Waldorf education is a unique and effective approach focusing on the whole child. This means that we educate not only the mind but also the body and emotions. This holistic approach leads to well-rounded, successful and happy individuals. And what’s even more impressive is that Waldorf schools have been shown to produce graduates ready for the 21st-century workforce.
Waldorf education has many benefits, but in this article, we will focus on five key benefits:
- Waldorf schools produce independent thinkers;
- Waldorf students have well-developed social skills;
- Waldorf graduates are well-prepared for university;
- Waldorf education develops a love for learning; and
- Waldorf schools cultivate a sense of community.
Benefit #1: Waldorf schools produce independent thinkers.
In a world where conformity is the norm, Waldorf schools nurture independent thinking. Our teachers encourage students to ask questions, think outside the box and to find their own individual paths in life. This type of education results in creative, innovative and entrepreneurial students who are not afraid to take risks.
This is an important skill that is required by the World Economic Forum. In its “Future of Jobs Report 2020”, the Forum identified “critical thinking” and “problem-solving” as two of the top 10 skills that workers will need to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Benefit #2: Waldorf students have well-developed social skills.
Waldorf schools place great emphasis on developing strong social skills. Our curriculum includes many opportunities for collaborative work. As a result, Waldorf students learn to respect others, value diversity and resolve differences constructively. These are important life skills that will help our students succeed personally and professionally.
The World Economic Forum also identified “emotional intelligence” as one of the top skills workers need to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Emotional intelligence includes skills such as self-awareness, empathy and teamwork – all of which are developed through Waldorf education.
Benefit #3: Waldorf graduates are well-prepared for university.
Recent feedback from Stellenbosch University found that Waldorf students outperform their peers from other educational backgrounds when they get to university. It looked at academic performance, emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills and found that Waldorf students excel in all three areas. This is likely because a Waldorf education develops well-rounded individuals capable of thinking critically and handling complex situations in an emotionally intelligent way.
Benefit 4: Waldorf education develops a love for learning
Waldorf students are not only well prepared for university, but they also develop a love for learning. This is because our curriculum is designed to be engaging and interesting, and our teachers are passionate about their subjects. As a result, our students develop a strong desire to continue learning throughout their lives.
Benefit 5: Waldorf schools cultivate a sense of community
At Waldorf schools, we believe it takes a community to raise a child. We, therefore, place great emphasis on developing a strong sense of community within our schools. Waldorf schools have small class sizes, which allows for more individualised attention from teachers.
Our students learn to respect and value others, and they develop strong bonds with their classmates and teachers. This sense of community is an important foundation to help our students succeed in all aspects of their lives.
A high school Waldorf education provides many benefits that other educational options simply cannot match. Contact us today to learn more about how your child can benefit from a high school Waldorf education in South Africa!
Source: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Jobs_2020.pdf