Roger Rawlings recounts his experience attending a Waldorf school from 1953 to 1964, describing it as an environment heavily influenced by Rudolf Steiner’s esoteric doctrines, despite its outward appearance as a progressive, arts-focused institution. While the school appeared secular, its curriculum subtly instilled spiritualistic and mystical concepts, consistent with Steiner’s anthroposophy—a blend of occult and Christian esoteric traditions. The author recalls a pervasive yet covert spiritualistic atmosphere that shaped students’ experiences. A scandal later exposed the extent of the school’s occult foundations when a former student, claiming clairvoyant powers, gained undue influence over school decisions, revealing the deep entanglement of Steiner’s mystical ideologies with the institution’s operations.
The essay criticizes Waldorf schools for their lack of transparency, suggesting they downplay or obscure their ideological roots to attract unsuspecting families. The author highlights troubling aspects of Steiner’s teachings, including the integration of astrology and mysticism into education, as well as the use of prayers disguised as verses. Despite public denial of being a religious or sectarian institution, the article argues that Waldorf schools operate with a spiritualistic agenda under the guise of holistic education, raising concerns about the influence such institutions have on children and society today.