Waldorf School - what is it? Waldorf Kindergarten. Walldorf pedagogy: the pros and cons

A child is an individual with a certain character and characteristics of development. Many parents know that the baby needs to be taught and directed, but does the regular mass school cope with these tasks? Not always. An alternative way of learning can safely be called a system like the Waldorf school. What it is? How does it affect a child's personality? We will try to answer these questions in this article.

Hidden abilities

To some extent, each child is like a piece of plasticine, you can mold anything from it, making maximum efforts. Is it going to sculpt plasticine himself from a figure? Of course not - the answer to this question is known even by the child. With children the same situation. Their talents and abilities only depend to some extent on their genetics, the greater part depends on what we invest in them. Perhaps not all agree with these words, but it is on this basis that children develop in an educational institution such as the Waldorf school. What is this for a wonderful educational system, where instead of learning the multiplication table, do the children draw and laugh? It is in a warm and friendly atmosphere that the child manifests itself best.

Moreover, not having tried various kinds of activity, it is extremely difficult to find out what the pupil likes most and what he really has talent for. Waldorf school conducts such activities. Moscow is the city where one of Steiner's best schools is concentrated.

The first Waldorf school

Such a wonderful educational system was created and implemented by the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. In addition, it was he who created such a doctrine of spiritual knowledge as anthroposophy. About this science, we'll talk a little later, and now we will still return to the creation of the first Waldorf school. In the spring of 1919, Steiner met with employees of the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory, which highlighted the problems of teaching and educating children in ordinary schools. The scientist voiced the Waldorf school curriculum, which he proposes to introduce, and also spoke about anthroposophic teachings and the need for spiritual development of children. Many of his parents were interested in his outlook and prospects for the opening of a new, alternative educational institution and, of course, they agreed to give their children to such a school. Promptly Emil Molt (head of the cigarette factory) bought a room and began the construction of a new school. Since the founder of the new pedagogy was Rudolf Steiner, this educational institution is sometimes called: "Waldorf School of Steiner."

Science of the spirit

This is how many scientific figures characterize the doctrine of anthroposophy. In Greek, "sophia" is wisdom, and "anthropos" is a person, respectively, science studies the features of the development of the individual in the spiritual sphere. This teaching was isolated from Theosophy, and is also based on the knowledge of God and the contemplation of God. The only difference is that Anthroposophy is based on German classical philosophy and the teachings of Goethe and Schiller.

It is believed that this is a mystical science that can help develop a person's magical abilities. Steiner called this area of knowledge "Goetheanism of the 20th century," and since Goethe was a Mason for a while, one can safely say that anthroposophy is somehow connected with magic and mysticism. It was on the basis of these ideas that the Waldorf school was created. What kind of self-development is this and why did Steiner have a huge number of followers?

Unity of three persons

In the teachings of anthroposophy, a person is viewed not only as a single whole, but also including such components as: soul, body and spirit. They, in turn, have their physical and psychological characteristics: the respiratory system, heart and spirit belong to the sphere of emotions, the nervous system and the brain to the intellectual (soul), the metabolism and the musculoskeletal system is the body. The science of anthroposophy studies how to harmonize these three spheres among themselves: a person must be strong in spirit and body, and also have a noble soul. It is knowledge of how to achieve this and gives Waldorf school. What is this behind the mystical science and is it relevant to the development of children? This question can be answered by studying the main theses of anthroposophy in more detail.

Principles of Spiritual Science

First of all, in order for any child to develop, feel comfortable and can open up his potential, he needs respect. He should not feel in the educational institution offended or deprived of attention. Anthroposophy studies methods of self-development through creativity and meditation. In different cities and schools, teaching methods may differ slightly, and basically it depends on the qualifications of the teachers. For example, one Waldorf school in St. Petersburg can make a bias in the educational process for creativity (drawing, singing, dancing, playing musical instruments), while the other - on the spiritual and spiritual development. Anyway, in any school of Steiner children throughout the day are considered and creative, and labor, and spiritual-spiritual block.

Particular attention in the pedagogy of the Waldorf school is paid to the study of culture and traditions. In order for the child not to feel lonely, he must understand that there is a whole world around him that is very interesting and diverse. Various performances and productions, performed by the same children, help them feel more than just a schoolboy. A certain Waldorf school in St. Petersburg can become a child not just an educational institution, but a second family, where it will be comfortable and cozy. Especially such schools like children, who do not have brothers and sisters. The friendly atmosphere in the school is so pleasing to them that they are ready to stay in school almost all day. In a warm and friendly environment, the children really like it, they find new friends and like-minded people.

Nature, as a part of man

Pedagogy Steiner pays special attention to the environment. If a child does not learn to feel himself one with nature, he will not be able to open all his potential once. As a rule, the educational institution is located closer to nature: to clean forest air, near the river, near the mountains. The school itself does not much resemble a class, it is rather a cozy house where you can gather a new family (class), work out creativity and spiritual development. Even furniture in modern Waldorf schools, as a rule, does not contain plastic and toxic substances - everything is only natural.

