Waldorf Watch
Home
Welcome.
This website deals with
◊ Waldorf schools, also known as Steiner schools;
◊ Rudolf Steiner, the "clairvoyant" who established
the first of these schools;
and
◊ Anthroposophy, the bizarre religion
promoted by the schools.
The underlying purpose of Waldorf schools is to spread the religion created by Rudolf Steiner: Anthroposophy. [See "Anthroposophy" in The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.]
Humanity faces bigger problems than the proliferation of Waldorf schools and the spread of Rudolf Steiner's mystical doctrines. Nonetheless, the Waldorf movement should alarm anyone who prizes rationality and abhors the clandestine indoctrination of children.
My name is Roger Rawlings. I attended a Waldorf school from second grade through twelfth. My mother was secretary to the headmaster at that school. Because I was in the school for so long, and because I occasionally questioned the headmaster, I gained some insights into the Waldorf movement's secret agenda. More to the point, in recent years I have conducted an extensive study of Anthroposophy and Waldorf education. This website is the result.
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There is nothing for sale at this site; there are no advertisements; I do not solicit anyone's financial support. I am not looking for money or applause. My purpose is simple: It is to tell you the truth about Waldorf schools.
Waldorf schools often claim to pursue high, even noble, objectives. We educate the whole child, they claim; we respect the individuality of each child; we prepare students for lives as free, self-directing adults.
When Waldorf representatves speak in such terms, they are likely quite sincere. Rudolf Steiner meant for Waldorf schools to embody all that is best in human life, and Steiner's followers are often highly idealistic.
But the Waldorf sheen disguises many disquieting realities. In a sense, the rest of this website is devoted to revealing these realities in detail.
But for now, for starters, here is a glimpse:
The belief system underlying Waldorf schools is an occult religion that involves doctrines of evolution and reincarnation. Human beings evolve upward as they gain “knowledge of higher worlds” — that is, knowledge of the spiritual worlds above the ordinary plane of existence. To gain this knowledge firsthand, people must develop clairvoyance. Preparation for clairvoyance involves such things as heightened imagination and dream consciousness.
Waldorf schools aim to assist children on the path toward knowledge of the higher worlds. To this end, Waldorf teachers serve as missionaries or priests. [1] However, they generally do so secretively, believing that they possess "mystery wisdom" that other people cannot appreciate. Consequently, the indoctrination Waldorf students receive is subtle and indirect. Little is spelled out openly, either to the students or to their parents. Yet the cumulative effect of involvement in a Waldorf community can be deeply harmful and difficult to undo.
The Waldorf/Anthroposophical view of childhood is intricate. Anthroposophical doctrine teaches that humans are born and reborn on Earth many times as they reincarnate. Moreover, each person is born multiple times during each earthly life, as her/his various invisible bodies emerge (the etheric body, the astral body, and the ego body). [2] Waldorf teachers try to help their students to incarnate properly, so that the children may fulfill their karmas and evolve to higher levels of spiritual consciousness. Humans who evolve properly will stay abreast of the entire solar system as it evolves and reincarnates in ever loftier forms (Future Jupiter, Future Venus, and Future Vulcan). [3]
For Steiner's devoted followers, there is just one truly correct path to take in life: It is the spiritual-evolutionary path laid out by Steiner. [4] Individuals are encouraged to move upward on this path as “free human beings.” According to Steiner, freedom is the birthright of all real human beings (things are different for "abnormal" people who are not really human). According to Steiner, true freedom means willingly submitting to the "divine cosmic plan" overseen by the many good gods who stand above mankind. Of course, we also need to resist the evil gods, Steiner said. In practice, becoming truly free means giving up your liberty and accepting Steiner’s religious teachings. [5]
That’s it, in brief. I know it sounds bizarre, but that’s what Waldorf schools are ultimately about, behind the tantalizing sheen: They promote the mystical doctrines of Anthroposophy.
As for the strange reference, above, to people who aren't really human — you should know that for every Steiner doctrine that sounds attractive, there are others that are the reverse. Here's one: Telling Waldorf teachers to conceal his doctrines from outsiders, Steiner said, "Imagine what people would say if they heard that we say there are people who are not human beings." [6] Some people, Steiner said, are actually demons in disguise, while others stand at a virtually subhuman level of development. A world of sorrow can be found in such doctrines.
