Description At the same time, Steiner shows that, to prove worthy of their calling, teachers must begin a process of inner development. In his view, it is the human being who gives value and meaning to the world, but modern education is gradually undermining this fact. These lectures demonstrate that education can heal such a lack of meaning and restore the value of human beings for the world. Steiner also discusses the practical, day-to-day operation of the school. He talks about styles of teaching, teacher conferences, parent-teacher meetings, and how Waldorf education is related to the anthroposophic movement. This book, while serving as a good introduction to Steiner’s ideas on education, also represents the fruits of four years experience in the Waldorf school. Translated from Rudolf Steiner’s Der pädagogische Wert der Menschenerkenntnis und der Kulturwert der Pädagogik (GA 310), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, 1989. No such lecture cycle is ever complete in an encyclopedic way, but each nevertheless covers ‘the basics’ in its own way. Any lecture by Rudolf Steiner also has its own incomparable value. Yet this sequence is truly extraordinary and incomparable in a different way, both because it is the last that Steiner gave on education and because, in his last months, Steiner was graced with a remarkable clarity and penetration that allowed him to address old topics (as well as new) with uncanny spiritual luminosity, precision, and sheer humanity. If anyone is looking for the ‘last word’ on Waldorf education, this is perhaps it—in more ways than one. — Christopher Bamford, from the introduction Contents Introduction by Christopher Bamford 1. The Need for Understanding the Human Being 2. Incarnation of the Human Being in a Physical Body 3. Walking, Speaking, Thinking 4. The Three Stages of Childhood 5. Teachers’ Conferences in Waldorf Schools 6. Parent-Teacher Meetings 7. The Temperaments and the Human Organism 8. Art & Language Education 9. Renewing Education 10. Education & the Anthroposophic Movement
