Parents looking for education pins, especial for kindergarten, have probably come across the term Waldorf. But what exactly is a Waldorf school? Waldorf education is based on the ideas and teachings of Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian educator and philosopher who opened his first school in Germany in 1919. Steiner’s schools focused on “whole child” development, rather than the narrow academic focus popular in German schools at the time.
Experts in Waldorf education say that these school stress teaching the whole child. A main lesson is taught in a block of time lasting for several weeks. Creative arts like drawing, painting, language studies, music and drama support the main lesson and give students a variety of avenues to learn the material. Students then continue an exploration of the lesson through movement and motor skills, with activities like physical education, building, dancing and gardening. The goal of Waldorf education is to develop free, but morally responsible individuals equipped with a high degree of social competence and creative capabilities. Factual knowledge, homework and tests scores receive less attention.
Like all educational philosophies, Waldorf schools have both positives and negatives. Advocates like Moskowitz say its approach — balancing academic subjects with artistic and practical activities, teaching kid how to think, not what to think — helps develop a love of learning. Some common drawbacks mentioned in connection with Waldorf schools are the same things that many parents like, such as the lack of emphasis on technology and standardized testing. Because many Waldorf schools are private, tuition may also be an obstacle for some parents. At the Waldorf School of Baltimore, for instance, tuition for the 2021-2022 school year was more than $20,000 according to its website although financial aid is available.
Today, there are almost 1,200 Waldorf schools and more than 1,900 Waldorf kindergartens around the world, according to the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education. These schools can be found in approximately 60 different countries around the world. Roughly 130 Waldorf schools, both public and private, are in the United States. The Waldorf Education model has become most popular in European countries, having even influenced many of the public schools.
32. Why did Rudolf Steiner open his first school in 1919?
A.He wanted to help children make progress academically |
B.He planned to fully develop children's potentials in all aspects. |
C.He expected children to have more indoor activities. |
D.He tried to follow the teaching in Germany at that time |
33. Which of the following receives the most attention in Waldorf education?
A.Developing the sense of responsibility. | B.Remembering knowledge about facts. |
C.Achieving high status in society. | D.Getting high marks in the tests. |
34. How does the author prove the tuition of a Waldorf school is expensive?
A.By giving an example. | B.By comparing with other schools. |
C.By listing some reasons. | D.By showing the result of a survey. |
35. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.The course of Waldorf education. | B.The origin of Waldorf education. |
C.The popularity of Waldorf schools. | D.The pros and cons of Waldorf education. |