The first Waldorf School started in Stuttgart, Germany in the year 1919 by an Austrian seer Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). There are about 1100 schools in 6 continents and 64 countries worldwide, following the Steiner or Waldorf pedagogy. The learning process integrates the arts, sciences and humanities , in an age appropriate manner, during the three major stages of child development – Early Childhood, Primary years and Adolescence to young adulthood. In Steiner Kindergarten classes, teachers focus on practical work with the hands, play and following the rhythms of the week, month and year. The arts underpin the teaching in primary school from grades 1 to 7, which help the child develop academic and social skills. In High school (grades 8-12) an understanding which is based on logical and objective thinking is taught across all subjects, enabling students develop moral capacities and become responsible contributors to their communities. Individual teachers and schools have varying degrees of autonomy in determining curriculum content, teaching methodology and governance, based on the local regulations, social/cultural environments and economic statuses of different countries.
