College of Teachers Statement
of Inclusion & Equity
The cornerstone of Waldorf education is the active commitment and practice to honor the sacred being in each of us as we work in community together. The Detroit Waldorf School is an evolving institution striving to meet its diverse body of students and to prepare them to meet the future with purpose, gratitude, and respect.
We acknowledge that racial biases are embedded in the very fabric of our culture and support systems of privilege and oppression. In our striving to cultivate an anti-racist and culturally responsive school community we are actively engaged in the ongoing evaluation of curricular content, teaching practices, and institutional policies to find and eliminate racial biases. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive community that respects and affirms each of our members, honoring our diversity of culture, ethnicity, race, religion, family structure, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical abilities, and unique learning styles. The Detroit Waldorf School prioritizes and values these efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the daily academic lives of all students and faculty members in our community.
The founder of the first Waldorf school and anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), was an artist, scientist, philosopher, and spiritual researcher. He developed insights into many practical applications for the benefit of humanity, including medicine, farming, and of course, education. Rudolf Steiner addressed questions of individuality, race, ethics, and religion among his talks and writings in the early 20th century. We acknowledge and understand that some of these lectures and passages that characterize race and other group identities are deeply offensive. The negative views of race and religions in these passages are unacceptable and do not inform Waldorf education or any aspect of the work at the Detroit Waldorf School.
We are opposed to any form of racism or nationalism and find that these are in complete contradiction to the mission of Waldorf education and to the modern change in consciousness.
We recognize that Anthroposophy and Waldorf education as global movements serve the spiritual ideal of uniting all people and nations, working in ways that respect and bridge cultural differences while honoring the uniqueness of each individual.
As an accredited member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), Detroit Waldorf School stands behind AWSNA’s statement on racial comments in the works of the education's founder, Rudolf Steiner. (Read full statement)