It has been 38 years since the opening of the first Waldorf kindergarten in Spain at the end of the 60's. A working group on anthroposophy was created in Madrid, and texts from Rudolf Steiner were translated and shared secretly during the dictatorship. With the democracy came a slow opening of the influence of the Catholic Church, and enthusiastic young people in this growing circle started jumping into Waldorf trainings in Germany, France, England, etc. to prepare for the opening of the first Waldorf school in Spain. On April 23, 1979 the first kindergarten was born with five children, and 8 years later, in 1987, the first Waldorf school. Today, the Escuela Libre Micael, in Madrid, has 500 students from age 2 to 18, and throughout Spain there are 25 Waldorf kindergartens, 12 primary schools, 4 secondary schools, and 1 high school. This development has been accompanied by a number of factors:
● the excitement of teachers and families, seeking good collaboration and participation in the life of schools
● the long way to go configuring an educational-cultural institution under the freedom of the teachers
● self-management, carried in collaboration between parents and teachers
Waldorf Pedagogy is today an educational innovation movement that is recognized and increasingly appreciated by universities, the Ministry of Education and the educational renewal movement in Spain. Usually we are invited to participate in UNESCO conferences, in universities’ holistic educational conferences, books, interviews, etc. Significantly, more than 800 students studying education in 10 universities visit the first Waldorf school each year. In 2000 the Association of Waldorf Centers of Spain was created, where kindergarten, schools and trainings work together, and which participates as a member in various international associations such as the European Council for Steiner/Waldorf Education (ECSWE) and IASWECE. The association has the task to protect the right of the name Waldorf-Steiner and to promote the quality of Waldorf teaching and knowledge about it in the media and in society. But its most important work is to accompany young teachers in the growing initiatives. In addition, for nearly two decades, 12 training seminars have been created, hosting about 1000 teachers, to meet the demands of teachers who are seeking change. These courses are accredited by the Ministry of Education and by universities organizing Masters degrees in Waldorf education. - Antonio Malagon, Waldorf teacher, teacher trainer, and president of the Federation of Waldorf Schools in Spain
● the excitement of teachers and families, seeking good collaboration and participation in the life of schools
● the long way to go configuring an educational-cultural institution under the freedom of the teachers
● self-management, carried in collaboration between parents and teachers
Waldorf Pedagogy is today an educational innovation movement that is recognized and increasingly appreciated by universities, the Ministry of Education and the educational renewal movement in Spain. Usually we are invited to participate in UNESCO conferences, in universities’ holistic educational conferences, books, interviews, etc. Significantly, more than 800 students studying education in 10 universities visit the first Waldorf school each year. In 2000 the Association of Waldorf Centers of Spain was created, where kindergarten, schools and trainings work together, and which participates as a member in various international associations such as the European Council for Steiner/Waldorf Education (ECSWE) and IASWECE. The association has the task to protect the right of the name Waldorf-Steiner and to promote the quality of Waldorf teaching and knowledge about it in the media and in society. But its most important work is to accompany young teachers in the growing initiatives. In addition, for nearly two decades, 12 training seminars have been created, hosting about 1000 teachers, to meet the demands of teachers who are seeking change. These courses are accredited by the Ministry of Education and by universities organizing Masters degrees in Waldorf education. - Antonio Malagon, Waldorf teacher, teacher trainer, and president of the Federation of Waldorf Schools in Spain
