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The Waldorf School movement, with over 800 schools worldwide, offers an innovative program to promote the well-rounded, healthy development of children from preschool to high school. Based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the Waldorf Schools were founded in Europe in 1919 and later spread to North America, Africa, South America, Australia, and Asia. These schools employ a multisensory approach to teaching that is rooted strongly in art, movement, and a comprehensive picture of child development. Although the world has changed dramatically since the founding of the first Waldorf School, the educational concepts that form the foundation of the Waldorf pedagogy are being embraced with marked success in a wide variety of educational settings today. The Waldorf philosophy states that because children will inherit a rapidly changing and surprising world, the best preparation is to provide a multidimensional schooling that develops the full range of their human potential. To contribute fully in tomorrow’s world, the Waldorf philosophy states that children will need to be dynamic, resilient individuals who never stop learning. To be both successful and self-fulfilled they will need the following attributes:







Physical vitality, stamina, and perseverance Emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-esteem Creative thinking permeated with imagination, flexibility, and focus Spiritual depth born out of an abiding appreciation and responsibility for nature, work, and their fellow human beings

All children come into the world with these attributes as potential within them. The whole focus of a Waldorf education is to awaken these capacities and draw them forth within the framework of a sound academic school experience. The entire academic program, including the teaching of math and science, is purposefully integrated with art, movement, and music. These rich curricular experiences enhance schoolwork, insuring that students are engaged in three essential ways: actively, emotionally, and thoughtfully. This comprehensive,

three-dimensional focus helps to develop the mastery of skills and the essential capacities that children need for their future. Children need an education that preserves and strengthens precious assets like their youthful energy and vitality. In the Harvard Business School publication, Geeks and geezers: How era, values, and defining moments shape leaders, Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas point out that one of the most significant characteristics of influential leaders is their ability to maintain youthfulness in old age. Active, resilient, creative individuals who are able to reinvent themselves continually, become leaders and mentors who never stop learning and growing. Developing lifelong learners is a goal of Waldorf education. Additionally, students should be actively engaged in hands-on, experiential learning. This active participation supports healthy physical development – indeed, promotes health on many levels. The Waldorf way of teaching is consciously designed to foster emotional