FAQs
The answers given here are brief by necessity. Fuller explanations may be had by calling 503 774-4946 or by emailing us through Contact us.
What is the difference between Waldorf Education and Conventional Education?
The general aims of conventional education are often listed as the attaining of information and the development of skills. The aim of Waldorf Education is to enhance and support the development of the incarnating child through fulfilling his/her developmental needs at the right time. Timing is the key to education just as timing is the key to hitting a moving ball with a bat. Rudolf Steiner outlines the principles of the new education [Waldorf] in his first lecture in Practical Advice to Teachers.
Why were Waldorf Schools started?
The first Waldorf School was begun in 1919. Emil Molt, a director of the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette factory in Stuttgart, asked Rudolf Steiner if he would found a school for the children of the factory workers. Emil Molt did this because Rudolf Steiner stated that the chance for social change in the world was lost at the end of the first World War because the politicians were determined to hang on to power and the status quo. Steiner indicated that the modern age was the age of the individual and the social order had to change to accommodate this. This was a necessary part of the evolution of mankind and the world. As this was hindered by the politicians who drew up the Treaty of Versailles, Steiner indicated that the only hope for the evolutionary development of the world lay in educating children in a new way, hence the phrase “Education towards Freedom”.
Why should I take the Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators?
Rudolf Steiner stated clearly many times in his education lectures that it is most important who a teacher is not what a teacher knows. This Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators is currently best at helping each student develop self-knowledge; knowledge to find their own individuality and through this a deep understanding of the human being and their development through incarnation and excarnation. This enlightens in the human being an instinctive understanding of the child that Rudolf Steiner calls pedagogical intuition, and this pedagogical intuition is invaluable to every teacher in a Waldorf School.
What Course should I take if I want to be an Early Childhood Teacher?
We have three possibilities for those students who wish to train as an Early Childhood Teacher. By far the best course we offer is “The Comprehensive Certificate for Waldorf Educators” with the Early Childhood Summer Intensives. This is designed for lead teachers in Early Childhood and enables the graduate to have a complete foundation for directing an Early Childhood class and understanding the whole school so that he or she may play a full part in the school.
We also offer the “Early Childhood Waldorf Teaching Certificate” which is designed for those who wish to assist in the Early Childhood Classes. It is possible to up-grade this certificate later by taking the three years of Saturdays.
For those living outside the Portland area we offer the “Certificate for Early Childhood Waldorf Teaching”. This does require the student to be teaching or assisting in a Waldorf Early Childhood program for the second and third year of the course.
What Course should I take if I want to be a High School Teacher?
Rudolf Steiner stated clearly many times in his education lectures that it is most important who a teacher is not what a teacher knows. So far this Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators is the best at helping each Teacher training student develop a self-knowledge. A knowledge to find his/her own individuality and through this a deep understanding of the human being and his/her development through incarnation and excarnation. This enlightens in the human being an instinctive understanding of the child or young person that Rudolf Steiner calls pedagogical intuition, and this pedagogical intuition is invaluable to every teacher in a Waldorf School.
At the Micha-el Institute we do cover much of the pedagogy and curriculum for the Waldorf High School and several of our teachers are current or past Waldorf high school teachers. Rudolf Steiner was insistent that all teachers knew what was going on and being taught in all parts of the school and our Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators takes this in a most practical way.
What Course should I take if I want to be a subject teacher in a Waldorf School?
Nowadays there are several institutes that are offering specific courses for individual subjects. These courses cannot however bring the deep essential foundation for teacher training that our Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators does.
The self- knowledge developed on this course helps the graduate to find his/her own individuality and through this a deep understanding of the human being and his/her development through incarnation and excarnation. This enlightens in the human being an instinctive understanding of the child that Rudolf Steiner calls pedagogical intuition, and this pedagogical intuition is invaluable to every teacher in a Waldorf School.
We do offer help to develop a deeper understanding of many of the subjects.
By taking a full course the subject teacher becomes a full Waldorf Teacher and does not have the struggle to have their subject and its teaching accepted that has become a problem in many schools today.
Why do I need to do Three Years of Teacher Training?
Teacher training is like building a foundation for the house of your teaching experience. It also takes time to digest. If it is rushed the foundation is weak and the digestion does not work properly. In the first year our students gain the head knowledge of Waldorf Teaching that they need. In the second year they develop it into an art through their feelings and rhythmic system. In the third year it permeates their whole being through their doing and their will.
Is the Comprehensive Course for Waldorf Educators a Full-time or a Part-time Course?
We originally labeled this a part-time course as the class-time is 12 to 14 hours per week. However about 12 hours should be set aside during the week to complete synopses, art assignments, preparation for presentations etc. This should leave enough time to take a part-time job or an assistant position in a Waldorf school and to look after your dependents.
Students tell us that this make life very full-time.
What difficulties might I meet on the Course?
Most of our students go through some sort of catharsis during the first few months of the course, though some have also faced difficulties at other times on the course. There is not really a pattern to this as each person meets their own individual problems in their own individual way and time. However, it is good to be prepared for this to happen for once such things are overcome there is usually a new found enthusiasm for life and to some extent a new found identity.
Do I need a Bachelors or a Masters Degree to be a Waldorf Teacher?
Although some Waldorf Schools ask for this it is not necessary to be a Waldorf Teacher.
The Micha-el Institute wishes to point out that as an Anthroposophical Institution we view the term Certification in the light of Anthroposophy and the Threefold Social Order as indicated by Rudolf Steiner. In his picture of the social evolution of Human Beings three stages of development are pointed out. (e.g. GA 194 February 20, 1920) The first (prehistory) was the time of the Living God. In the second (historical times to 15th Century) symbolism became heightened, church and state were divided, writing evolved and it was important to know by what authority things were done. We live in the third time when Culture, Rights and Economy have to be identified and work together. The most important question now is “Can you perform the task? Can you do the job?” not “By what authority do you do it?”
Why should I choose the Micha-el Institute in Portland to do my Waldorf Teacher Training?
Where you choose to do your Waldorf Teacher Training is largely a question of destiny or karma. We believe that the Micha-el Institute has more to offer of the original impulse of Rudolf Steiner, because we choose to make you work through the basic books of Anthroposophy and Waldorf Pedagogy. Students have to produce synopses of the basic texts before they are discussed together in Seminar sessions. These generally take place with the whole student body so that the freshmen can benefit from the experience of Juniors and Seniors.
We have very experienced leaders in all our programs and our director John Miles, and our artistic director Valerie Miles were personally trained for 10 years by Juliette and Vera Compton-Burnett. These sisters studied for many years with Rudolf Steiner and Marie Steiner and were given the tasks by Rudolf Steiner of bringing Eurythmy and Speech Formation to the English speaking world. Valerie also studied with Karo Bergman a well-known German anthroposophical painter of the last century. John Miles has over 30 books in print. Most of these are for the use
of Waldorf Teachers in singing, flute playing, string playing, Geometry, Poems and plays. There are published by www.prometheanpress.com, where they can be purchased on line.
What if I cannot afford the Course?
We allow our students to defer 40% of the monthly tuition fees without interest, but the student becomes liable for these when they leave the course. [Registration and Materials fees must be paid in full.] If the student then makes and keeps to a repayment agreement of at least $100 per month there is no interest charged.
There is also the possibility of some administrative work to offset tuition for a few students. Students in their second and third years may become eligible for AWSNA Tuition Grants.
What if I have a question that is not listed here?
Please feel free to ask the question on Contact us or call 503 774-4946.