Don’t take my word for any of this. To penetrate to the truth about Waldorf education, scrutinize the quotations I provide throughout this website — the words spoken and written by Rudolf Steiner and his followers. Read as much of this material as you wish; buy and read some Anthroposophical publications; visit other websites; and then draw your own conclusions.
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[1] See "Schools as Churches".
[2] For more about these invisible bodies, see "Incarnation".
[3] To pursue Steiner's cosmic narrative a bit further, see the section titled "The Creed" on the page "Here's the Answer".
[4] In the current epoch, according to Steiner, this path is overseen by the Sun God (the deity worshipped in Christian churches as Christ). The Sun God is assisted by the warrior-god known as Michael. [See "Sun God" and "Michael".] "Anthroposophy is also called the School of Michael." — Waldorf teacher Henk van Oort, ANTHROPOSOPHY A-Z (Rudolf Steiner Press, 2011), p. 78.
[5] For more about the Anthroposophical conception of freedom, see "Freedom". For more about the many gods of Anthroposophy, see "Polytheism".
[6] Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 650. Note that Steiner said this during a Waldorf faculty meeting. See "Faculty Meetings" and "Secrets".
I should make an important clarification immediately, and I would ask you to bear it in mind while wending your way through the contents of Waldorf Watch. Not all Waldorf schools are equally devoted to Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy, and not all Waldorf teachers are well-versed in the tenets of Anthroposophy. There are many shades of gray in the Waldorf movement.
When I generalize about Waldorf schools or Waldorf teachers, I am usually referring to those schools and teachers that hew closely to Rudolf Steiner's original vision for Waldorf education. How fully these generalizations apply to any particular Waldorf school operating today, or to the work of any particular Waldorf teacher working in these schools, depends on many factors.
But there can be no doubt that Steiner intended Waldorf schools to be closely bound to Anthroposophy, nor can there be any doubt that in subsequent years many leading Waldorf representatives have remained committed to that objetive. So, for instance, Steiner once said the following to teachers at the first Waldorf school:
"As Waldorf teachers, we must be true anthroposophists in the deepest sense of the word in our innermost feeling.” [1]
And here is the same point, expressed by an influential Waldorf teacher decades later:
"Waldorf teachers must be anthroposophists first and teachers second." [2]
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[1] Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 118.
[2] Gilbert Childs, STEINER EDUCATION IN THEORY AND PRACTICE (Floris Books, 1991), p. 166.
[R.R., 2009.]
Rudolf Steiner claimed to be clairvoyant. Many of his followers — including many Waldorf teachers — make the same claim for themselves. The problem is that clairvoyance is a delusion; it doesn't exist.
This knocks the props out from under Waldorf education. If Waldorf education is based on Anthroposophy (and it is), and if Anthroposophy depends on clairvoyance (and it does), and if no one is truly clairvoyant (and no one is), then there is no valid basis for Waldorf education.
[To look into these issues, see "Clairvoyance", "Exactly" and "The Waldorf Teacher's Consciousness".]
Near the core of most human problems, including the largest, lie twin evils: ignorance and superstition. If humanity is to make progress — if, indeed, it is to survive — we need to attack these deep sources of error.
The strategy I have adopted is to attack ignorance and superstition in one small corner of human existence, a corner I happen to know well: the corner occupied by Waldorf schools and Anthroposophy. If I can shine the light of reason into that dark corner, the condition of humanity might improve by at least that much. And if other people undertake similar work in the corners they know well, perhaps the light of reason will strengthen and expand until it suffuses human existence in general. And then the solutions to even our biggest problems will be within reach.
That is my hope, in any case. It is — if i may be excused for using the word — my faith.
PAGES
Here are some of the main pages at Waldorf Watch. Just click on a title. (The links will take you to Google, where the pages are stored. Once you're there, you will find many additional pages.)
A guide to the pages at Waldorf Watch.
A concise answer to the question, "What are Waldorf schools all about?"
Waldorf's goals, and a denial.
What are Waldorf schools like today?
Guidance for parents considering Waldorf schools for their children.
Presenting the curriculum followed at typical Waldorf schools.
A brief memoir of my experiences as a Waldorf student.
Indoctrination: an insider's report.
A collection of surprising statements made by Rudolf Steiner.
Examining one of the worst parts of Steiner's teachings.
In a word, yes — and Waldorf schools promote it, usually on the sly.
The entire Waldorf belief system hinges on this power. But does it exist?
Anthroposophy is summarized in the book OCCULT SCIENCE. Here's a summary of the summary.
