{"id":10621,"date":"2023-08-02T00:49:24","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T00:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/?p=10621"},"modified":"2024-07-17T14:44:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T14:44:12","slug":"waldorf-school-criticisms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/waldorf-school-criticisms\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Big Waldorf School Criticisms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:2px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><summary>\u27a1\ufe0f Video Lesson: Intro to Waldorf-Steiner Education<\/summary>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Waldorf Steiner Education (Explained in 4 Minutes)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9RbzAY09JWA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:2px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><summary>\u27a1\ufe0f Study Card<\/summary>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"724\" src=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/waldorf-school-weaknesses-1024x724.jpg\" alt=\"waldorf school weaknesses, explained below\" class=\"wp-image-30457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/waldorf-school-weaknesses-1024x724.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/waldorf-school-weaknesses-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/waldorf-school-weaknesses-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/waldorf-school-weaknesses.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-width:2px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><summary>\u27a1\ufe0f Introduction<\/summary>\n<p class=\"featurebox\">Waldorf education is a controversial approach to teaching and learning. It emphasizes prolonging childhood innocence, natural technology-free environments, and positive group relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advocates of Waldorf Education<\/strong> (also known as Steiner Education) highlight that it can help children\u2019s creativity, support motivation for learning, and remove pressures on children in the 21<sup>st<\/sup> Century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>However, there are many detractors.<\/strong> The emphasis on the \u2018natural child\u2019 means there are often high rates of unvaccinated children within Waldorf schools. Parents also worry that the lack of emphasis on academia until later in school could put Waldorf students at a disadvantage compared to their contemporaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, I\u2019ll outline the big 7 criticisms of Steiner schools.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 7 Waldorf Education Criticisms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. No Early Focus on Academics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Steiner-Waldorf approach to education attempts to protect children from the pressures of the outside world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These include pressures like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Curriculum outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adult news and information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Politics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And so on\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Consistent with this philosophy, many Waldorf schools don\u2019t teach traditional \u2018basic skills\u2019 in literacy and numeracy until later ages. Up until about age 7, most learning occurs through storytelling, drawing, and oral communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For young children at Waldorf schools, there is greater emphasis on social skills, creativity, arts, and practical sciences. This generally leads to greater intrinsic motivation in the sciences and stronger social skills<sup>[1]<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For many of us, this sounds like a great idea. We generally believe that children <em>should <\/em>be protected from academics at a young age and that the world puts too much pressure on children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there are many parents who also want to make sure their parents compete academically with their peers. If a child misses out on the first few years of learning, there\u2019s a fear that students will fall behind and find it impossible to catch up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, many studies of the success rates and exam results of Steiner-Waldorf children tend to show that this criticism doesn\u2019t hold water. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A Stanford University study<\/strong><sup>[2]<\/sup> of one Waldorf school in Sacramento found that the students at the school were outperforming the average non-Waldorf educated child on <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/standardized-test-pros-cons\/\">standardized tests<\/a> by 8<sup>th<\/sup> grade.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A New Zealand study<\/strong><sup>[3]<\/sup> published in <em>Early Childhood Research Quarterly<\/em> found Waldorf-educated students caught up with their mainstream peers in reading by age 10, despite a later start.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A US study<\/strong><sup>[1]<\/sup> published in <em>Current Issues in Education <\/em>found that Waldorf school students on average underperformed in grade 3 but overtook mainstream students by grade 8.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Lack of Technology<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Steiner-Waldorf approach has from its early days focused on natural environments. There is even a strong focus on <em>beauty <\/em>and a <em>natural aesthetic<\/em>, meaning you\u2019ll see most toys are made of wood. The walls will be full of artworks made by the children themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But you won\u2019t see many computers. Technology is generally avoided up until about age 7. Even after this, technology is de-emphasized. Waldorf schools prefer to focus on being in the present, <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/tactile-learning\/\">using tactile objects<\/a>, and social interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, we live in a world where just about every job requires technological skills. Many middle-class western children are using tablet computers from a young age (even learning <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/fine-motor-toys\/\">fine motor skills<\/a> through navigating touch screens).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As technology becomes more and more integral to 21<sup>st<\/sup> Century life, the gap between unplugged Waldorf schools and tech-engaged mainstream schools widens. Waldorf students won\u2019t be digital natives and will be at a severe disadvantage in a technological world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Low Vaccination Rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There has been a long-held public perception that Waldorf schools tend to have high rates of unvaccinated children. In fact, even Public Health England<sup>[4]<\/sup> has declared Steiner schools to be an \u201cunder-vaccinated population group\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reasons for low vaccination rates among Waldorf children are likely multiple and complex, but among them are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A belief in the \u2018natural child\u2019.<\/strong> Vaccines could be considered to be unnatural and therefore should be kept away from children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A belief in a \u2018god-given\u2019 immune system<\/strong><sup>[5]<\/sup>. There are some religious undertones to the Waldorf philosophy, which are discussed below.