Core Principals of Public Waldorf Education
Educating the Whole Child

Notes from a Lecture by Dr. Liz Beaven, Dean of Academic Development, Rudolf Steiner College, 2014

• Everything starts with the student, working from the student’s developmental stage
  
  
• Waldorf education values a strong body, lively imagination and helping students to develop a creative connection between themselves, others, and the world
  
  
• Curriculum that is taught meets the students’ needs
  
  
• The curriculum works from whole concepts to the parts and develops from an understanding of what came before and what will come next
  
  
• Waldorf education is a holistic approach teaching the head, heart and hands, in other words, it teaches for knowledge (the head), it teaches the importance of kindness and compassion (the heart), and it teaches the value of hard work (the hands)
  
  
• Waldorf education strives to protect childhood, to give students time and space to be children, developing at their pace rather than the fast paced world
  
  
• Learning is through the integration of subjects, content knowledge, and artistic experiences
  
  
• Instruction is in nature as often as possible and works to preserve a sense of awe for students in the natural world
  
  
• Noticing and learning from the seasons are integral parts of the students’ learning
  
  
• The students’ environment matters; providing a reverence for nature and an appreciation for beauty helps students know how they fit into the world around them
  
  
• There is an importance of storytelling, helping children develop vivid images, pictures in their mind; this ability is crucial for understanding the meaning of what they are reading in the future
  
  
• The teacher acts and is viewed as an artist
  
  
• Waldorf education believes that who stands before the students matters and teachers work to be worthy of imitation
  
  
• It is important that the teaching cadre works to continually improve and focus on self development
  
  
• Rightful authority and respect is taught to students and expected from students and when done in a firm but kind manner helps students feel safe and grow, leading to their autonomy in the future
  
  
• There is an essential need for play; it is through play that students develop their bodies, imagination, and learn to interact with others in positive, productive ways
  
  
• Rhythm provides a safety and security for students; they know what to expect and this provides a peaceful calm within them 
  
  

Dr. Beaven has over 25 years of experience in Waldorf education. Before her appointment as President of Rudolf Steiner College, she served as Dean of Academic Development. Prior to that, she served as Administrator of the Sacramento Waldorf School, a K-12 school in Fair Oaks, California.  

About Rudolf Steiner College:

Rudolf Steiner College, which is now in its 37th year, is a hub for individuals who share a common vision: hope for the future of today’s youth and a commitment to bring them the best tools and inspiration to succeed on their life path. RSC is the largest Waldorf Teacher Education College in North America - with nearly 4,000 alumni. RSC enrolls more than 250 students per year in academic programs and serves more than 1,000 participants annually in professional development and other courses of interest.

The Sacramento Waldorf School in Fair Oaks (preschool through twelfth grade) has been successfully preparing young people to live fulfilling and rewarding lives for well over fifty years. The beautiful 22-acre campus includes state-of-the-art science labs, three performance halls, a gymnasium, athletic fields, and a 5-acre working farm. Sacramento Waldorf School provides a comprehensive and well-rounded inter-disciplinary Waldorf curriculum that is permeated with arts, music, sciences, and foreign language. Sacramento Waldorf School students develop creative, flexible, independent thinking, thereby preparing themselves for college, graduate studies, and successful careers. Fully accredited by WASC and AWSNA.