Waldorf pedagogy: concept, characteristics, basic principles

Education in any historical period is the most important institution of society, so any new techniques and technologies in this area fall under the attention of both specialists and ordinary citizens. This approach is embodied in the reference to the phenomenon of Waldorf pedagogy.

Her appearance after the first world war was associated primarily with what is established by the time the traditional school considered students only as an object of cognitive process, which should absorb the maximum possible amount of material. Spiritual, moral and physical development of the child departed while in the background.

Waldorf pedagogy was a peculiar alternative to traditional methods and forms of education. At its core was a model of gradual self-development of the child for whom the teacher has evolved from strict controller to a wise mentor. The first such school was established in the territory of the tobacco factory “Waldorf Astoria”, later Waldorf school is widespread in Europe and North America. The founder of this system of Rudolf Steiner emphasis on what is most suitable for a child is the desire of parents and teachers to ensure that he could quickly mastered the entire curriculum, ahead of their physical and psychological capabilities. Waldorf's pedagogy offered only to accompany the child in the process of understanding the world, gradually revealing his creative and intellectual potential.

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In General, Waldorf methodology adheres to the following basic principles:

1. The Main component of the educational process is education. Thus it should be based primarily on moral principles.
2. Up To seven years the child should avoid excessive intellectual activity, because otherwise it will eventually grow into a person who can only play other people's thoughts, not to form their own opinion. First of all, every child needs to feel a person.
3. Must Not be abused positive and negative evaluations of the child, as intervention by adults in the process of its formation should be minimal.
4. Waldorf pedagogy is not intended to be used in the process of training and education of any imitative forms. For her, the main – to your child to comprehend the surrounding world, focusing solely on his own perception of it.
5. Any child – unique, each has its own unique abilities and talents. The main goal of a pedagogy of Waldorf schools is that the child found in himself and fully revealed their inclinations and abilities.

As with any new phenomenon, Waldorf pedagogy, especially at first, felt sufficient pressure from representatives of the traditional schools. However, further development of pedagogical thought showed that many of the ideas of Rudolf Steiner, was relevant. Chief among them – that any educational institution should at the forefront to put the process of spiritual and moral development of the child and not teaching him the basics of all Sciences.

Today there are Waldorf schools in many developed and developing countries. Their children attend both from fairly wealthy and from poor families. Despite the fact that soon this technique will be a hundred years old, used in such schools, methods and forms of educational process still look innovative and attractive both for teachers and for parents.