Rudolf Steiner Education
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was an Austrian philosopher, scientist, artist, and educationalist whose humanitarian vision has influenced many fields of human endeavour.
Steiner saw the problems facing Europe at the turn of the 20th century. He saw that science, religion and art had taken separate parts. Science was becoming coldly factual, art too personal and religion too often academic or divisive.
He realised that if a new positive culture was to arise, then science, art and spiritual experience must be renewed and brought together again. Science become morally creative, art more universal, and spiritual experience more real. In such a way, social life, based on the individual's concern for welfare of others, would develop in a beneficial manner.
Educated at Science and Technical Colleges in Vienna, Rudolf Steiner also studied philosophy, literature, medicine and psychology. His 1891 PhD Thesis later appeared as the book, ‘The Philosophy of Freedom’. Through insight and disciplined research Rudolf Steiner brought a new understanding of man and the universe. He called this study ‘Anthroposophy’, the wisdom of man. Steiner's ideas have proven useful all over the world, particularly in Western Europe. There are now communities, farms, hospitals, medical clinics, artists, architects, banks and businesses whose work acknowledges a special debt to Rudolf Steiner.
However, education is where he has had the greatest influence.
Steiner and Education
One of Rudolf Steiner's most powerful and important insights was that a child passes through separate and distinct stages of development, marked by noticeable changes.
Out of Rudolf Steiner's insights into human nature he offered an education method emphasising balanced development. Education to suit, rather than force these phases, works with children and their development, not against it.
Parents and teachers had long observed these changes, but it was Rudolf Steiner who first pointed out what they indicated - that the full and complex consciousness of the adult (the spiritual being, as he expressed it) does not arrive all at once at birth, but grows gradually, in stages.
Out of this insight, a curriculum and teaching method that fits the child's development was implemented.
Steiner education in Australia
Steiner education is the fastest growing educational movement in the western world. In Australia there are both independent Steiner primary and secondary schools, as well as Steiner streams within state schools.
Little Sophia holds close ties to the Sophia Mundi Steiner School, which offers Steiner lead education up to Year 12.
Steiner saw the problems facing Europe at the turn of the 20th century. He saw that science, religion and art had taken separate parts. Science was becoming coldly factual, art too personal and religion too often academic or divisive.
He realised that if a new positive culture was to arise, then science, art and spiritual experience must be renewed and brought together again. Science become morally creative, art more universal, and spiritual experience more real. In such a way, social life, based on the individual's concern for welfare of others, would develop in a beneficial manner.
Educated at Science and Technical Colleges in Vienna, Rudolf Steiner also studied philosophy, literature, medicine and psychology. His 1891 PhD Thesis later appeared as the book, ‘The Philosophy of Freedom’. Through insight and disciplined research Rudolf Steiner brought a new understanding of man and the universe. He called this study ‘Anthroposophy’, the wisdom of man. Steiner's ideas have proven useful all over the world, particularly in Western Europe. There are now communities, farms, hospitals, medical clinics, artists, architects, banks and businesses whose work acknowledges a special debt to Rudolf Steiner.
However, education is where he has had the greatest influence.
Steiner and Education
One of Rudolf Steiner's most powerful and important insights was that a child passes through separate and distinct stages of development, marked by noticeable changes.
Out of Rudolf Steiner's insights into human nature he offered an education method emphasising balanced development. Education to suit, rather than force these phases, works with children and their development, not against it.
Parents and teachers had long observed these changes, but it was Rudolf Steiner who first pointed out what they indicated - that the full and complex consciousness of the adult (the spiritual being, as he expressed it) does not arrive all at once at birth, but grows gradually, in stages.
Out of this insight, a curriculum and teaching method that fits the child's development was implemented.
Steiner education in Australia
Steiner education is the fastest growing educational movement in the western world. In Australia there are both independent Steiner primary and secondary schools, as well as Steiner streams within state schools.
Little Sophia holds close ties to the Sophia Mundi Steiner School, which offers Steiner lead education up to Year 12.
