Certificate in Rudolf Steiner Education – a three year part-time course

This is not an accredited course, and is not eligible for VET Fee Help.

Awakening the child to love and wisdom

This part-time course offers a range of subjects which are based upon Rudolf Steiner's philosophy. This philosophy, named Anthroposophy, described the world as a beautiful and meaningful expression of the interaction of the spiritual world with the free human being living in a material body.

By recognising ourselves as divine beings, we can use the gifts of objectivity and clear thought derived from modern science and art to bring new meaning into life.

Rudolf Steiner education aims at educating the child through a balance of practical, artistic and academic activities. Its methods work with the child's developing consciousness as it moves, step by step, through the Rudolf Steiner curriculum.

This certificate course runs each Wednesday evening over four terms during the year.

The course is run for anyone wishing to extend their knowledge of Steiner education, and for personal development - it is not only for practicing teachers.

Each evening includes a lecture and discussion, followed by an artistic activity (which changes each term.

At the end of the course, students wishing to continue their Anthroposophical studies may join the Festivals study group.

Curriculum Outline

First Year Subjects

Study of the Epochs:

During the first two terms we will explore Rudolf Steiner's picture of Human Development as the basis for understanding the child. Please be certain to have a copy of Steiner's books Theosophy and Knowledge of Higher Worlds for these two terms' works.

In the last two terms the education course will lead the student through the Epochs taught in the primary and middle Schools:

Fairy Tales, Animal Fables
Myths & Legends
Early Biblical Times
Greek & Roman History
Roman Britain, Middle Ages
Exploration of the New World

These Epochs illustrate the evolution of human consciousness that stands behind the curriculum and are carried by the teacher through daily story-telling to the children in classes one through eight.

Artistic Activities:

Eurythmy - An introduction to the basic principles of Eurythmy. To encourage an appreciation of the depth and potential of this art form.

Singing - Includes singing in unison, in rounds and in two and three parts.

Speech - The creative power of speech and its connection with form, rhythm and movement is experienced as a process of development through active participation.

Painting - To enhance the participants' creative ability and to gain a basic knowledge of colour and the painting techniques used in Steiner Education

 

Second Year Subjects

An Introduction to Anthroposophical Studies

An introduction to the breadth of Rudolf Steiner's ideas concerning the nature of the human being and the role of the human being in the universe. To help students re-examine their present philosophy of life and to develop this further.

Subject is taken all of second year.

Artistic Activities:

Form Drawing works with the straight and curved line in repeated and metamorphosed sequences suited to the child's stage of consciousness, with an emphasis on the process. This leads to an experience of geometry and the discovery of geometric laws and ratios in the universe including sacred geometry.
BioDynamics An introduction to the theory of sustainable agricultural and horticultural practices. A brief look at Rudolf Steiner's principles and practice of BioDynamics.

Folk Dancing To enhance the students self-awareness and sense of personal well-being through movement repertoire.

Craft Handwork is an important part in our curriculum providing a balancing element with the intellectual activities leading to the harmonious development of the child. Rudolf Steiner indicated that a sense for beauty and colour was a learned rather than an innate sense and can be nurtured in the young child.

 

Third Year

Participants now divide into their specific areas of interest:

Early Childhood; or
Primary Class Teaching

and will follow the Rudolf Steiner Curriculum with experienced teachers who are currently working in each of these levels.

Artistic Activities will include the following and others appropriate to your area of study:

Recorder - Participants learn to play the basic notes required for teaching beginners recorder in the class room; learn correct fingering; learn to become conscious of the simple musicality required when working with young children; learn to play a variety of melodies suitable for the primary school child.

Bothmer Gymnastics - Its place within an Anthroposophical education. A study of movements, exercises, skills and games that are appropriate to the developing stages of the child.

Mathematics - Commences with an investigation into the quality of numbers as individual entities and progresses into the arithmetic process, taught firstly in the younger years through imaginative and rhythmic work and later through the historical development and practical application of mathematics.

Puppet Making and Story Telling - A teacher must primarily be a story teller - an artist in the communication of knowledge. Students practise this art of communication and are asked to find the stories that best fulfill the needs of the growing inner life at each stage of childhood. Participants make a three string silk marionette. They learn the use of colour in defining character and stage a puppet play for the benefit of other participants in the part-time course.

 

Recommended Reading:

The Education of the Child in the Light of Anthroposophy - Rudolf Steiner
Foundations of Human Experience - Rudolf Steiner
Phases of Childhood - Bernard Lievegoed