The curriculum of Waldorf education

some basic principles and practices

pp. 83-111

in: Bo Dahlin, Rudolf Steiner, Berlin, Springer, 2017

Abstract

This chapter presupposes some acquaintance with the basic concepts of Steiner's understanding of the human being, introduced in Chap.  4. The concept of curriculum is here taken in the widest possible sense. It is not only about curriculum plans or documents but about any- and everything that children can "go through" in school, i.e., all actual and possible experiences, conscious and subconscious, that they are intended to have. After a general introduction, pointing out the many aspects and dimensions of Steiner's curriculum ideas, an attempt is made to explain some of them in a more linear fashion, starting with the general ones that apply to all teaching, then going on to more specific ones that apply to certain age groups and school subjects. Some points about what it means to be and live the life of a Waldorf teacher are taken up. The chapter ends with a short section on the significance of school architecture.