Waldorf Education: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Are you considering Waldorf education for your child? This unique approach, emphasizing creativity and hands-on learning, has attracted many parents. But is it the right fit for your family? This article offers an unbiased review of the pros and cons of Waldorf education to help you make an informed decision.

What is Waldorf Education?

Waldorf Education, developed by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner in 1919, is based on anthroposophy, a spiritual philosophy emphasizing the child's holistic development. Steiner believed that imaginative and practical, hands-on work is the best way to promote learning. The philosophy focuses on fostering creativity, imagination, and a sense of community. Waldorf schools are based on the philosophy that imaginative and practical, hands-on work is the best way to promote learning, and children are introduced to lessons through music, visual arts, dance, writing, and myth. The Waldorf curriculum is structured according to the stages of children's development, integrating arts, music, and movement alongside academic subjects.

The Core Principles

When researching Waldorf education, you'll frequently encounter the term "anthroposophy." Anthroposophy is basically the core belief system of Rudolph Steiner, who founded Waldorf education. It’s a spiritual belief system that is interesting, although may sound ‘woo woo’ or hippie to some. Anthroposophy is about human connection to the universe.

The nine essentials of Waldorf education are very child-oriented and foster a safe, cozy environment which make learning more fun. For example, the first essential is "love and warmth." At one school, the kids get to wear slippers inside, they encourage parents to send warm soups for lunch, they use natural lighting.

Pros of Waldorf Education

Fostering Creativity and Imagination

Imagination, creativity, and critical thinking are a huge part of the curriculum. Art, dance and drama is a big part of the curriculum in Waldorf schools. They sing every day, tell stories, do puppet shows, painting and sculpting. It’s more art-based than most other education systems. Some Waldorf schools in French-speaking areas are called “Ecole Imagine”, because imagination and free play is a big part of it.

Read also: The Waldorf Approach

Instead of teaching specific skills such as reading, Waldorf encourages students to paint or draw letters until they learn to recognize and write them.

Nature-Based Learning

Not all Waldorf schools are forest schools, but all Waldorf schools do have a large nature-based component because connection to nature is deeply embedded in the anthroposophy philosophy. Students learn skills that they’d likely never learn if not for a Waldorf school. Students in Waldorf schools generally learn to forge, harvest, garden, do wood-work, knit and sew, how to make bricks. Outdoor classes are not only offered at some Waldorf schools, students are encouraged to get muddy and play in the rain. Caring for animals is also a common activity.

Holistic Approach and Collaboration

The holistic approach to education and the focus on collaborative tasks are significant advantages. Waldorf students tend to have good outcomes; most attend university. Despite them having a less traditional academic approach, it seems that kids that come from a waldorf background go on to higher education. The Waldorf method assigns the teacher the role of facilitator and guide, fostering a sense of community and cooperation. The philosophy emphasizes building strong relationships between teacher and student.

Benefits for Young Children

Waldorf is highly beneficial to all young children under 7. The outdoor time, free play, and imaginative play are things that many mainstream schools have adapted - they’re not unique to Waldorf schools. Free-play being the best for their learning has been proven to be the best.

Peaceful Environment

Drop offs and pickups are so peaceful compared to going to a regular school. The wind chimes, the fire they make every morning, how warm and friendly the staff are contribute to a positive experience.

Encouraging Independent Thinking

During WW2 in Germany, the Nazis aimed to shut down Waldorf schools, because they’re known to teach free-spirited, critical and independent thinking; skills that the Nazis did not want people to have. This is a great sign that Waldorf schools encourage independent, free spirtness.

Focus on Arts and Practical Skills

On any given day, students can be seen riding unicycles around the grounds, playing songs on their recorders, or practicing in a Renaissance play that they wrote and produced. Through creative arts, such as knitting and woodworking, students also learn basic arithmetical skills of counting, geometry, and fractions. They learn about science, zoology, and biology by crafting animals and dolls out of pine cones, rocks, and other materials they find outside.

