Waldorf and Anthroposophy

Greetings!

I wanted to drop you a note to express my thanks for putting forth an excellent source of information on the goings-on in Riverwest!

I also wanted to write with a concern over the article by Robin Beard on the Tamarack Community School (Waldorf). I am an Arts educator living in Riverwest for the last six years. When I read Robin’s article, I was struck by the almost propaganda-like tone. While generally in support of the idea of alternative education, I feel that Waldorf education basically is doing our society, and especially our kids, an enormous disservice. Based on research I’ve done with both online sources and hardcopy, Waldorf education is a philosophy based on “anthroposophy,” a sectarian/occultist view of society and history, created by Rudolf Steiner during the latter part of the 19th century.

Firstly, here are a few points about the educational practices implemented by Waldorf schools (which do not vary from school to school, based strictly upon Rudolf Steiner’s writings and instructions):

- Students are limited to a select few Art materials and subject matter when allowed to create Art.

- Art created must follow specific instructions; “free” creative expression is discouraged.

- No civic lessons are presented to the students; behaviors outside of the classroom (i.e. “recess”) are not monitored nor addressed in lessons - students are “watched over by angels.”

- Students practice rote copying from the blackboard; lessons presented are often sayings and “anthroposophy” tenements of Rudolf Steiner.
While I don’t mind a nice, positive article on a truly beneficial system, I do mind blatant propaganda for a system that hides its true colors and markets false fronts to an unsuspecting populace. The people of Riverwest, and the city, deserve schools that service the students - not schools that secretly aim to create disciples of an antiquated system of thought.

Jeffery Johnson

Riverwest Currents - Volume 1 - Issue 8 - September 2002