Waldorf Education: In Tune with the Times

We are dedicating this issue of Erziehungskunst to the Pedagogical Research Center because we believe it deserves greater recognition; it carries out important, foundational work for the entire Waldorf education movement. Through its work on school reading lists, the Waldorf curriculum, and the publication of books, the Research Center ensures that Waldorf education remains up-to-date, that well-founded knowledge is readily accessible to teachers through today’s media, and thus provides support for navigating the day-to-day challenges of school life. For example, through publications that move away from a Eurocentric perspective in favor of a decolonized approach—such as those for history classes at Waldorf schools—the Research Center is paving the way for the future. The Research Center also addresses topics such as sexuality, diversity, and interculturalism with a keen and curious eye and an open ear, and is committed to meeting the needs of the schools.

You may have already noticed that we used a new design technique for the cover image this time. The ideas for the details in the images came from us, the editors, and were brought to life by AI.

We also have plenty of other interesting articles in this issue: Ines Lechner explains what lyres—also known as children’s harps—are all about. Anne Brockmann describes how the Waldorf School in Haan is responding to swastikas drawn on school notebooks and other expressions of right-wing ideology. Renatus Derbidge will explore the fundamentals of Waldorf education in a three-part series; we begin with Part One. Christian Boettger introduces crafts teacher Wulf Frost, who has developed an app for the field survey internship, which he is making available free of charge to all colleagues nationwide. Achim Oerter describes how the Freie Schule Hitzacker has responded to climate change and heat waves with a redesigned pergola shade structure and sponge gardens. Linda Williams and Martyn Rawson explain that accessibility, multiculturalism, and diversity have been an integral part of anthroposophical and Waldorf educational work in North America for more than forty years, and how these principles are being undermined by current developments in the U.S.

I hope you enjoy reading the articles!