What You Might Find in a Waldorf Classroom

Artwork everywhere: Paintings, pastels, pen and ink sketches - you name it. Students’ finished artwork lines the walls of the schools, not to mention individual student notebooks.
Journals of daily lessons instead of textbooks: Students hand-write lessons from their teachers each day. These journals contain artwork, math problems, and history lessons all written and drawn by hand.
The same teacher for years: The Waldorf tradition of “looping” means a teacher stays with the same class for up to eight years. The goal is to promote bonding between students and teachers.
Storytelling, cooking, and gardening in the younger grades: It’s common to find cooking utensils, including knives and chopping boards, and a bubbling pot of soup in the classroom.
A lesson or two outdoors: Students learn about science by using their senses and curiosity to interact with and observe plants, animals, and other things they may find outside.
Classrooms without walls, sometimes without furniture: Waldorf education has been adapted to home schooling programs and community programs without physical schools. In some classrooms, particularly kindergarten, children have no desks.

What Supporters Say

Restricting access to television and video games stimulates children’s curiosity. These advocates argue that without TV or computers, children build a habit of reading and writing in their free time.
Children are treated as individuals and curriculum is tailored to their unique style of learning. Students are discouraged from competing and are free to learn at their own pace.
Waiting until the later grades to teach reading and math promotes long-term achievement. Because brain development occurs at a different pace for each child, the Waldorf approach helps students thrive until their learning skills catch up with their development.

Cons of Waldorf Education

Less Focus on Academics in Early Years

There is less focus on academics in the early years. This is likely a good thing, as studies have shown, but it may be seen as a con by some people, depending on what you value in early years education. They tend to be less focused on grades overall. Waldorf schools will vary on how they go about calculating and sending home grades, but overall there is a bit less focus on marks than in a traditional school. In the Waldorf Academy of Toronto for example, students receive grades (numeric or letter) starting from Grade 5. Students don’t focus on traditional forms of reading until third grade. Instead, they spend time listening to stories and recognizing sounds in the early grades.

Possible Lack of Specialty Teachers and Delayed Diagnosis

Possible lack of availability of specialty teachers may be a concern. There could be a delay in diagnosing kids with special needs. The public school system has systems in place to screen kids very early, for reading and other learning challenges.

Cost and Accessibility

Most Waldorf schools are private schools. The majority of Waldorf schools are privately owned, which can make them financially inaccessible for some families.

Social Adjustment

Kids from Waldorf backgrounds may not relate to the education experience that most people their age had.

Potential for Anti-Vaccination Sentiment

They can attract an anti-vax crowd.

Teacher Qualifications

The teachers at a Waldorf may not be qualified to teach in regular public schools. Teachers may be Waldorf trained, but they don’t have the Bachelor of Education which is required to teach in public schools.

Not Ideal for All Children

If you have an older child who really likes subjects like math and value academic achievement, Waldorf may not be the best fit. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a technology-intensive classroom that prepares children for a fast-driven world, Waldorf may not be for you. At the same time, a Waldorf school may not be for you if you’re more comfortable with a traditional approach to reading, writing, and arithmetic. It could also not be the right fit if you worry that your child will fall behind if she doesn’t learn the basics in her first few years at school. Finally, while Waldorf encourages children to roam and play outside, there may not be much chance for organized teams that compete with others. If your child loves competition, she may not get it here.

Limited use of technology

Waldorf classrooms are famous for banning technology. Unwired classrooms: There are no computers, iPods or iPads, videos, pocket calculators, or CDs in the early grades. Limited use of technology is allowed in high school. Admissions packets at many Waldorf schools contain strict media policies that parents and students must sign, limiting the child’s access to television, computers, iPods, iPads, video games, and pretty much every electronic device that can distract a young child. At some Waldorf schools, everyday use of electronic media is banned for students until the fifth grade. Beginning in sixth grade and with parental supervision, some Waldorf schools allow students to watch limited amounts of television and movies. Some schools allow sixth graders to carry a cell phone as long as they don’t keep it in their backpacks during school hours, but Internet and video game use is still discouraged. It’s not until high school that most Waldorf schools allow students to have limited use of electronic media, including the Internet and social media.

