Critically assessing the reputation of Waldorf Education in academia and the public

The Netherlands is a Western European country with a population of 17 million people (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2020). What is unique in the Netherlands is that both public and non-public schools are fully financed by the Dutch government. Only a handful of schools are private schools (some of which are Waldorf schools) that are not funded by the state. The main reason mentioned by private Waldorf schools is that the concept of being private allows schools more freedom to be the school they want to be and, by doing so, provide the best environment for children’s development without interference from the government (e.g., Staatsvrij Onderwijs, n.d.; Werfklas, n.d., Waldorfschool Zeevonk, n.d.).

• Kenniscentrum Professionaliseren door Onderwijs-pedagogisch Praktijkonderzoek
• Onderzoeksgroep Waarde(n) van Vrijeschoolonderwijs