In 1919, a tobacco factory owner in Stuttgart asked an Austrian philosopher named Rudolf Steiner to open a school for the children of his workers. Steiner said yes. The first Waldorf school was built not for the elite, but for factory workers’ families. That origin story tells you something essential about what Waldorf education has … Read more
When my oldest started kindergarten, I assumed traditional school was the only real option. Sure, I’d heard whispers about Montessori and homeschooling, but they felt like choices for other families with different circumstances than ours. Then kindergarten happened, and I watched my curious, energetic child wilt under the pressure of sitting still for hours, following … Read more
I stood in the hallway between two open houses, clutching brochures from both schools, feeling completely torn. The Waldorf classroom had looked like a forest fairy tale, all natural wood and handmade puppets. The Montessori room gleamed with organised shelves of precise materials. Both teachers were lovely. Both philosophies sounded amazing. And I had absolutely … Read more