Q. Do Waldorf teachers bring Anthroposophic doctrines into the classroom? Are the children taught Anthroposophy? [1]
A. Rudolf Steiner often denied that Waldorf schools teach Anthroposophy to their students, and Waldorf teachers today often echo this denial. But Steiner also sometimes explicitly acknowledged that Anthroposophy does intrude into the Waldorf classroom.
Waldorf teachers frequently acknowledge that their work is guided by Anthroposophy; but they generally claim that they do not teach their students Anthroposophical doctrines. For devoted Waldorf teachers, however, Anthroposophy is the Truth. This presents them with a serious challenge. Hiding Anthroposophy from the students would mean hiding the truth from the students. [2]
Here is Steiner affirming that Waldorf students are exposed to Anthroposophy. Addressing teachers at the first Waldorf school, he said: “You need to make the children aware that they are receiving the objective truth, and if this occasionally appears anthroposophical, it is not anthroposophy that is at fault. Things are that way because anthroposophy has something to say about objective truth. It is the material that causes what is said to be anthroposophical. We certainly may not go to the other extreme, where people say that anthroposophy may not be brought into the school. Anthroposophy will be in the school when it is objectively justified, that is, when it is called for by the material itself.” [3] Since Anthroposophists believe that their doctrines hold the great truths underlying all other knowledge, they think that the presence of Anthroposophy will be “justified” at virtually every point in every subject studied. Waldorf students may not be told that they are learning Anthroposophical concepts, and indeed the teaching of such concepts may be subtle and indirect, but such teaching does often occur.
When Anthroposophy is not taught directly, it may enter a child's consciousness through the general spiritual ambiance of the school; casual comments made by teachers outside regular classroom settings; the myths and other metaphysical tales told and retold in the school; spiritually charged paintings, music, and dance; the "morning verses" recited daily; and so forth. If a child attends a Waldorf school for many years, s/he inevitably internalizes various Anthroposophical attitudes and beliefs.
[1] Anthroposophy is the belief system underlying Waldorf education. See "Anthroposophy - What Is It?"
[2] Not all Waldorf teachers are Anthroposophists, but Steiner said they all should be. "As Waldorf teachers, we must be true anthroposophists in the deepest sense of the word in our innermost feeling.” — Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 118. Some Waldorf proponents today openly endorse this view. "Waldorf teachers must be anthroposophists first and teachers second." — Waldorf teacher Gilbert Childs, STEINER EDUCATION IN THEORY AND PRACTICE (Floris Books, 1991), p. 166.
[3] Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER, p. 495.
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Pronunciation: "Anthroposophy" is pronounced an-throw-POS-o-fee. "Anthroposophical" is pronounced an-throw-po-SOPH-e-cal. "Anthroposophic" is an-throw-po-SOPH-ick. "Anthroposophist" is an-throw-POS-i-fist.