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A belief in karma.<\/strong> Childhood illness may be the result of karma and not something that can or should be prevented through vaccines<sup>[6]<\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>I suspect at least one or more of the above points would be challenged by many parents who send themselves to Steiner schools. So, I\u2019d caution that these are not universal or even generalizable points among Steiner-inspired schools or parents. In fact, Waldorf school tend not to give guidance either way on vaccinations<sup>[5]<\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Racism of Rudolf Steiner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rudolf Steiner (1861 \u2013 1925), the German father of the Waldorf philosophy, had very uncomfortable views when it came to issues of race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, he believed that white people had an \u201cintellectual life\u201d while black people had an \u201cinstinctual life\u201d<sup>[7]<\/sup>. In other words, white people were more intelligent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second, he believed in a racial hierarchy. You can climb the hierarchy through reincarnation. If you were a good black, perhaps you\u2019ll be reborn white in your next life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third, he believed in segregation, and that black people were not welcome in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s uncomfortable stuff!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, BBC Newsnight reported in 2014 about allegations of racism within UK Steiner schools. You can watch the full report here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BBC Newsnight - Full Programme on Steiner Schools, Racism and Bullying\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x8VHZM8RVL8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the Newsnight report, the UK&#8217;s Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship (SWSF) stated<sup>[8]<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWhile the superficial reading of a handful of Steiner\u2019s voluminous, extensive lectures present statements that appear racist in modern terms, none of these occur in his educational writings. Our schools do not tolerate racism.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>There is also a pattern of Steiner-Waldorf organizations highlighting that Steiner\u2019s writings may have had some racist statements in them, but the <em>general direction <\/em>of the writings were inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fore example, the European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE) remarks<sup>[9]<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cAnthroposophy, upon which Waldorf education is founded, stands firmly against all forms of racism and nationalism. Throughout Steiner\u2019s work there is a consistent anti-racist sentiment and he frequently described racist views as being anachronistic and antithetical to basic human values and <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/dignity-examples\/\">dignity<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, SWSF states<sup>[8]<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cRacist views do not accord with Steiner\u2019s longer term vision of a society in which such distinctions would be entirely irrelevant &amp; modern Steiner Waldorf schools deplore all forms of intolerance, aiming to educate in a spirit of respect &amp; to encourage open-hearted regard for others among the children they educate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, while accusations of racism in Steiner\u2019s philosophy are well-founded, it appears Steiner-Waldorf schools of the 21<sup>st<\/sup> Century want to vociferously reject racism of all kinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Religious and Philosophical Underpinnings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Steiner-Waldorf <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/education-philosophy-examples\/\">educational philosophy<\/a> has religious undertones. How much these undertones are put into practice in contemporary Waldorf schools is unclear. However, a look at Steiner\u2019s work appears to show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Belief in reincarnation and karma.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouragement of children\u2019s spirituality, vaguely defined.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Steiner\u2019s concept of anthroposophy emphasizes using science to understand human spirituality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This all seems quite vague. Nevertheless, many parents find it disturbing. There are reports from a Steiner school in Brooklyn where anthroposophy was employed to see whether a child had \u2018old bones\u2019<sup>[10]<\/sup>. There\u2019s even a website<sup>[11]<\/sup> for a group called People for Legal and Non-sectarian schools (PLAN) who are disturbed by the occult nature of anthroposophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Steiner schools officially do not follow religious doctrines in their schools. They merely acknowledge that children can have spirituality. As the Association of Waldorf Schools for North America (AWSNA)<sup>[12]<\/sup> notes, Waldorf schools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201c\u2026espouse no particular religious doctrine but are based on a belief that there is a spiritual dimension to the human being and to all of life. Waldorf families come from a broad spectrum of religious traditions and interest.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. One Teacher for 5 to 8 Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Teachers tend to stay with students for multiple years in Waldorf schools. According to AWSNA, a student can expect to have the same teacher for five to eight years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are pros and cons to this approach. As a positive, students will be able to develop deep relationships with their teacher which could give them more comfort and a greater sense of security. Waldorf schools emphasize strong interpersonal relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, teacher turnover can be a positive thing. All teachers have their strengths and weaknesses. A new teacher may help a student to achieve breakthroughs in learning and development because they offer <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/types-of-teaching-styles\/\">a different teaching style<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It can be good for a student to experience a range of different teachers and adult influences to gain a breadth of experiences of different teaching personas. New teachers bring fresh perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a child doesn\u2019t gel with their teacher, they\u2019re still stuck with them for up to eight years \u2013 that could be tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Waldorf Schools are Expensive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/public-schools-pros-and-cons\/\">public schools<\/a> and school teachers are influenced by Steiner\u2019s philosophy, which is taught in teacher education degrees (alongside other approaches such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/education-perspectives-compared\/\">Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, generally speaking, Waldorf schools are private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because Waldorf schools are private, they are often too expensive for working-class and minority families. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2013\/12\/15\/parent-fury-at-brooklyn-hex-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this article<\/a> discusses one Waldorf school with tuition fees of $19,000 per year. (I\u2019m sure many are much cheaper).