A new definition of academic rigor is emerging today. It has little to do with acquiring information. Access to information today is unprecedented; how can today’s young people make sense of it all? How will they find purpose and fulfillment in their lives? Academics, if they are to serve children today, have to lay the groundwork for answering those questions in adulthood.
In a Waldorf school, academic rigor is more about learning how to think than what to think. Our goal is students who learn to think clearly, imaginatively, flexibly. When students learn in an age-appropriate way, they not only master the material but remain enthusiastic learners. As Waldorf educators, they will even, we hope, ask questions we can’t answer.
For other perspectives on Waldorf Education, you may enjoy this report from CNN