What makes alternative education distinctive? : a Steiner approach

Abstract

This dissertation provides a critical literature review of alternative educational methods and their success in diverse countries. Special focus is given to the Steiner Waldorf schools which were originally founded by Rudolf Steiner in an attempt to reform society back in the early twentieth century, and which have evolved and become a renowned movement worldwide. ‘What makes Alternative Education distinctive? A Steiner Approach.’ delves into the philosophies that Rudolf Steiner came up with, and explains how these thoughts are put into practice through the system exploited in Steiner Waldorf settings. Through this study, one can also find a set of characteristics, activities which are normally held in these schools and pedagogies utilized by teachers, which differentiate Steiner Waldorf schools from any other alternative and traditional education settings. The curriculum, classes and stages are simultaneously addressed, together with the roles of teachers and the involvement of parents. Moreover, the study provides a comprehensive description of what constitutes Steiner Waldorf schools, and their correlation to a child’s stages of development. The research is furthermore sustained with an ongoing comparison of the educational system present in Malta in order to accentuate the differences between the two modes of schooling and establish what both settings can take on from the other.