Browsing by Subject "steinerpedagogiikka"

The aim of this research was to investigate how the different possibilities and challenges of dialogue and encounter with a student appear in Waldorf school class teachers’ descriptions. Although dialogue has a central role in Waldorf education, little research has been conducted on this topic. This work approaches the concepts of dialogue and encounter with a student from the theoretical framework of Martin Buber’s thoughts on education and philosophy of dialogue, as well as through their interpretations. Furthermore, Waldorf education is examined from the point of view of dialogue and teacher-student encounter. The research material was collected using interviews. The material consists of six interviews of Waldorf school class teachers from three different Waldorf schools in Finland. The research method was theory-based content analysis. The findings of this study indicate, that in line with the idea of dialogue, Waldorf schools’ aim of education and school culture have characteristics of encouraging both the unique potential of a student and the dialogical relationship with the world, while primarily respecting the individuality and otherness of student. The same principles of the school culture of Waldorf schools that promote dialogue and encounter with students, such as artistic qualities, individuality, situation-basedness, and teachers’ self-education, are also distinctive features of Waldorf education. Many of the educational practices of the school culture of Waldorf schools that support dialogue, such as artistic making, 8-year teacher-student relationship, teaching without schoolbooks and the method of child observation, are also based on these principles. Furthermore, they form the basis of the teachers’ dialogical action and attitudes of encounter with a student. This research also brings forth challenges related to dialogical encounters with students in Waldorf schools. Some of the challenges were related to internal attributes of teacher-student relationships, such as defining the uniqueness of a student or losing one’s temper. On the other hand, the issues touched upon the difficulty of harmonizing the ideals and practices of Waldorf education with the neoliberal education policy, making teachers busy and exhausted as well as encounters with students almost impossible. Moreover, the challenges of teacher-parent relationships were experienced as time-consuming and wearing.

In Steiner schools, there are class teachers who do not have a background in Steiner education. This study examines how a class teacher experiences working in a Steiner school and how Steiner schools familiarize class teachers with the Steiner pedagogy. The data for this narrative study consists of narratives from five class teachers in three different Steiner schools. The data was analyzed narratively. The study demonstrates the significance of orientation in adopting Steiner pedagogy. According to the research findings, class teachers often come to Steiner schools with limited knowledge of Steiner pedagogy and generally receive fragmented orientation. Class teachers report feelings of inadequacy, and their teacher identity is experienced as divided. The results indicate insufficient support through orientation in Steiner schools. Collegial support and mentoring emerge as desired aspects of orientation in the narratives of classroom teachers. The narratives convey a perceived difference in teaching. On the one hand, working in a Steiner school is portrayed in the narratives of class teachers as a growth and learning experience. The findings of the study can be utilized in the planning and development of orientation and continuing education in Steiner schools, at the Snellman University College and at the Steiner Education Association: orientation providers should be able to guide and support class teachers in a more long-term and interactive manner. Orientation that meets the needs of teachers could facilitate the transition of many class teachers to Steiner schools, thereby enriching the functioning of Steiner schools. Based on the results, it can be recommended that personnel working in Steiner schools complete the recommended 25-credit orientation package on Steiner pedagogy by the Steiner Education Association (2022).

Previous studies have reported that children are globally very happy. Happiness studies with Finnish students have shown that Finnish children are also very happy but their happiness and school related happiness decrease during secondary school. The purpose of this study is to explore happiness and school related happiness among sixth and ninth graders in Steiner school. Secondly, the purpose is to explore which factors would increase students' happiness in their opinions. Furthermore the purpose is to explore if the level of happiness among ninth graders changes after sixth grade. The hypothesis of this study is that Steiner school students are happier due the conception of human in Steiner school, Steiner pedagogy and the model of comprehensive school that has less pressure in school transitions than in compulsory school. Steiner pedagogy is alternative pedagogy which interests a student of special pedagogy. In this study happiness and school related happiness were measured among 282 students from six different Steiner schools. There were 142 sixth graders and 138 ninth graders who answered the questionnaire. Students filled out the questionnaire which included the Subjective Happiness Scale and the Finnish version of the School Children's Happiness Inventory. In addition, students chose the factors that would increase their happiness. Ninth graders were also asked if the level of their happiness had changed after sixth grade and what they think the reasons for the change might be. The quantitative material was analyzed with SPSS-program and open answers were organized with qualitative methods. Sixth and ninth graders in Steiner school were less happy than in previous happiness studies but their school related happiness was on about the same level than in previous studies. The students' happiness and school related happiness decreased during secondary school. In the ninth grade, the girls' happiness was on a lower level than the boys'. The factors that increased happiness differed little among sixth and ninth graders and also among boys and girls. The factors that the girls consider to influence their happiness might tell us something about their lower happiness

A Choice of Waldorf Kindergarten, Good Upbringing and Values is a qualitative case study about early educational views and values of Waldorf parents (N=23). Good upbringing means in this case upbringing into goodness and passing on something of value. Values mean things that people value as important, that are desirable and that guides one's choices. The study was meant to describe, explain and understand reasoning behind the choices of daycare, good upbringing and values derived from those. Also this research tried to find out whether Tapio Aaltonens tool for unveiling values is an applicable instrument in scientific study and which kind of results can be obtained with it. Research materials were comprised of modified Aaltonen's question form and both record and written information of group conversations by the parents (n=12). An analyse was made by a data-based and a theory-directed content analysis. The issue is related to current value process in this particular unit and also in national curriculum frame work of Waldorf Pedagogy. This study is reckoned as the science of descriptive ethics, which is based on moral values and norms of empirical research. The study was approached partly from a view of social sciences and philosophical ethics, more specifically from a view of axiology (=value theory) and partly leaning towards Waldorf pedagogy. Value theoretical frame of reference was based on Schwartz' and Aaltonen & Junkkari's models for values. Waldorf pedagogy was examined for Steiners concept of ethical individualism and three prerequisite of human growth, which are understanding humanity, love and will power. Parents most important criteria in selecting day care were associated with nature, environment and peaceful rythm. It was emhasized in the answers that waldorf kindergarten is seen as natural, humane in individualism and communality and as a place where a true childhood is cherished – childhood should be protected so that children have time, possibility and peace to grow up with one's own pace towards one's essence. Selecting Waldorf day care is adapted from typical features of Waldorf early education and western romantics of natural philosophy. In upbringing parents valued most thruthfulness, tenderness , love, individualism and communality. These values can be seen more as a part of Waldorf pedagogy and Steiner's 1919 curriculum than as of Finnish curriculum in early education. Parents most important values were, thruthfulness, dignity, individualism, nature, freedom and communality. In general parents upbringing values are similiar as in Western-European countries that value openness to change and self-enhancement. In the results there is an exception concerning security which is one of the conservative values and crucial in early education. Based on the results in this study the research tools can be concluded to serve the purpose of revealing upbringing values of parents. Aaltonen's value-tool is applicable, not only for subjective value evaluations, but also for scientific data gathering, in this context in qualitative case study.