Waldorf schools, also called Steiner schools, are characterized by approaches to children and their education deriving from the writings and teachings of Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925). Waldorf education aims to develop a person with practical skills for work, wisdom of heart for sensitivity to others, and clarity of thought for discerning purpose in the world. This entry first discusses Steiner’s ideas and the history of Waldorf schools. It then discusses the human developmental stages conceptualized by Steiner, the education methods used in Waldorf schools, and research on Waldorf schools.

A prolific scholar, Steiner published more than 5,000 lectures and books that together provide a basis for understanding his claims regarding meditatively acquired knowledge of higher worlds and [Page 1803]a method for attaining this knowledge. Together, this body ...