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This expense is inconsistent with the general Steiner-Waldorf belief in social justice (despite the above criticisms, there are also many statements about social justice in Steiner\u2019s philosophy).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many Waldorf advocates are well aware of the fact cost is a barrier to access to Waldorf schools and that it runs contrary to the social justice emphasis [13]. So, this is both an external and internal criticism of Waldorf schools that most Waldorf advocates will acknowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By this point, you\u2019re probably wondering what my perspective is on these Waldorf school criticisms. I\u2019ve tried to present a nuanced journalistic approach throughout the article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, I\u2019m inclined to conclude with this observation. The nature of this article has meant the criticism have been over-emphasized and the positives overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve taught the Steiner-Waldorf approach to education for many years to university students \u2013 from Bachelor of Teaching all the way up to Masters of Education students. I\u2019ve also had friends and mentors who spent their working lives in Steiner-Waldorf schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And overall, most of the above criticisms don\u2019t reflect the everyday reality of the movement. From my experience, it\u2019s a generally progressive, holistic, and well-meaning philosophy that values creativity and music and challenges the fast-paced world of the <a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/21st-century-learning\/\">21st Century<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Waldorf-inspired teachers I\u2019ve come into contact with are usually very nurturing, caring people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that said, I tend not to be an enthusiastic advocate of the approach overall. I believe there is plenty to embrace from it (<a href=\"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/play-based-learning\/\">play-based learning<\/a>, a caring environment, storytelling) and some things I tend to reject (obsession with \u2018natural\u2019 aesthetics, spiritualism, a general \u2018hippie vibe\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s why I\u2019m more inclined to embrace a Montessori approach over a Steiner approach on balance, while remaining inspired by the community-mindedness and nurturing elements of Waldorf schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<p><strong>Footnotes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[1] <a href=\"https:\/\/edpolicy.stanford.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/scope-report-waldorf-inspired-school.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/edpolicy.stanford.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/scope-report-waldorf-inspired-school.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[2] <a href=\"https:\/\/edpolicy.stanford.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/scope-report-waldorf-inspired-school.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/edpolicy.stanford.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/scope-report-waldorf-inspired-school.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[3] <a href=\"http:\/\/www.newcastlewaldorfschool.nsw.edu.au\/uploads\/1\/4\/5\/1\/14518514\/suggate-schaughency-reese-2012-ecrq.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.newcastlewaldorfschool.nsw.edu.au\/uploads\/1\/4\/5\/1\/14518514\/suggate-schaughency-reese-2012-ecrq.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[4] <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/849538\/PHE_Measles_Guidelines.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/849538\/PHE_Measles_Guidelines.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[5] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/06\/13\/nyregion\/measles-outbreak-new-york.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/06\/13\/nyregion\/measles-outbreak-new-york.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[6] <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/age-of-awareness\/waldorf-schools-are-inherently-racist-cults-91193d1fbef6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/medium.com\/age-of-awareness\/waldorf-schools-are-inherently-racist-cults-91193d1fbef6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[7] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/education-28646118\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/education-28646118<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[8] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.steinerwaldorf.org\/steiner-waldorf-schools-fellowship-press-release\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.steinerwaldorf.org\/steiner-waldorf-schools-fellowship-press-release\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[9] <a href=\"http:\/\/steinermentary.com\/steinerlens\/race.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/steinermentary.com\/steinerlens\/race.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[10] <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2013\/12\/15\/parent-fury-at-brooklyn-hex-ed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/nypost.com\/2013\/12\/15\/parent-fury-at-brooklyn-hex-ed\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[11] <a href=\"http:\/\/www.waldorfcritics.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.waldorfcritics.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[12] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waldorfeducation.org\/waldorf-education\/faqs-about-waldorf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.waldorfeducation.org\/waldorf-education\/faqs-about-waldorf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[13] <a href=\"http:\/\/waldorfy.com\/affordability-and-waldorf-education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/waldorfy.com\/affordability-and-waldorf-education\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Top 7 Waldorf Education Criticisms 1. No Early Focus on Academics The Steiner-Waldorf approach to education attempts to protect children from the pressures of the outside world. These include pressures like: Consistent with this philosophy, many Waldorf schools don\u2019t teach traditional \u2018basic skills\u2019 in literacy and numeracy until later ages. Up until about age 7, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[93,129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","category-education-101-course-module-4"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Chris Drew (PhD)","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"authorship-box-avatar":false,"authorship-box-related":false,"authorship-post-flat":false,"authorship-post-cards":false,"authorship-post-thumbs":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Chris Drew (PhD)","author_link":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/author\/chris-drew-phd\/"},"uagb_comment_info":163,"uagb_excerpt":"Top 7 Waldorf Education Criticisms 1. No Early Focus on Academics The Steiner-Waldorf approach to education attempts to protect children from the pressures of the outside world. These include pressures like: Consistent with this philosophy, many Waldorf schools don\u2019t teach traditional \u2018basic skills\u2019 in literacy and numeracy until later ages. Up until about age 7,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10621"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39826,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10621\/revisions\/39826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helpfulprofessor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}