What Critics Say

Lack of access to technology cheats kids. In an increasingly high-tech world, depriving kids of access to and familiarity with technology puts them at a disadvantage and makes little sense.
Too much copying goes on in classrooms. Instead of using textbooks, students write and draw what they have learned during the day. When children have to write their lessons down each day, it discourages them from actual learning.
Waiting until the later grades to teach basic skills sets children back. Most do catch up in the later grades, but it’s difficult to assess when children aren’t tested in the early years.
Lack of testing gives students a disadvantage. Without standardized testing in the early grades, gauging student progress is difficult. How, critics ask, can you help a student who’s faltering without knowing what he’s learned? What’s more, students are ill-prepared for how to take tests by the time they reach high school and college.
Waldorf schools have a religious affiliation that isn’t fully acknowledged. Waldorf teachings are based on Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy of anthroposophy, which is based on his spiritual beliefs. Although anthroposophy isn’t taught at Waldorf schools, critics contend Waldorf’s teachings amount to a religion.

Controversial Founder

The founder of Waldorf education, Rudolph Steiner, was not the best guy. One thing you’ll frequently see mentioned online if you’re researching Waldorf school pros and cons is that the founder of anthroposophy (an Austrian guy named Rudolph Steiner who died in 1925) was a racist and a fascist. Honestly, this fact is one of the main criticisms I see of Waldorf education online.

Waldorf vs. Montessori Education

Waldorf and Montessori Education are two well-known alternative approaches emphasizing holistic development and individual learning experiences for children. Montessori education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is based on the belief that children are naturally curious and capable of independent learning. Montessori classrooms are designed to encourage independent exploration, emphasizing practical learning materials. The curriculum is divided into distinct stages of development, allowing children to progress at their own pace.

Montessori learning strongly emphasizes practical life skills, such as problem-solving and decision-making. However, a child educated through this method gains thorough, comprehensive knowledge supported by practical achievements. A student from such a school can communicate with both younger and older peers, resolve conflicts, manage their schedule, work independently, and concentrate on important tasks.

In the Montessori environment, the teacher assumes the position of a guide and observer. They allow children to learn independently, explain safety rules, and recognize each student's strengths.

Both classrooms prioritize aesthetically pleasing interiors, natural materials, warm and calming tones, and harmony. In both environments, children have free access to play or creative materials. Assessment in both cases radically differs from traditional schooling. In alternative pedagogical methods, assessment is necessary to identify students' strengths and talents, and it is based on teacher observations rather than academic testing.

Making the Decision

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to send your child to a Waldorf school is a personal one. It is important to acknowledge that no educational approach is universally superior, as each child is unique. Both approaches offer unique advantages and challenges; the decision ultimately depends on your child's learning style, personality, and educational priorities.

Final Words of Advice When Considering a Waldorf School

Do some research. There are also several excellent independent books written about Waldorf, including Ida Oberman’s The Waldorf Movement in Education from European Cradle to American Crucible, 1919-2008.
Ask for financial aid. If it’s a private school, then Waldorf, like other private schools, can be expensive. But some schools do have financial aid. Request a form to be considered for scholarships or other financial aid.
See for yourself. Visit the school and spend time in the classroom, and make sure your child does too. It’s a good way to meet the teachers, explore the grounds, and investigate the curriculum of any school you’re considering for your child. Talk to other parents whose children attend the school and to their students, too.
Consider teacher certification: Are the teachers Waldorf-certified?
Evaluate the school environment: Is it a good fit for your child?

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