Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian educator and philosopher, founded the first Waldorf School in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919. Since that time, more than eight hundred Waldorf Schools have been established worldwide, each one embodying Steiner’s experiential, developmentally based, holistic theories of education, and modeling his pedagogy and curriculum.

“Receive the children in reverence; educate them with love; send them forth in freedom.”
—Dr. Rudolf Steiner

Waldorf schools around the world are committed to these intrinsic principles of education developed by Dr. Rudolf Steiner, the guiding force behind the Waldorf School movement: that childhood is sacred; that children learn naturally and easily when a curriculum meets their specific developmental
needs; that children’s imaginations must be carefully nurtured and protected from the encroachment of materialism and media; and that education must address the whole child—not only the intellect, but also the physical, social, emotional, artistic and spiritual capacities.

At The Waldorf School of Atlanta, children are encouraged to grow and mature in their own individual ways. Learning is a dynamic process that engages students with a rich sensory experience in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Students are engaged through active, curious, and creative participation in their own learning. Education comes alive in a curriculum infused with artistic activities (such as painting, drawing, sculpting, and handwork), rhythmic movement (eurythmy), creative writing, dramatic performance, woodwork, games, music, literature, and verse. Ethical values are nurtured in a seasonal, spiritual, and environmentally sensitive atmosphere of respect and gratitude. Imagination, supported by inventive play in the kindergarten, transformed into adolescent self-discovery, leads to independent and critical thinking.

The bonds formed between teachers and students in our school provide a solid basis upon which all else is built. Our kindergarten teachers remain with a child until they are ready to begin first grade. When a child enters the grade school they are taught by their class teacher in addition to a variety of specialist teachers. Grade school children have the unique experience of remaining with the same class from first through eighth grade. Class teachers, who commit to teaching one group of students for many years, develop stable and lasting relationships with both students and parents.

Our teachers are committed to working out of Waldorf pedagogy to create a dynamic and engaging educational experience for the children we serve. The curriculum throughout the grades is designed to help each child develop clarity of thought, balance in feeling, and initiative in action. This academic, artistic, and practical education is an excellent foundation for a lifetime of learning.

We are eager to share the beauty and relevance of Waldorf education with you. Our school truly should be experienced, so we invite you to visit us. Open Houses are scheduled monthly to provide an introduction to Waldorf education. We also invite you to walk through our hallways and see the work of our students, visit one of our fairs, or attend a talk by a Waldorf educator.

( top)