Balance in teaching

More about the book

In a series of lectures delivered in 1920 and 1923, Steiner addresses educators at the first Waldorf school, emphasizing the urgent need for a holistic approach to education to combat societal dishonesty and alienation. He argues that effective teaching requires a dynamic integration of the "spiritual gymnast," the "ensouled rhetorician," and the "intellectual professor," with the cultivation of artistic speech by the rhetorician being paramount. Steiner insists that true teaching should never be dull and illustrates how teachers can deeply engage with natural phenomena, allowing their enthusiasm to resonate in the classroom. He explores the profound impact teachers have on their students' physiological chemistry, proposing that education serves as a form of therapy, closely aligned with healing arts. By revealing the intricate connections between education and human development, Steiner inspires teachers to embrace their vital role in fostering health through educational practices. The content is structured into two parts: the first focuses on balance in teaching, while the second delves into deeper insights, including the synthesis of the teacher's roles and the influences of education on health and illness.