Haleakala Waldorf School

Why Waldorf?

Philosophy

The Waldorf educational philosophy is a dynamic one. This world wide movement educates children in recognition of their own individuality and in rhythm with their own physical, mental, and emotional development.

Waldorf Education approaches all aspects of schooling in a unique and comprehensive way. The curriculum is designed to meet the various stages of child development, and Waldorf teachers are dedicated to creating a genuine inner enthusiasm for learning, that is essential for educational success. Developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919, Waldorf education is based on a developmental approach that addresses the needs of the growing child. Waldorf teachers strive to transform education into an art that educates the whole child---the heart and the hands, as well as the head.

Lessons are alive, interesting, and infused with artistic activities. They challenge and stimulate imagination because the children are addressed not as beings of intellect alone, but also as beings of will and feeling. The uniqueness of the curriculum lies not only in what it contains, but also in how children are taught. In presenting a topic of study, encounter comes first, then encounter becomes experience, and out of the experience concept arises. Perception, feeling, idea: three steps in a genuine learning process, one that is in harmony with the child’s nature and which meets the child’s needs. Through this approach, the imaginative and creative powers of childhood are preserved. Learning is a joy! To educate the whole child, the heart and will must be reached as well as the mind. The Waldorf approach takes the subject and presents it in a way that lives. It speaks to the child’s experience.