What is Waldorf Education and how is it different?

Central to Waldorf Education is a recognition of and a respect for the child’s unfolding individuality. The curriculum is designed to meet the child’s specific developmental needs–where they are in their developmental stage– from the preschool through to high school. Rudolf Steiner maintained that “all education is self-education,” and therefore the task of the teacher lies in creating a learning environment in which the child can find age-appropriate nourishment and challenge. In a world in which education is focused on normative, quantifiable outcomes, the uniqueness of the individual child’s gifts and challenges often has to take a backseat to the pressure of general societal expectations. Waldorf Education values difference and strives to support developing children and adolescents in such a way that they can bring their gifts to fruition while, at the same time, learn to cope with their challenges. All of Waldorf Education is focused on challenging children in such a way that the emergent ability of independent thinking can lead to a true experience of meaning. As Steiner puts it, the earliest experiences that the world is good and worthy of imitation, followed by the cultivation of a deep sense of wonder for the beauty to be found in all things, will establish the foundation upon which the teenager will learn to discover truth in the world. Learn more here.

Do you use Standardized Testing?

As a private, accredited Waldorf Education nonprofit organization (501c3), Summerfield is not required by state law to employ Standardized Testing. Our teachers have the freedom to decide how to best meet the class – and the individual – while delivering a rigorous academic/college prep curriculum along with art, music, practical skills, sports, and farm work.

Are you religiously affiliated?

No. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm is non sectarian and non denominational. Our community represents a broad spectrum of religious practices and faith traditions. Our students develop a respect for the diversity of religious faiths and worship practices through their learning about nature's seasonal rhythms, ancient wisdoms, and study of global cultural significances through their curriculum, classroom experience, and seasonal festivals and traditions.

What role does technology play in the the lower and upper grades?

The quality of student engagement deepens with hands-on, face-to-face work with teachers, peers, and course material. We engage in ethical conversations about Smart Device and Social Media use, study comprehensive online research methodologies, and learn budgeting & spreadsheets. Because digital technology evolves so rapidly, we find that teaching students critical thinking and learning skills better prepares them for life in a high tech world than teaching specific technology programs. Alumni have shared that based on their life experiences after high school, they were able to easily pick up the technology they needed for college & their careers. Please read our Smart Device Policy and Social Media Recommendations .

A luminous full moon rendered in white chalk pastel fills a night sky over a row of small blue houses, drawn on a classroom blackboard.

Academics

Waldorf Pedagogy

Waldorf pedagogy recognizes and respects the child’s unfolding individuality. The curriculum meets each child where they are in their developmental stage, addressing specific needs from preschool through high school.

Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy

Rudolf Steiner

Waldorf Education was founded by Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), a modern science philosopher born in Austria. He wrote 28 books and held over 3,000 lectures, which led to a renewal in many fields such as: Art (eurythmy, speech, drama, music, painting, sculpting and drawing), Farming (Biodynamic® Agriculture), Architecture (Organic), Social Work (Curative Education), Medicine (Anthroposophic) and Economics (Three-Fold Social Organization). The word anthroposophy means wisdom of the human being.

“Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge aiming to guide the spiritual element in the human being to the spiritual in the universe.”

— Rudolf Steiner

What is Waldorf Education?

At the end of World War I, Emil Molt, the owner of the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Factory turned Rudolf Steiner, a leader in modern education thought and practices to develop a new education for the children of the employees at his factory. He wanted an education that would allow children to grow up to be clear thinkers who could work with social situations in a complex world in a way that would no longer lead humanity towards choosing war as a way of dealing with conflict between peoples. Emil Molt funded the first Waldorf School that opened its doors in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1919, with a full school program through the grades.

Central to Waldorf Education is a recognition of and a respect for the child’s unfolding individuality. The curriculum is designed to meet the child’s specific developmental needs – where they are in their developmental stage – from the preschool through to high school. Rudolf Steiner maintained that “all education is self-education,” and therefore the task of the teacher lies in creating a learning environment in which the child can find age-appropriate nourishment and challenge. In a world in which education is focused on normative, quantifiable outcomes, the uniqueness of the individual child’s gifts and challenges often has to take a backseat to the pressure of general societal expectations.

