One of the hardest questions to answer, whether it is asked of us at a family gathering, in casual conversation with friends, or on the checkout line in a store, is, “What kind of school is a Waldorf school?”

The answers which we might give, such as:

• “It is a school that believes in educating the whole child.”
• ”It is an innovative approach to teaching that integrates art, music, and drama in its instructional program.”
• “It is an education that is concerned with the spiritual development of children.”

  All are accurate, but only provide part of the answer. Clearly, there is much more to consider.

This challenging question, which is difficult to answer quickly, can be very rewarding to think about over time, and it is what we will work with in this one-week course while we look at the fundamental ideas that make Waldorf such a unique form of education. We will study Rudolf Steiner’s seminal book, Education of the Child in the Light of Anthroposophy, to see how his spiritual insights shaped the Waldorf school’s pedagogy, curriculum, and understanding of child development. And as is always the case with Waldorf education, we will ask all participants to be actively, emotionally, and thoughtfully engaged in this exploration.

This course will be accompanied by a choice of either Tone Eurythmy or Painting through the Waldorf Curriculum. Please indicate your choice.

JACK PETRASH

JACK PETRASH has over twenty-five years experience as a class teacher and a teacher of teachers. He currently teaches third grade at the Washington Waldorf School in Bethesda, MD. He has worked with Waldorf teacher training in both the US and Canada, and as the director of the Nova Institute is actively involved in parent education. He is the author of three books: Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out; Covering Home: Lessons on the Art of Fathering from the Game of Baseball; and Navigating the Terrain of Childhood. His commentaries have appeared in the Washington Post and on National Public Radio. For more information please visit novainstitute.org.