An email version of the January 2008 issue of the Journal for Waldorf/Rudolf Steiner Education is available here

The JOURNAL FOR WALDORF/RUDOLF STEINER EDUCATION is published bi-anually  Copies are also available at $10 per issue postage inclusive 

(discounts for bulk orders) by contacting

Neil Carter, waldorf@clear.net.nz   

Available for purchase: Vol 10.2  July 2008

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BOOKS

TOWARDS THE FUTURE...

RUDOLF STEINER/WALDORF

HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION

PERSPECTIVES

Is Published by the Initiative Circle of the Pedagogical Section in New Zealand

July, 2005. 192 pages, illustrated.

Inspiring articles on teaching science, arts, technology, literature plus guidance for teachers about the development of adolescents by Peter Glasby, Heinz Zimmermann, John Allison, Hans van Florenstein Mulder, Florian Osswald, Sue Simpson, Van James, David Garb and other authors who have had many years teaching experience and guiding teenagers.

Retail Price $20.00

The book can be purchased by contacting Neil Carter at waldorf@clear.net.nz

"TOWARDS THE FUTURE...Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf High School Education-Perspectives"

192 pages, illustrated

Reviewed by Vee Noble, editor of Sphere, quarterly journal of the Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand

Following the establishment of the first Waldorf School in September 1920 Rudolf Steiner gave sixteen lectures to teachers at Dornach from 23 December 1921 to 7 January 1922, and spoke of the new pedagogy that does not merely dispense knowledge but strives to call forth capacities and strengthen the will. "We ought to approach this curriculum in such a way that we could recreate it ourselves at any moment; we must learn to read in the children how they should be taught," he said.

It is out of that striving to continually work to meet the changing needs of the new generation of incarnating children that has seen the number of Waldorf Schools increase worldwide and here in New Zealand. "Towards The Future" is a collection of high school teachers' educational perspectives that will be of interest to teachers, students and anyone interested in gaining a deeper insight into Rudolf Steiner education.

Published by the Initiative Circle of the Pedagogical Section in New Zealand, the book is edited by Neil Carter Ineke van Florenstein Mulder. It contains essays and articles by teachers both in New Zealand and throughout the world including Van James, an art teacher from Hawaii, who was the key note speaker at the recent conference in Christchurch. Anthroposophical Society in New Zealand's General Secretary, Hans van Florenstein Mulder and chairperson, Sue Simpson are two other contributors. Hans writes about life science teaching in the upper school and in a second article asks; is there more to the food we eat? Sue has been teaching eurythmy for twenty four years and shares her reflections and experiences of teaching this art of movement. They are joined in their "perspectives" by other teachers including Florian Osswald, Diederic Ruarus, John Allison, and Julian Thomson. Together, the contributing educators have a   teaching experience of many years.

In addition to the teachers, school doctor David Ritchie and counsellor David Garb make their contributions and insights about adolescence. Then Valentin Vollmer talks of the first year after school, that has information for teacher, student and parent. Heinz Zimmermann, the former leader of the Pedagogical Section in Dornach and John Allison bring another dimension to this book, that centres on the education of teenagers today, with two articles about adult learning.

"Towards The Future" is no theoretical text book, it is a collection of essays that have been written out of the direct pedagogical experience of the authors. There are many books about teaching the younger age groups in a Rudolf Steiner School but as the editors write in the preface there was a need for a "collection of articles representing perspectives on the high school part of Waldorf education." This book certainly fills that role. It is recommended reading for every teacher, every parent of a teenager (or soon to be), students themselves and anyone interested in how teachers are working to bring an ‘education towards freedom.'

Vee Noble

Towards The Future.. Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf) high school education..Pperspectives.

Costs: NZ$20.00   plus pack/postage and  is available from:

  Neil Carter    waldorf@clear.net.nz