The concept of “meaning” in Waldorf Education

Waldorf Education values difference and strives to support developing children and adolescents in such a way that they can bring their gifts to fruition while, at the same time, learn to cope with their challenges. All of Waldorf Education is focused on challenging children in such a way that the emergent ability of independent thinking can lead to a true experience of meaning. As Steiner puts it, the earliest experiences that the world is good and worthy of imitation, followed by the cultivation of a deep sense of wonder for the beauty to be found in all things, will establish the foundation upon which the teenager will learn to discover truth in the world.

”Meaning” in our programs

Single-line drawing of two hands fitting two puzzle pieces together.

Early Childhood Program (Preschool & Kindergarten) — Children experience meaning through imitation of right action and a plethora of hands-on activities.

Single-line drawing of two hands cradling a heart between them.

Lower School (Grades 1–8) — In the grade school years, children are led to an exploration of meaning through awakening interest, enthusiasm and love for the subject at hand.

Single-line drawing of a lit light bulb with rays radiating from it.

High School (Grades 9–12) — In the high school years, students engage in a search for meaning through thinking as they approach an understanding of their unique individuality.

Why is Summerfield Waldorf Device-Free & Media-Free?

At Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm, we place an emphasis on direct human interaction and authentic experiences. Studies show that a direct experience, as opposed to a virtual one, has a measurable positive impact on brain development throughout childhood into adulthood. Issues associated with premature phone usage, especially smartphones with unlimited internet access, include Continuous Partial Attention, early consumerism, mental health struggles, instances of online bullying, and exposure to explicit online content; all of which are proven to have detrimental effects on a young person’s social, emotional, and psychological stability and wellbeing.

Smartphone (or any Smart device) and social media usage during school hours can inhibit a student from fully embracing one-on-one human interactions with fellow students and teachers, and interferes with immersing oneself in present-moment, experiential learning opportunities.

Our School Policy on Smart Devices and Social Media Recommendations is detailed separately.

Come see Waldorf pedagogy in practice

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Waldorf Education and how is it different?

Central to Waldorf Education is a recognition of and a respect for the child’s unfolding individuality. The curriculum is designed to meet the child’s specific developmental needs–where they are in their developmental stage– from the preschool through to high school. Rudolf Steiner maintained that “all education is self-education,” and therefore the task of the teacher lies in creating a learning environment in which the child can find age-appropriate nourishment and challenge. In a world in which education is focused on normative, quantifiable outcomes, the uniqueness of the individual child’s gifts and challenges often has to take a backseat to the pressure of general societal expectations.

Waldorf Education values difference and strives to support developing children and adolescents in such a way that they can bring their gifts to fruition while, at the same time, learn to cope with their challenges. All of Waldorf Education is focused on challenging children in such a way that the emergent ability of independent thinking can lead to a true experience of meaning. As Steiner puts it, the earliest experiences that the world is good and worthy of imitation, followed by the cultivation of a deep sense of wonder for the beauty to be found in all things, will establish the foundation upon which the teenager will learn to discover truth in the world.

Learn more here.
Do you use Standardized Testing?

As a private, accredited Waldorf Education nonprofit organization (501c3), Summerfield is not required by state law to employ Standardized Testing. Our teachers have the freedom to decide how to best meet the class – and the individual – while delivering a rigorous academic/college prep curriculum along with art, music, practical skills, sports, and farm work.
Are you religiously affiliated?

No. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm is non sectarian and non denominational. Our community represents a broad spectrum of religious practices and faith traditions. Our students develop a respect for the diversity of religious faiths and worship practices through their learning about nature's seasonal rhythms, ancient wisdoms, and study of global cultural significances through their curriculum, classroom experience, and seasonal festivals and traditions.
What role does technology play in the the lower and upper grades?

The quality of student engagement deepens with hands-on, face-to-face work with teachers, peers, and course material. We engage in ethical conversations about Smart Device and Social Media use, study comprehensive online research methodologies, and learn budgeting & spreadsheets.

Because digital technology evolves so rapidly, we find that teaching students critical thinking and learning skills better prepares them for life in a high tech world than teaching specific technology programs. Alumni have shared that based on their life experiences after high school, they were able to easily pick up the technology they needed for college & their careers.

Please read our Smart Device Policy and Social Media Recommendations.