Waldorf Model

The Waldorf education model is another example of a public education model shifting away from the traditional model. Developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, The Waldorf model of education has grown across programs in the United States and worldwide.

Like other non-traditional models, a focus in the Waldorf model is educating the whole child. That is done in several ways, including early education specifically in music and play. Children are encouraged to learn creatively in a hands-on approach (Buren, 2021).

For Emily Remensperger, a 4th-grade teacher at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School in New Haven, CT, what inspires her about the model is how the hands-on approach and creative learning empower students.

“Children feel they are literally “taking the world in their hands” and in so many other ways they spend their time in a world that isn’t concerned with their experience, their needs, or what they have to offer,” Remensperger said.

Waldorf schools have grown across the United States and the world, and thus we can examine how effective they are. A study done at 23 California Waldorf schools, found that certain students benefitted from its gradual approach. It also found that students were more respectful when talking to adults compared to public school students. The students were more socially aware, creative, and inquisitive (Zepeda).

“Waldorf schools should be about fostering those relationships, both human and through nature, history, science, music, art, that feed us, and fuel us to go into the world and hear, transform, create in a way that is aware of the interconnectedness of our world,” said Remensperger.

Given that an emphasis is put on promoting student learning through motivation, how does that affect their STEAM-based education? In the research study Explaining Waldorf students’ high motivation but moderate achievement in science: is inquiry-based science education the key?, the focus was on whether or not the positive attitude of students in the Waldorf model affects overall performance. The study found that while the Waldorf students were more interested in learning science-based topics, their overall achievement was lower. While the lower achievement in science-based topics is notable, how Waldorf can instill greater levels of motivation is important (Salchegger et al., 2021).

Compared to the traditional school where test scores are deemed most important, Waldorf schools emphasize the whole value of the child.

“Schools should be places where we recognize the profound lessons we are teaching socially and emotionally to developing human beings,” Remensperger said.

An important note about the Waldorf model is the uniqueness of its teachers. Unlike the traditional model where students go from grade to grade with new teachers, students will stay with their teacher for multiple years. This allows for a student to build a relationship with their teacher, but at the same time they might miss out on experiencing different teaching methods.

Teachers at Waldorf schools go through extensive training, but there are still challenges for preparing new teachers for this model.

It is hard!,” said Remensperger. “There is a lot of freedom in this kind of teaching, but that requires initiative and knowledge to determine how and what you want to teach in any given block.”

A major factor of the Waldorf model is its cost. Waldorf, like other private educations, can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars a year. Compared to free public education, this can be a severe drawback for lower or middle-class families. The cost of Waldorf education is also a contradiction with the teaching philosophies of Steiner (Drew 2021).

While Remensperger acknowledges that families that can afford private education like Waldorf are already well-positioned to be successful, the skills learned benefit students as they grow and become adults.

“I believe that the Waldorf model strengthens cooperative creativity, problem-solving, communication, empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking in its students,” said Remensperger.”

The Waldorf model does what many models shy away from, allowing students to embrace their creativity. From the model, students not only were more creative and inquisitive but also more respectful compared to students that were not in the model. However, the cost can be a major barrier for families that cannot afford the high tuition cost.

Sources:

Zepeda, C. (n.d.). Academic and Social Effects of Waldorf Education on Elementary School Students. California State University, Monterey Bay. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1276&context=caps_thes_all.

Salchegger, S., Wallner-Paschon, C., & Bertsch, C. (2021). Explaining Waldorf students’ high motivation but moderate achievement in Science: Is inquiry-based Science Education the key? Large-Scale Assessments in Education, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40536–021–00107–3

Buren, A. V. (2020, April 19). What is the Waldorf School Method? The New York Times. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/parenting/waldorf-school.html.

Drew, C. (2021, June 26). The 7 big waldorf school criticisms (2021). Helpful Professor. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://helpfulprofessor.com/waldorf-school-criticisms/.