Original German term: Waldorfpädagogik
Plain English
Waldorf education is the educational approach developed from Steiner’s ideas, beginning with the first Waldorf school in Stuttgart in 1919.
Modern Translation
It aims to educate the whole child through imagination, rhythm, art, movement, story, practical work, intellectual development, and respect for developmental stages.
Why It Matters
Waldorf is the best-known public expression of anthroposophy, with schools and kindergartens around the world.
For Beginners
The basic idea is that education should form healthy, capable, imaginative, responsible human beings rather than only train test performance.
Important Context
Waldorf education contains both widely admired educational practices and ongoing public debates around science, governance, spirituality, and anthroposophy.