Waldorf Education, What is Dogma, Tradition or Steiner?

It can be really challenging to read blogs and then try to decide what Waldorf actually IS! Waldorf is something different to many different people.  Some are only interested in understanding Waldorf as far as what the schools would be doing.

My question to those is...why?
The schools can have WONDERFUL experiences associated with them, I have visited many and fallen in love with the beauty of the classrooms, the artistry of a Waldorf teacher's chalk board, marveled at the selection of books in the classroom... but my reality is at home.
Do I want to base my schooling on what the schools do?
Or is it better to understand what Steiner himself suggested? 

In the first lecture of "Kingdom of Childhood," Steiner suggests that each grades class room will look a bit different as each teacher will take the information from what they have learned and fashion it into something that makes their heart soar, all the while staying in line with Steiner's recommendations.

When I started this path, I couldn't afford fancy curriculum that cost hundreds of dollars, I worked to create my own based on Steiner's teachings, blended with my own flair. When I hear that someone has heard from someone else that something I mention isn't Waldorf, I have to stand back and ask myself...where is this other person coming from? Is their knowledge from what is done in the schools or is it directly from Steiner. My work comes directly from Steiner, from time to time we have worked out of a school model, but all of our revisions are Steiner and personal experience. Experience from homeschooling all of my children with Waldorf and in working with hundreds of families. If you ever wonder about something we have recommended or written, I invite you to ask!

What is tradition?
What is dogma?
And what did Steiner say?
Well tradition is something that I would say happens in the schools (or even homeschools) and while it has been done for years and years, it isn't necessarily something that Steiner recommends. For instance, building in the 3rd grade.  Steiner says:

"Now you see that the material you have gathered through describing the environment you employ in a free way for forming your lesson on practical occupations. The child of about nine in the third class can very well gain an idea, through such a lesson - I can only give instances - of preparing mortar as it employed in house-building. The child can also have an idea of how to manure and how to plough; what rye and wheat look like. In short, in a free way, you let the child enter into his surrounds as far as he can with understanding."

Steiner's suggestion here is to study occupations. Steiner isn't insisting on a lesson block with house building.  House building is an example of the method working out of tradition.  The point is to imbue our children with an understanding of his or her surroundings.  This statement also further cements that the child of grade 3 should be about 9 or 9, this is not possible if the child starts first grade when they are just 6.  The age to start school is another thing that is becoming tradition. I have spoken with many moms who have children that are on target with Steiner's ages and they leave the schools they were so in love with because the teacher had too many younger students and couldn't balance the age range. At home we don't have this problem.

Two or three day rhythm... tradition or Steiner?
Well Steiner mentions this progressive rhythm only once that I have found and it is counter to the way some schools do it and some gurus recommend.  Steiner mentions in his lecture "Teaching the Upper Grades," that science lessons can be done with a two day rhythm. Using these indications though can be helpful when working in a home setting for younger children as well.  During this rhythm, you do want to make sure you can engage the three parts - head, heart, hands - or at least this can be your goal as this is education for the *whole* child.  Some Waldorf teachers prefer a three day rhythm in the classroom, but we are at home. You should use what works for you - not what is going on in the school or what someone else does, or even from a published curriculum.  We try to leave ours open ended enough to allow you to work your magic with it, this is one reason we are on you so much about planning and inner work... it helps so much in ordering your day and finding what resonates with your family.

Why the difference in tradition and Steiner? Well my guess is a few things are at play...in a classroom they have a schedule to keep that is far different from ours at home, this means that both home and school can both look very Steiner but also very different.  At home I like the 2 day rhythm for the early grades, it can be really easy I have found to do 2 two-day cycles leaving one day for field trips, library visits, etc. during the week. Some have found a three day one works for them. As they get older, even by third grade, this rhythm begins to change and even though we have continued to write a two day rhythm in our curriculum, I have always encouraged you to do what feels right. 

When we become too fixed and immovable, it goes from being tradition to being dogma - further when we base our homes on the school or only on what a teacher has counseled, then we aren't allowing ourselves to fully enjoy the homeschooling experience.

Other things that have been tradition and could easily become dogma are things like
beeswax vs. clay,
the recorder as the only blowing instrument
and how a Waldorf home should look, etc.

Steiner's Waldorf isn't many of the things we have come to know it by through the Internet and other resources.  To really know what he said we have to read him or find someone we trust who has read him.  We have to use resources that follow Steiner if we want his work, it is more than tradition. If this education calls to you then you may have to ask some tough questions and take the time to really understand the legacy of this work in your own family.

As you are planning,
are you asking the tough questions?
Are you taking the time to learn bit by bit?

Are you overwhelmed? 
Let us help you. 
It takes time. 
Remember that it isn't a race. 
It is the best personal growth I could imagine!

Our Thinking Feeling Willing program is your road map to a successful Waldorf homeschool journey! Gain the confidence you need, be the teacher your child wants and transform your homeschool experience. Learn more here.