding
Vaccination
Veil Painting
Venus (and Future Venus)
Vulcan (and Future Vulcan)
Waldorf Parents
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf Students
Waldorf Teachers
War of All Against All
Wet-on-Wet Painting
Whole Child
Zodiac