Waldorf Matters … Waldorf Education in the Modern World

Mrs Elaine Sheppard is Education Manager at Elmfield, in addition to teaching PSHE and German. In this, the first of a weekly blog about key aspects of Steiner Waldorf education, Elaine shares her thoughts on the position of SW education in the world of today.

To be free is to be capable of thinking one `s own thoughts – not the thoughts merely of the body or of society but thoughts generated by one`s deepest most original, most essential and spiritual self, one`s individuality. Rudolf Steiner

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow. Kahil Gibran

We need a new earth - by that I mean we need people with an extraordinarily different mindset and a different way of being and feeling so that this`new earth` can be created for the future healthy development, flourishing and survival of our world and humanity.

We are living in both exciting and challenging times in the world and as Steiner Waldorf educators. We are working towards: 

-        Inspiring our pupils for the path ahead

-        Embedding an insatiable curiosity for life and learning

-        Developing habits and encourage choices for long term health and resilience, 

-        Cherishing and nurturing their individuality and helping ourpupils to discover and unfold their unique gifts

On our recent training day at Elmfield, we were reminded once again of the links between health and education and the need for `balance` in our bodies and lives and the hormones which are released when that balance is not there and, vice versa, when it is. This endorsed the `rightness` of our Steiner Waldorf curriculum.

COP 26 brings us all into sharp focus of the precarious times we are living in and the urgent call to action. We are all living and experiencing to some degree the challenges of uncertain futures, adverse mental health, increasing anxiety and it is hard for us all not to become overwhelmed at times.

And there has never been a more exciting and pressing time for SWE as the world needs more than ever the riches, depth and wisdom it has to offer. As Steiner educators we need to ensure that we articulate our offer.  Steiner educated pupils is what the world needs now!

-        We need to be able to breathe and we need a truly balanced curriculum which enables us to do that

-        We need to have people who are going to take initiative, create, innovate and solve the challenges of today and tomorrow

-        We need a curriculum whose intent is to nurture and develop imaginations, critical thinkers and people who can create, useful, purposeful, sustainable `stuff` 

-        We need to have people who have a well developed inner moral compass who take the long term view, who `plant the tree` not just for now but for the future generations who will share in its fruits

We need empathetic hearts, creative hands and enquiring minds – head heart and hand – all three facets of the human being are equally important.

The model of main lesson gives the pupils an opportunity to go into depth in learning and over the years, it gives an overview of many subjects, areas in life and helps to develop their humanity. Our education is to teach children how to become human in a nutshell and that is what our planet and humanity is crying out for – we need a new earth.