Rudolf Steiner was born in Austria 1861. Steiner suggests whatever a young child is told to do should not be artificially contrived by adults who are
comfortable in our intellectual
culture but should spring from life’s
ordinary tasks. The whole point of a kindergarten class is to give young children the opportunity to imitate life in a simple and
wholesome way. Steiner believed in Piaget's 'natural line' of development and that cognitive development came from within the child.
The Steiner method of education is for pupils of regardless of academic ability, class, ethnicity or religion. It takes into account the 'whole child' which sounds a lot like what RA Butler had to say in the 1944 Education act. Steiner education takes into account the needs of the child, "academic, physical, emotional and spiritual" (steinerwaldorf).
Early Years
In Steiner Education early years the three R's (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) are not formally taught. It is believed that the child will learn these more affectively if he or she has time to develop socially, emotionally and physically first. Literacy and numeracy are learnt through activity and play. Language and communication is learnt orally. Steiner puts emphasis on child led activities as well as teacher led.
Lower School (7 to 14)
The curriculum in lower school is structured to accord with the child's imagination and learning readiness. Steiner education aims to teach children in the way best suited to them, as they believe "young children learn best when the teaching appeals foremost to their feelings and artistic sense" (steinerwaldorf). This can relate to Dr Howard Gardner and his eight intelligences, and that each child has a unique blend of intelligence, some more developed than others. So it is important for the teacher to teach in a way best suited for the child and help develop their weaker intelligences. I agree with the Steiner approach that children will develop and learn best if taught depending on whatever approach appeals the most to them.
Upper School (14 to 19)
From 7 to 14, Steiner school pupils progress through their classes with only one teacher. This could be a good thing if you learn well with that teacher and get on well with one another, however this may also be a disadvantage to the child if they do not like the teaching method used, and that child is then stuck with that teacher for 7 years. When the pupils reach upper school at the age of 14, it marks a significant change in their education so far, they are given a new teacher. The sudden change may again have positive and negative consequences. The core curriculum for upper school consists of:
- Maths - Number Patterns, including Permutations and Combinations, Conic sections and trigonometry.
- Biology - Human Physiology and anatomy, human physiology and embryology and botany and cell biology.
- Chemistry - Organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, chemistry of the elements.
- Physics - Transport, power, Newtonian mechanics.
- History - 20th century, ancient civilisation.
- Art History - Ancient art, Egypt, Medieval times, the renaissance, the impressionists.
- Geography - Climatology, Meteorology, Geomorphology.
Here's an interesting article from 2012, asking the question 'Does Steiner schools offer a rounded eduction?'
Reference List
- Caroline Lewis (2013)
- Steiner Waldorf (2013) Steiner Education. Available internet:
http://www.steinerwaldorf.org.uk/ [Date assessed Jan 31st]
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