Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At Minnesota Waldorf School, the image of each individual as an equally divine spiritual being forms the bedrock of our curriculum, our teaching methods, and of every interaction that we hold with the students in our care. We value and celebrate diversity in all forms, and work to joyfully uplift diverse voices in our community and curriculum, especially those of the global majority. We believe in fostering a community that welcomes all regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status, or cultural difference.
The Minnesota Waldorf School categorically rejects the devaluing of any human being and denounces racism, bigotry, and oppression in all forms. This includes any statements made by Rudolf Steiner regarding race which are not in alignment with our values and views. At MWS we are continually working to dismantle the influences of racism from within our curriculum and pedagogy, and are committed to engaging in actively anti-racist education. We believe that this work is at the core of what will carry the impulse of Waldorf education into the future, and are united in this commitment at all levels of school leadership including the faculty, college, and board.
The Minnesota Waldorf School welcomes and supports our LGBTQIA+ families and students.
The Minnesota Waldorf School welcomes and supports our families and students of color.
The Minnesota Waldorf School welcomes and supports our immigrant families and students.
Waldorf Schools Adopt 8th Principle:
HONOR AND EMBRACE HUMAN DIVERSITY AND DIGNITY
Waldorf educators, along with the rest of the world, have increasingly recognized that honoring human dignity in the 21st century means deepening our understanding of systemic forces, historical contexts, and social injustice. Though respect for human dignity has long been implicit in Waldorf pedagogy — through its reverence for each child and its holistic educational ideals — in June of 2024 Principle 8 was formally added to AWSNA’s framework as a deliberate and important evolution. Principle 8 ties Waldorf education to active reflection and growth. Waldorf schools celebrate the diversity of humankind. Faculty, staff, and board pursue a path of human dignity and equity in organizational, leadership, and pedagogical realms. Schools are engaged in understanding and addressing the current and historical roots of inequity. These endeavors are of spiritual, moral, and educational importance and are rooted in Waldorf education’s founding vision, which included addressing contemporary social struggles within the context of the life of the school.
Within the pedagogical freedom that is intrinsic to Waldorf education, the AWSNA Principles for Waldorf Schools serve as a steady guiding pole star, helping schools become and remain aligned with the purpose, values, and human-centered vision at the heart of the movement. The principles provide a foundation for both curriculum and school culture, informing instructional choices as well as the structures of governance, relationships, and community life.