Become a Waldorf Teacher

I never thought I’d want to teach. I homeschool my children in a Waldorf-inspired way and it’s led me to want to become a Waldorf teacher.

I know where I want to study, just need to work on a BA first.

Not having any luck finding permanent position as Prepress Op or Production Artist (layed off Nov. 07). Have great-nieces and nephews in local Waldorf school and have thought very highly of Steiner’s take on education – to the point of considering this career change off-and-on for years now. The other day I spent some time with my niece, Mathilda, at her “Little Sprouts” class, was given some reading material from the teacher, and am now REALLY thinking hard about making this leap into hard work and financial uncertainty (I live alone). Should I?

I am not sure what to write, but I am very interested in Waldorf Teaching. I need to learn more about it to determine if it is 100% for me.

Hats off to anyone who considers this goal. Doubly so for anyone who hadn’t even heard of Waldorf education before the age of 25.

I went to Antioch University in Keene, NH, worked at Aurora in West Falls,NY and interned at Lexington, MA. Everywhere in the field you find warm, enthusiastic, striving individuals. I’ve never loved a job so much.

The anthroposophy can be tough at times because it generates as many questions as it does answers, but that is kind of the point. Teacher training trains you to observe, question, and meditate, over and over. Children are unfolding questions and you have to learn to keep re-observing them day after day. Many adults don’t like to do things that they aren’t certain they will master shortly, so it takes a lot of perserverance and courage to become a Waldorf teacher which is essentially a person who as he or she learns, knows less and less.

The second most difficult thing for me is dealing with families. Parenting is a lot more difficult than many assume it to be. You learn how to manage your toddler just in time for them to grow into a new stage with new parenting needs, and they keep right on growing and changing year after year. All parents struggle. I have three of my own, I know that of which I speak. In addition to the normal, inherent difficulties of parenting there are more serious issues (anger, alcoholism), perceived problems (entitlement, self-pity), and vicarious living through one’s children, etc. It often falls to you as the teacher to perceive when the parents might be receptive to hearing a little “suggestion” now and then. Theoretically you’ll be working with them for eight years so there’s certainly time. The hard thing to ascertain is inclination. When in eight years of parent teacher conferences will Mr. or Mrs. Doe be inclined to healthily take up their unresolved issues with blank. Sometimes just being willing to look at one’s self and try something different can make everything a lot better at home and subsequently at school.

Beyond those two worthy struggles, and as a Waldorf teacher you are signing up to engage in those particular struggles, the rest can seem like a cakewalk. Just try find the balance between being decisive and flexible with what and how you teach them reading, writing, history, math, science, music and painting, and you’ll be all set. And always remember to strive to be a benevolent authority worthy of emulating.