The Education of the Child: And Early Lectures on Education (Foundations of Waldorf Education, 25) by Rudolf Steiner

The Education of the Child: And Early Lectures on Education (Foundations of Waldorf Education, 25) Reviews

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  Andrew

  This collection of some of Steiner's early lectures on education and human development, from birth to about adolescence, has tons of information on the educational context for the elementary grades. I found it helpful as a high school teacher to understand where my students are coming from (e.g., their experiences in the grades), and this collection of lectures provides that context.
  
  2020 update: dude. the last two lectures about interests and talents in developing children (the ages are vague in his 1907–1911 pedagogical stuff, but I’m assuming he means the lower grades) are some of the more surprising and confusing lectures bro has given. I get what he’s getting at. Also, I don’t get it. And I have nobody to converse with about them! Still, as far as foundational ideas, you can’t get much better than this: “If we do not believe in an inwardly free soul [that can direct its own activity and ‘be satisfied with the activity itself’], we cannot teach effectively.”
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  G

  Well, it's Steiner, so what can I say. Talks a lot about spiritual science. Not really what I expected based o the book title. That said, he's thoughts and bases on education seem timeless as some examples fit perfectly in today's life, even though some of the lectures where written 100 years ago. But hey, I'm all for Waldorf education...
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  Ovidiu Danciulescu

  Verry useful advices for parents that wanna open they eyes... for one healthy education for the child: mind, body, soul and spirit! I like all the advices and i like that i can apply them and see the results! The reactions of child are as the book say’s... (ex.: red / yellow clothes = the restless child is quiet... etc)
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  siriusedward

  so many ideas and thought to ponder upon.
  Thanks Mr.Steiner for many of your thoughts.
  Maybe I don't agree with everything but you have given me much more ideas to implement and somethings to correct and some thoughts to think.
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  Sorairo

  Una lettura complicata per chi non ha studi di pedagogia o antroposofismo,ammetto di aver capito parzialmente, ma utile per genitori ed educatori. Oggi giorno l'educazione è troppo coercitva, obbligata, non tiene conto dei tempi e ritmi del bambino, violando la naturale crescita. Il bambino dovrebbe crescere libero, senza forzature nel camminare, parlare, pensare, cominciando da un'educazione libera ed artistica che sfocerà abbastanza tardi nell'intellettuale.
  Alcuni punti li ho trovati troppo esoterici e tirati per i capelli, ma è indiscutibile di come sia vergnognoso che Steiner nel 1919 fosse giunto alla conclusione che la nostra è una cultura in cui si pretende di anticipare troppo l'educazione e si forzano troppo i ragazzi, mentre noi li forziamo sempre più e ci lamentiamo dei problemi che ovviamente ci danno. Scuola Waldorf o no, occorrerebbe prendere spunto da questo sistema d'insegnamento o meglio di crescita.
• 
  Wonkybadonk

  I had problems with this one. Primarily how many times he says 'spiritual science' which triggers me at a very basic level. I think you could probably turn that into a pretty solid drinking game if you took a shot every time he says it.
  
  Maybe in practice Waldorf is less spiritual/mystical and rigid. For me, the stages of childhood development as described in this book are too inflexible and arbitrarily based on a heavily spiritual/mystical interpretation of human development.
  
  According to this interpretation the three pillars of a human are: the thinking part, the feeling part and the willing part. You can only develop the thinking part until the kid is seven, don't even bother with feeling or willing but be a perfect role model for them to imitate, you can't even think bad things. And when we say thinking we mean the kid is processing physical reality. Then for the next seven years only work on feeling with the kid and be a good authority figure. Because by feeling we mean, the kid feeling like the kid has someone that they can count on and whose actions they can recognize as good. Then for the next seven years work on willing, and by that we mean developing opinions, concepts and ideas.
  
  I don't disagree that these are all important pieces of development, but such a cookie cutter and oddly time gated approach doesn't really leave a lot of room for the kid to drive the boat. What if they want to learn a concept or form an opinion when they're seven? What the hell is the feeling stage even for? It feels like it lacks substance to me, especially for a seven year period of life that we can potentially never get back if we follow this methodology and realize whatever it is doesn't really feel like it's doing anything for us.
  
  Maybe too much time has passed between when this written and now but I personally was not a huge fan of the foundations of Waldorf education. Also, if I met Steiner on the street today I'd say the chances are high I'd think the dude was a total wackjob.
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  Jenny

  Steiner's lectures weave Anthroposophical principles together with airy pictures of how to educate children and how to be present with children in the spirit of enlivening. For complete context of the ideas presented in this series of lectures, it is helpful to have read Esoteric Science, Theosophy and Philosophy of Freedom.
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  Heidi Pyper

  Interesting set of essays relating to child education from the perspective of spiritual science. The writing is a bit dense, but otherwise insightful. I read this to get a better understanding of the Waldorf method of education.
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  James

  Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf Method of teaching, outlines his fundamental philosophy of spiritual science in these lectures. He develops the key concepts of an achievably-expressed imagination, intuition, and inspiration that drive Waldorf Education and enable it to focus on different age-based teachings.
  
  These lectures provide the theory behind Waldorf Education and outline how and why this unqiue education system is organised as it is. I preferred A Modern Art of Education, in which these theories are applied to education, because of its practical use to me as a teacher. The Education of a Child, however, really explores Steiner's philosophy and theories of education seen through spiritual science. After a firmer foundation of educational practices, I think these lectures will be more useful.
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  Jaimie Franchi

  I really enjoyed this, which I actually listened to as an audiobook rather than reading with my own eyes. Some of his more woo-woo ideas are a bit much for me, but I think if you read them as a metaphor rather than a literal interpretation, he's still making excellent points. I do wonder how shocked Steiner would be to see the lives of children today.
  
  I do think he greatly privelages Western civilization over all others, and this bothers me, but I still find his ideas generally compelling.
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  Riccardo

  Dall'eclettico filosofo di inizio Novecento, fondatore della celebre scuola steineriana, una riflessione profonda sui metodo pedagogico.
  
  Una teoria educativa basata sulla libera espressione delle potenzialità del bambino attraverso l'apprendimento di tutte le arti. Per formare degli individui liberi da condizionamenti in cui pensiero, cultura, sentimento e volontà cooperino in armonia.
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  Reza Wahadj

  Practical ways to apply more philosophical advice from Steiner for children. If you ever want to read the very finest book ever written by a not-at-all-flaky clairvoyant scientist genius saintly guy, this would be my highest recommendation.
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  Stephen

  All of Steiner's takes made sense about how we should look to educate the whole person and that this is best done by changing our teaching strategies to meet their development. Steiner's underlying theory that backed this all up, however, was baffling and strange.