Evaluation system

The training in the Waldorf school is very different from the lessons in a regular school. A completely different program develops in children an interest in learning, unsupported by rivalry. There are no worst and best, each child is unique and talented in its own way. He is not assessed and does not report for ignorance of anything. In addition, the distinctive feature of such an educational institution is the attitude of teachers towards tips. If in mass school for hints and cheating are scolded, then here it is called help and very much welcomed. In no case in times of failure the child should not feel lonely. On the contrary, at such times the entire class and teachers provide support, help, explain what the child does not understand. The students form a firm belief that they are not alone in this vast world, that there are always people who will come to the rescue, and moreover, this child will also be happy to help someone.

Training program

Naturally, the program at Steiner's School has a huge number of differences from the regular mass school. All this is explained by the fact that in such educational institutions there is an absolutely different bias and goals pursued by teachers. Children are not forced to learn by heart - this is the main credo of this method of teaching, as Waldorf pedagogy. Pros and cons of this school are discussed by many scientists, but to the general opinion, so no one comes. This is explained by the fact that this pedagogy has huge differences that contradict the usual school curriculum. For example, in the 1-2 grades children are not taught reading and writing. Two years in the form of a game children are taught letters and numbers.

In lessons, as a rule, children learn to draw, sew, knit, gardening, foreign languages. Complex exact sciences, such as, for example, mathematics, are studied in elementary school only in the form of a game: children, holding hands, lead roundels, move vertically, diagonally, squarely, rectangular. "Having experienced these figures on yourself," the students in the future can easily draw them, divide them in half, find the perimeter and area.

Holidays and concerts

Waldorf schools pay a lot of attention to holidays and concerts. For each event, children together with teachers prepare performances, sew suits themselves, decorate the concert hall. It is very close to the children, gives them the opportunity to express themselves. Speaking on stage for a shy child is an opportunity to become more relaxed and laid-back. Most often, parents and close relatives are invited to these holidays as guests. The child, feeling support, appears on the stage even more confidently. It is Waldorf school, parents' feedback about which is only positive, has a beneficial effect on children, developing in them the most unexpected talents.

Waldorf Kindergarten

Steiner's pedagogy became so popular in Europe and Asia that it became necessary to create and preschool institutions on the basis of this teaching. After the usual kindergarten, the child who is sent to study Waldorf school, is not easy. The model of education that he saw in the kindergarten completely contradicts the new school: in an ordinary pre-school institution, children are already beginning to learn the seriousness, perseverance, letters and figures. Waldorf Kindergarten is an educational institution for preschool children on the basis of Steiner's pedagogy. Here, children in the game know the world, make crafts, play in the daughter-mother, the store, the hospital. For crafts use various natural materials: pebbles, leaves, cones, acorns. Toys in these gardens are also only wooden or rag.

Approaches and methods

The main problem of ordinary mass schools is the issue of brutality and cruelty of schoolchildren. Disrespect for adults, unwillingness to learn - these are the difficulties of many parents, whom they can not cope with. School teachers also have a hard time at a mass school.

Only a friendly and warm atmosphere can really contribute well to the educational process and the development of the individual. The game process in which children learn, develop, learn the world promotes the development of fine motor skills and speech. Waldorf school possesses all these features. Moscow, a city in which a huge number of such schools are concentrated, but what is most interesting is that they do not obey the city department of education and science. Unlike regular educational institutions, in such schools there is no centralized administrative management, which means that all of them are not connected with one another and do not obey anyone. In Steiner schools, as a rule, there are no directors, they are run by a council consisting of teachers and parents.

Any Waldorf school, whose tuition fees in European countries tend to zero, develops spirituality and talents in children. Even the pencil box with which the child comes to class, he does with the parents himself.

Of course, adherents of strict discipline, such a school just does not like it. There are practically no boundaries at all for children. If, for some reason, the child does not like the lesson or he already knows how, he can safely leave the lesson. Almost the entire educational process, parents participate in the lives of children: they help organize holidays, do various crafts with them, and even conduct lessons. Parent meetings discuss who and what is good at doing, and draw up a schedule. And so, for example, on Monday one of the mothers tells the children how to make beadwork, and on Tuesday - the father of one of the pupils teaches them how to make wooden boats. Every child, regardless of whether the boy is a girl or a girl attends all classes and studies with everyone. Who said, for example, that a boy can not knit or embroider, but a girl should not work with a tree? These are just prejudices that do not exist in an educational institution like the Waldorf school. The addresses and contacts of schools with Steiner pedagogy can be found on their personal websites. In addition, as a rule, Waldorf educational institutions spend an open day every year. You can attend this event, get acquainted with teachers and parents, observe the learning process and decide for yourself whether this school will suit your child.