Steiner made many mistakes, at least some of which wind up in Waldorf schools.
A profile of Rudolf Steiner.
An overview.
The psychic, mystic, occult...
An alphabetized mini-exposition of all things Waldorf.
What's where at Waldorf Watch.
[R.R., 2009.]
This is a sculpture of the Sun God (Christ), with Ahriman, Lucifer, and a "rock being." The statue, which is attributed to Rudolf Steiner, stands in the Goetheanum, the worldwide Anthroposophical headquarters. [See "Is Anthroposophy a Religion?"]
TOPICS
Here are some topics you may want to investigate. Clicking on the links will take you to the pages indicated. (Remember that the best way to begin most inquiries is to consult The Brief Waldorf / Steiner Encyclopedia.)
Ahriman
Angels
Anthroposophical Headquarters
Anthroposophical Medicine
Anthroposophy
Arts-Intensive Curriculum
Astral body
Astrology
Atlantis
The Bible
Biodynamic Gardening
Brain
Christ
Clairvoyance
Class Teacher
Computers
Conditions of Consciousness
Cultural Epochs
Education
Ego
Elemental Beings
Epochs
Etheric body
Eurythmy
Evolution
Festivals
Freedom
Future Jupiter
Future Venus
Future Vulcan
Gnomes
Gods
Goetheanum
Great Epochs
Guardian(s) of the Threshold
Gurus
Head, Heart and Hands
Hierarchies
Higher Worlds
Holistic Education
Holy Grail
Human Stage of Evolution
"I"
Imagination
Incarnation
Initiation
Intellect
Jesus
Jupiter (and Future Jupiter)
Karma
Lazure
Lemuria
Lucifer
Main Lesson
Mars
Michael
Moon (and Old Moon)
Morning Verses
Music
Mysteries
Mystery Plays
Myths
Nature Spirits
Norse Myths
Occult Science
Occultism
Old Moon
Old Saturn
Old Sun
Organs of Clairvoyance
Painting
Parents - also see Waldorf Parents
Planetary Conditions
Planets
Polytheism
Prayers
Present Earth
Progressive Education
Racism
Reincarnation
Religion
Rhythm
Rosicrucianism
Saturn (and Old Saturn)
Science
Seven-Year Stages
Shaded Drawing
Soul World
Spirit-Soul
Spirit World
Spiritual Exercises
Spiritual Science
Steiner, Rudolf
Steiner Schools [see Waldorf Schools]
Steiner-Waldorf Schools [see Waldorf Schools]
Sun (and Old Sun)
Sun God
Supersensible
Technology
Teeth, Change Of
Television
Temperaments
Thinking
Threefolding
Vaccination
Veil Painting
Venus (and Future Venus)
Vulcan (and Future Vulcan)
Waldorf Parents
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf Students
Waldorf Teachers
Waldorf Teacher's Consciousness
War of All Against All
Wet-on-Wet Painting
Whole Child
Zodiac
P.S.
Steiner taught his followers that they are on a holy, messianic mission to save humanity and, indeed, to save the entire created universe. Thus, many Anthroposophists today feel that they are justified in resorting to almost any strategems to advance their mission. On occasion, this leads them to shade the truth, hide the truth, and deny the truth. Occasionally they also twist the truth, making deceitful statements about anyone they see as standing in their path.
Quite understandably, my criticisms of Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophy, and Waldorf education are upsetting to Steiner's followers. Various attacks have been aimed at me as a result. Those attacks are unimportant. The occasional true statements made about me in such attacks are unimportant; the many false statements made about me are equally unimportant. I am unimportant. (Some time ago, I decided not to respond to even the harshest attacks. Ad hominems are inherently pointless. I suggest that we turn our attention instead to what actually matters.)
What matters is the truth about Waldorf education and the occult fantasies on which it is founded. I have striven to present the truth on every page of this website. Check this claim. I have included extensive documentation throughout the site, making it easy for you to see what sources of information I have used. So check up on the work you find here, and then determine the truth for yourself.
— Roger Rawlings
A PRELIMINARY SAMPLE
OF RUDOLF STEINER'S WISDOM
“With the students, we should at least try to...make it clear that, for instance, an island like Great Britain swims in the sea and is held fast by the forces of the stars. In actuality, such islands do not sit directly upon a foundation; they swim and are held fast from outside." — Rudolf Steiner, FACULTY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER (Anthroposophic Press, 1998), p. 607.