The Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum has launched with great enthusiasm a cross-country research project on the topic of «Resilience and Pedagogy».

A central question of the project is how Waldorf schools (also known as Rudolf Steiner schools in some countries) can contribute to the promotion of resilience among their students, in a society that is changing continuously, either gradually or suddenly. Whether there are global or country- specific issues, they impact on people’s lives in the long term and cause outcomes that are not foreseeable today. Therefore, the challenge arises as how to prepare young people for their future. Implicitly, it calls for considering the needs and competences of educators for their work with children and young people. The research is focused on the context of the pedagogical happening – drawing on the statement of Rudolf Steiner that «The entire teaching method is itself oriented toward healing the child.»¹

Out of these considerations, the voice of pupils and teachers of Steiner Waldorf schools is what we would like to explore to identify the attributes and qualities that contribute to being resilient. We rely on your participation and hope that our work will serve you and the Steiner Waldorf schools movement.

The project was launched in 2022 by Ioana Viscrianu, research assistant at the Pedagogical Section. Belle Leung took over the management of the project in October 2023.

1: Steiner, Rudolf (1923). Conferences with the teachers of the Free Waldorf School in Stuttgart, 1919 to 1924, in 3 volumes, lecture given on the 6^th of February 1923.