An Introduction to Steiner Education

An Introduction to Steiner Education: The Waldorf School

“To educate youth … is to ennoble the mind, to fire the imagination, to fortify the will and to quicken initiative for life.” So writes Francis Edmunds in this inspiring, authoritative and popular introduction to Steiner (Waldorf) Education.

Rudolf Steiner’s educational system—long established and respected on the European continent—is gradually spreading around the world. Its radical principles, based on a view of the human being as composed of body, soul, and spirit, allows for a truly holistic and balanced education that nourishes the whole child. The author explains, in a clear and lively style, many aspects of Steiner’s educational theories, especially the three stages of child development and how the Waldorf curriculum provides a healthy understanding, nurturing, and support for these phases.

Edmunds discusses the role of the class teacher, the “main lesson,” the four temperaments, attitudes toward discipline, competition, and examinations. His answers are based on the author’s many years of rich and varied experience as an educator of both children and adults.

This is an excellent introduction to the theory and practice of Steiner/Waldorf education, whether for teachers or anyone who would like to know more about Steiner’s ideas. It is especially useful for parents who are looking for a holistic education for their children.

About the Author

Francis Edmunds began his studies as a medical student, but the driving force in his life was a quest for insight into the nature of the human being. This journey led him to anthroposophy and his vocation as a teacher. In 1962 he founded Emerson College, an adult educational establishment based on Rudolf Steiner’s work. He traveled and lectured extensively around the world. Francis Edmunds died in 1989.