Steiner Education: An Analysis of The Waldorf Method as it relates to Emotional Intelligence

The analysis of Steiner Education as a method of instruction that produces graduates that are not only academically prepared for college; but are also emotionally prepared for adult life. Although the Waldorf Education method celebrates 100 years, only in the last thirty years have researchers realized the importance of building emotional intelligence. For example, Daniel Goleman wrote, “High IQ is no guarantee of prosperity, prestige, or happiness in life, our schools and our culture fixate on academic abilities, ignoring emotional intelligence” (36). If the future of education is to prepare students for success in adult life, then a “whole child” approach is essential. My goal is to expose Waldorf Education as a preferred method of instruction because it achieves both academic excellence, (IQ) and builds emotional intelligence (EQ) equipping our students with essential capacities to succeed in school and later in life. My hypothesis is that my research will expose a connection between the Waldorf method and emotional intelligence. Hopefully, this Paper will persuade parents, teachers, families, and friends that a child’s education needs to develop both IQ and EQ