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08. 02. 10. - 17:00

Waldorf school celebrates 30th anniversary

by John Morris

The Rudolf Steiner Foundation’s "Waldorf School Klagenfurt" celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. Austrian Times correspondent John Morris was at one of the anniversary events.

Established in Klagenfurt, near to the Wörthersee Lake, the school was revolutionary at the time and since it was founded has made major contributions to the lives of generations that have passed through its classes.

Last week on Friday 5th February there was one of a series of 30th Anniversary events. Senior students at the school performed the French play Amelie on the stage in St Ruprecht, Klagenfurt to a packed audience.

From what I saw those present were treated to an extraordinarily gifted performance which personified the philosophy of the Waldorf tradition. With skill and panache, the young actors and actresses displayed not only exceptional acting and musical talent, but performed with a self confidence rarely seen in Austrian state schools which are often orientated towards precision to the detriment of expressionism, presentation and creativity.

The Rudolf Steiner School essentially embraces Waldorf education, a pedagogy derived from the insights of Austrian-born scientist, philosopher, artist, and educator Rudolf Steiner.
The program addresses the physical, emotional, and intellectual capacities of the developing child through an age-appropriate curriculum that integrates the disciplines of movement, fine arts, and practical arts into the study of humanities, science, math, and technology.

Through the development of these capacities, the educationalists at the Waldorf School strive to educate the whole human being in a healthy and balanced manner. It’s what educationalists describe as a "Holistic" Education: The education of the whole child.

Indeed, the school incorporates real work experience into the curriculum as students are sent for practical experience to farms and other businesses to allow them to gain experience of the "Real World". And the Final School leaving Exam results show that this philosophy enhances grades rather than damaging them as some Waldorf critics like to falsely expound.

Student actresses, Veronika Schulz, Bianca Adlinger, Claire Morris and their school buddies put on a splendid show that represented the best of the Waldorf School, and presented Klagenfurt and Carinthia in a positive light which counters the negative headlines the region has been achieving for political reasons these past few years. The Waldorf School helps to set the balance through exporting style, culture and empathy to those around.

As far as I am concerned if this is the standard then Happy Birthday Waldorf School Klagenfurt and many more decades of success!

Austrian Times

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