Waldorf Watch
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“Our highest endeavor must be to develop
free human beings who are able, of themselves,
to impart purpose and direction to their lives.”
— attributed to Rudolf Steiner
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 high school. 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.
◊ • ◊
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.
Many Waldorf schools have proudly displayed the quotation that you see at the top of this page, implying that it summarizes their educational approach. The quotation certainly sounds good. Undoubtedly many Waldorf teachers and administrators take such statements seriously.
But what does the quotation really mean, in the context of Waldorf education? Explaining fully will take some time — in a sense, the rest of this website is devoted to providing a highly detailed explanation.
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. According to Steiner, "outsiders" who should be told as little as possible include the parents of Waldorf students.
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 incarnate properly, so that the children may fulfill their karmas and evolve to higher levels of spiritual attainment. Humans who evolve normally 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]
Returning to the quotation, above: There is only one correct “purpose and direction” in life: It is the spiritual evolutionary path laid out by Steiner. 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 intentions of the many good gods who stand over 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. [4]
That’s it, in brief. I know it sounds bizarre, but that’s what Waldorf schools are all about: promoting the mystical doctrines of Anthroposophy.
As for the strange reference to people who aren't really human, you should know that for every Steiner quotation 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." [5] A world of sorrow can be found in such statements.
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.
[1] See "Schools as Churches". Not all Waldorf teachers are fully committed to, or fully understand, the Waldorf mission. Newly hired teachers may undergo a gradual process of indoctrination, a process that some may resist while others succumb. See the section titled "The Indoctrination of Teachers" on the page "Indoctrination".
[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] For more about the Anthroposophical conception of freedom, see "Freedom". For more about the many gods of Anthroposophy, see "Polytheism".
[5] 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". Steiner explained that many people who are not human are actually demons in disguise.
[R.R., 2009.]
I have pointed out some problems with the quotation shown at the top of this page. Here is one more problem. Many proponents of Waldorf education attribute the quotation to Rudolf Steiner, and some Waldorf schools give it prominence in their promotional materials. But the statement actually was made by someone else: The words were written by Steiner's second wife, Marie Steiner. You will find the statement on p. 27 of THE NEW ART OF EDUCATION (Philosophical-Anthroposophical Publishing, 1928) — introduction by Marie Steiner.
I mention this because it reflects a difficulty confronting anyone who sets out to investigate Waldorf education. Much of the "information" Waldorf proponents provide to inquisitive outsiders is incomplete, misleading, or false. Sometimes the deception caused by such misinformation is minor. But in other cases, the deception can be crucial, fundamentally concealing the true nature of Waldorf beliefs and practices. Indeed, one of the chief complaints made against Waldorf schools is that they deceive students' parents about Rudolf Steiner, his teachings, and the real nature of Waldorf schooling. [See "Secrets", "Our Experience", "Cautionary Tales", and "Summing Up".]
(I might add that since I first began publicizing the misattribution of the quotation in question, a number of Waldorf schools have corrected themselves on this point. This is commendable, and it suggests that criticism of Waldorf practices may yield beneficial results. But it doesn't change the underlying issue. You should be skeptical of most pro-Waldorf paeans, especially those coming from within the Waldorf movement itself.)
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, including "We Don't Teach It".
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 areas 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-encyclopedia 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
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.