So, I really like Linden Waldorf education. I got to have a tour of the school in Nashville last year. And it's beautiful. Only natural materials are in the classrooms, so the desks are wooden and the toys wood or cloth. There is no technology in the school. There is art everywhere, and the classrooms are painted peaceful pastel colors. Waldorf dolls and other toys allow for students to use their imaginations. Students go outside even when it is raining. Teachers loop with their students--so one class has the same teacher for grades 1 to 8. There are few textbooks as students make their own study books based on teacher lectures. Students take music and handiwork and language.
I had the chance to shadow a first grade classroom this week. And the day was so peaceful. It started out with students asking questions and sharing anecdotes about bunnies--the class was about to get bunnies. Then a few students presented their structures they had made during "morning work". Two students showed a zoo they had made out of blocks. Throughout the day students had multiple opportunities to share with their peers and their instructor. The instructor was truly attentive, and she made an effort to allow students to make choices about activities. They spent about half the day outside, practicing counting jumping rope and also writing numbers with chalk on the pavement and then skip-counting (literally, skip-counting). At one point students were released to make their own play in groups of four. That is all the instruction they were given, and they ran to the task and each group successfully made, rehearsed, and performed a short play. I left the school thinking this is what I would want my own children to attend.
And Waldorf students in general turn out very intelligent--what they do seems to work. It is child-based and uses the imagination and appreciates nature and inquiry.
But, after more reflection, there are some parts of Waldorf education that seem a little iffy. The founder, Steiner, was definitely a mystic. And I get the feeling many of teachers in the Waldorf schools are still mystics. But does this mean the Waldorf education system is itself mystic? After looking into various articles and reflecting upon my own visits, I would say maybe. Imagination is excellent and important, and a rock may be more than just a rock. But it is definitely a rock. There is some idea among Waldorf folk that everything has a deeper and more complex meaning. And while this may be true in some sense, I want my children to know that reality is real. And I'm not sure Waldorf endorses that. But officially Waldorf also does not teach spiritualism to children. Students thank Mother Earth and nature and God for their food. This may be fine depending on what they mean, but what does it mean? And this question of "what does it mean?" seems to be a question often evaded by Waldorf educators, and the question itself is even discouraged. And that worries me.
So, all to say. Waldorf presents itself as secular, child-based education. And I like imagination and free-play and calm with freedom and colors and working with one's hand (also--there's a garden on the school!) I also like critical thinking. I also don't like mysticism. So, I think there is a lot to be gained in the methods of the Linden Waldorf alternative education, but the underlying underlying philosophy may need to be approached with caution.
The Linden Waldorf school in Nashville is extremely nice, and I do not think they mean to have a secret agenda or deceptive facade. It is a good school. I am still be slightly concerned about the teachings about the spiritual at the school. But don't take my word for it. If you are interested you should try to look into it for yourself.
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