Have you heard of Waldorf? I often stumble upon that name, when I search on Montessori schools/materials. Is it an alternative? Is it another educational philosopher, scientist in search of enlightenment in children’s education? Enlightenment – surely yes, though not in the same way I envisioned… as “light” is the not only philosophical concept, but also the reality: due to the particular attention of the school to the artistic expression, black, brown colors are mostly banned in the school. Biblical Eve has to be represented with a fair skin and blond hair. You would ask, what difference does it make? Apparently, “search for light” can have a greater influence on the rest of the children’s education, then just reflection of number of crayons in the box.

The following article about one family’s experience with Waldor schools, their philosophy and the realities of Waldorf everyday life and practices: Our Brush With Rudolf Steiner.

Sharon Lombard, the author of the article is an artist. And a mother in search of perfect school for her daughter: the one that could combine the artistic expression within its academic goals. Waldorf schools seemed to be a godsend: their emphasis on incorporating art into the student’s daily activities, their use of artistic works, surely seemed both enticing and original.

Sharon, and her husband Amos decided to move from Ohio all the way to Wisconsin for their daughter’s enrollment into one of these fabulous schools. Moreover, Sharon happily enlisted into the the fund raising activities for the school, suggesting to repaint their store, creating numerous fund raising art projects… and creating a great turmoil with her bold and outgoing use of colors, especially… surprise-surprise: black. Apparently – the use of black is mostly banned throughout the school.

What’s wrong with black? How can African-American kids create their self-portraits? Why kids are denied the small brushes that create outlines, lines and other markers between the vast transformations of colors? Why fairy tails, angels, daemons, creation, are such an important part of the school’s curriculum?

The author discovered, that gnomes and daemons take precedence before academics. Religious beliefs of the founder of the philosophy is one of the primary subjects.

Just as the liquid paint had a mystic mission in preparing the well-reincarnated for the new world order, so too do all the myths, legends, and fairy tales Steiner adopted in his Anthroposophical pantheon and Waldorf curriculum.

Even the illnesses had to be cured with mystical drawing rites!

Both my daughter and I deteriorated in health, and I could not bear going near the school. The final straw came at the height of my daughter’s illness when the school recommended that a visiting Anthroposophical doctor see her.

In our opinion, we experienced the ultimate folly concerning superstition of color. She was to draw with healing warm colored crayons and, I was to make the sign of a flame on her heart with aurum cream at bedtime!

The subsequent study of writings by Waldorf turned out to be a true revelation of some of the bizarre practices in the school:

With each book I read I piece together more and more of what had gone on in my daughter’s classroom and school, finding answers to my many questions which had been brushed aside by teachers or by myself.

Earlier, a prospectus had stated that the first Waldorf school, founded in 1919, was to be the seed for the future, serving the reawakening spiritual life of mankind. The concept suddenly became more ominous as I read The Universal Human (four lectures given between 1909 and 1916) in which Steiner stated that the mission of the Anthroposophical movement was to enable a number of human beings to enter their next incarnation to become core groups for the 6th epoch of civilization.

Every aspect of the curriculum is centered on what Steiner defines as spiritual advancement of karma and reincarnation supplemented by indoctrination in esoteric mysteries. No wonder the self-expression inherent in the usual definition of art is missing: what passes for art, to the uninitiated, is no more than occult “moral exercise”! Nonsectarianism (valid only if this refers to the syncretic hotchpotch of myths and religions absorbed into Steiner’s pantheon) is instead the intolerant, apocalyptic, totalitarian sect of Anthroposophy!

The article is really fascinating. Take a look, and decide for yourself…

So, what is it – an artistic expression, or yet another brainwashing sect? I’d be thrilled to hear your opinions.