Critically Assessing the Reputation of Waldorf Education in Academia and the Public : Recent Developments the World Over, 1987–2004

Abstract

The second of two volumes dedicated to this little-explored topic continues to gather international perspectives to critically assess how Waldorf education has been perceived and discussed in both public and academic arenas. Both books thereby challenge the historic concept of Waldorf education as an international movement championing “progressive education.”

Spanning the period 1987–2004, this second volume focuses on more recent developments in Waldorf education in Japan, Israel, Spain, Poland, Kenya, France, Slovenia, and China. Throughout both books, over 25 leading scholars present 16 case studies spanning 14 countries to discuss the history and perception of Waldorf education in the context of respective school systems and societies. By exploring the ramifi cations of these case studies against the background of existing research, the books offer cutting-edge perspectives and prompts for scholarly debates for this as yet underresearched field.

This book will be of interest to researchers, scholars, and postgraduate students in international and comparative education, the theory of education, and the philosophy of education. Policy makers interested in the history of education as well as practicing teachers and school staff at Waldorf education institutions may also benefi t from the volume.