[Dialogue] Rudolph Steiner

[David Jago]

Hi folks --

Just for something completely different...

Some of you will remember me from the late 1970's and early 80's in
Brisbane, Melbourne, Jawale and Bombay.

My kids go to our local Waldorf School and, due to general interest and
competence, I am now on the Board.  This decision has meant that I need to
understand more of the background to this type of education than I might
otherwise go into. 

Waldorf education follows the same basic framework where-ever it shows up
around the world.  This is derived from an understanding of child and human
development outlined by Rudolph Steiner in the early 1900's. Additionally,
Steiner aimed, in part, to change society by revolutionising education to
produce whole human beings rather than cannon fodder.

Steiner wrote on a range of other topics including: medicine, architecture,
agriculture and 'spiritual science'.  Just as his child development and
education writings anticipated Piaget and others by forty years, this other
work has been ahead of its time in many ways.  For example, biodynamic
farming is based on Steiner's writings & lectures.

So here are some questions, if you can help me.

First: what influence, if any, did Steiner's concepts have on the formation
of the social process triangles?  In "Education as a Force for Social
Change" he described a 'threefold social commonwealth' which had economic,
rights and spiritual aspects.  These aspects are similar enough to the
social process poles to give me pause for thought.

Second: what influence, if any, did Waldorf education have on the school
(experiment?). I vaguely remember the ICA/EI set up in the early 80's (in
Seattle?).  Even if there wasn't any influence, I would still appreciate any
background people may have on the school.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers!

David Jago