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Originally Posted by springmama
Where can find more information about the Waldorf philosophy? Books? A list of schools by area?
What do you love about Waldorf? Dislike? Are your children satisfied, happy, healthy in this environment? TIA! |
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Originally Posted by Alexander
Except that it is now out-of-date. Providing children an education steeped in the reactions of the Industrial Age, when we are moving rapidly into the Information Era, is not only a step back (by any measure) but a denial of the problems and opportunities faced by children in their futures.
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Originally Posted by Alexander
http://www.waldorfcritics.com
The educational problem is that it is a concept born in the darkest era of the Industrial Age, and is a philisophical reaction from a class of elite that abhored the industrialization of the common man. Nothing wrong with that. Except that it is now out-of-date. Providing children an education steeped in the reactions of the Industrial Age, when we are moving rapidly into the Information Era, is not only a step back (by any measure) but a denial of the problems and opportunities faced by children in their futures. a |
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Originally Posted by Deborah
Alexander,
Please give me a description of an appropriate form of education for children in the Information Era? Or an example? I'm curious. Thanks. Nana |
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
Totally disagree with you. Waldorf kids are prepared to face the world as individuals and do quite well in college. I don't think you know what you are talking about.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
Not all children thrive in Sudbury or totally child led learning.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
Also, Waldorf children are very prepared to thrive in the info age as they are very independent thinkers.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
My child is very bright but not very motivated to stretch in directions of little interest.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
Waldorf has made him a very balanced person instead of the total egghead he leans toward. He wouldn't be learning to jump rope, ride a unicycle or dance if he wasn't being gently pushed to do so.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
He will pick up computers very quickly in a couple of years when he is older.
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
Now, he needs to be outside running, jumping and exploring.
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Originally Posted by Alexander
Well, it is quite a few years since I properly researched the fundamentals of Waldorf, so my "facts and figures" are from memory, not from my hot-link armory.
However, I have never said that Waldorf children are not prepared to face the world as individuals. I hold the view that they are generally well ballanced individuals. Mostly, I suspect, this is more because they come from loving families than because of any educational advantage gained from "edu-spiritulism" (Anthroposophy). |
| "Do quite well in college". What does that mean? Compared to what? If we take a sample of parents with similar backgrounds (mostly educated and/or caring or professionals) that do NOT send their children to Waldorf schools, do you think these children will do less well at college than Waldorf children? |
| And there is another thing. Waldorf education was born in the depths of a desperate time, and much of the anatomy of a school is a good antidote to the early mechanisation of the work place, (wooden toys, gentle music, discussion opportunities, art etc..). However, it has always been about preparing children for the rigures of industrial life, (though at the elite end of it) and I can hardly think of a better example of industrialization in education than the post modern university system we find undergrads in today. Very different from the elite university educational environment of Steiner's time! But closer to the stratification of victorian society, and the struggles of individuals to both fit in and elevate themselves into a better earning bracket through self-improvement. |
| The Steiner system itself is from the victorian period, authoritarian, deeply paternal and socially un-enlightened, though we, blinkered by our own industrialized existance (that is almost all of us) may not at first clearly and immediately understand where the fault lies. |
| The big question is, is his program of education, (harp by a certain age, no violin before (whenever because the child's spirit is not ready or whatever), no "dark" colours, only those of the rainbow (so help me!), discourage children from drawing machines (cars, planes, anything man-made) etc), an education that can be considered one that empowers children, and readies them for the Information Era?, or could we call that a left-over of another age along with his other ideas that place coloured people as "sub"-species, no "interbreading" with Jews, etc? |
| The growing middle classes, the industrialists and the monied intellectual class of which Steiner was a part was able simply to buy a different environment for their children, protecting them from the uncomfortable realities of latter-day imperialist industrial society. |
| These days, some of the schools may well have progressed, (banning Jews is simply not any longer acceptable in most scools) and there may not be the continuous analysis of the development of the spirit through paintings and colours. And schools do still allow children to run around outside etc. None of these things are bad, but the fundamental point I'm am making is that these schools are founded on a reactionary principle of the late 19th century. |
| For many people, that is fine. Perhaps they see the world largely as a continuation of the Industial Age, or perhaps they feel that the reaction to 19th century European Imperialist Industrial Society is enough. Or maybe they don't think about any of this. School systems that still plant their roots in the 19th century and have not adapted far enough for the Information Era will simply be irrelevent to today's four year olds. Empowerment for an Industrial Society in the Industrial Age is different from empoerment for an Industrial Society in the Information Era. Subtle, but different. |
| I was so bummed out by the Waldorf Tribe thread going away that I may have been a bit snippy. |
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Originally Posted by Rhonwyn
I only mentioned computers because you brought up the information age. |
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Originally Posted by Alexander
Yes. I understand. However, the Inforamtion Era is not about computers, (although they are remarkable tools for the search and processing of information). The Information Era is about ideas, and problem solving (another coincidence with programming, as much thought is needed to be put into the solving of complex and unfamiliar problems brought about by the advent of computers).
A child of the Information Era is just as likely to be successful in design, painting, teaching or business, a mechanic, plumber or welder. A child of the Information Era is in this way equipped, that to any new situation, profession or problem, s/he can bring teamwork, insite, problem-solving skills and a vision of "the big picture" that today are generally lacking in the workforce at large. Such a person may well never touch a computer. Hope this helps. a |
