Schools
In 1919, Emil Molt, the owner of the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory in Stuttgart, Germany, asked Rudolf Steiner if he would establish a school for his employees' children. Within a few short months the original Waldorf School opened its doors to these children.
Today there are more than 800 Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf schools in over 40 countries. In New Zealand there are nine schools delivering this education system, with another established sponsired school and three other initatives looking at the setting up of new schools. In addition there are numerous kindergartens and day care centres catering for young children out of Waldorf principles.
Rudolf Steiner designed the education out of his spiritual scientific research of man as a threefold being of spirit, soul, and body whose capacities unfold in three developmental stages on the path to adulthood. These stages are early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence and the Waldorf curriculum is designed to work with these three developmental stages. Underlying this curriculum is the understanding that if children are able to relate what they learn to their own experience, they will be interested and alive, and then everything they learn becomes their own. Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf schools work to foster this kind of learning.
Many of the Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf Schools in New Zealand also have kindergartens attached to them, offering pupils the immense benefit of learning in the same familair environment from the age of four through to the age of 18.
An essay written by Rudolf Steiner at that time in 1919, An Introduction to Waldorf Education, outlines the philosophy behind the school movement
The following schools, which also have kindergartens attached can provide more detailed information;
Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf School
Michael Park School, 55 Amy Street, [P0 Box 11-224], Ellerslie, Auckland 1542. Ph: 09 579 3083, admin@michaelpark.school.nz
Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School, www.titirangi.steiner.school.nz Helios Place, [P0 Box 60-266], Titirangi, Auckland 0642.
Ph: 09 817 4386, reception@titirangisteiner.school.nz
Taikura Rudolf Steiner School, 505 Nelson Street North, [P0 Box 888), Hastings 4122. Ph: 06 878 7363 mailto:office@taikurasteiner.school.nz
Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School, 27 Matuhi Street, Tirohanga, Lower Hutt 5010. Ph: 04 569 5161, info@raphaelhouse.school.nz
Waikato Waldorf School, www.waikatowaldorf.school.nz PO Box 12-1 27, Hamilton. Ph: 07 855 8710, admin@waikatowaldorf.school.nz
Te Ra Waldorf School, 89 Poplar Avenue, Raumati South, Kapiti Coast 5032.
Ph: 04 299 0812, teraschool@paradise.net.nz
Tauranga Rudolf Steiner School, 364 Welcome Bay Road, [P0 Box 115], RD 5, Tauranga 3175. Ph: 07 544 2452, 07 544 4752, j.molloy@rudolfsteinertga.ac.nz
Christchurch Rudolf Steiner School, www.ch.steiner.school.nz 19 Ombersley Terrace, Opawa, [P0 Box 19-944, Woolston], Christchurch 8023. Ph: 03 337 0514,
Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, 1 Fern Road, Maia, Dunedin 9022. Ph: 03 471 2163. kotuku@earthlight.co.nz
SPONSORED SCHOOL INITIATIVE
Motueka Rudolf Steiner School, 480 High Street, [P0 Box 224], Motueka 7120. Ph: 03 528 0246, mrss-admin@xtra.co.nz