Steiner Education: An Alternative Model

Produced by Isabeau Schubert (Bay FM, Byron Bay)

Mentored by Nikki Marcel (Radio Adelaide)

How does attending a Steiner School shape someone's understanding of the world?

Isabeau Schubert should have a good idea, as she is an alumnus. 

In Steiner Education: An Alternative Model Isabeau talks with parents, students and teachers to ultimately ask whether Steiner education has a place in contemporary Australia.

The German philosopher Rudolf Steiner developed an educational system in the early 1900s that has grown in popularity around the world. 

There are over 1,500 Steiner Schools worldwide, with almost 50 in Australia. As a graduate of the Steiner educational model, Isabeau Schubert wanted to understand more about the philosophy of that education system.

How had it shaped her thinking? What was it that her teachers aimed to achieve? Is it a viable alternative? And how did a system developed over a hundred years ago in Germany adapt to an Australian 21^st century setting.

This documentary explores Steiner Education through the eyes of Isabeau's parents, her sister and two senior Steiner educators from different schools. We even hear from the writings of Rudolf Steiner. 

If you’ve never heard of Steiner education don’t worry. If you know a little, you can delve deeper. Isabeau asks why and how and what for. Why do parents choose such an alternative, how does it differ and what is the attraction and what is the thinking behind the system? Ultimately the question is whether this is a viable alternative to the standard educational model in Australia.

Listen to an investigation that covers the practical, developmental and spiritual dimensions of the child from a Steiner perspective. Isabeau uses a gentle soundbed to support her interviews. Along the way we discover the Steiner approach to the child, the use of music and the unique practice of eurythmy, the role of guardians and some of the myths and stories that are told. Isabeau provides an entertaining and educational insight into this alternative model of education.

People featured

• Gillian Rogers, Shearwater Steiner School
• Nerida Johnson, Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School
• Voice of Dale Brunsvold used with permission, Rudolf Steiner Audio
• Mynda Mansfield, Shearwater Steiner School, Eurythmy video
• Creative Commons music sourced from the Free Music Archive
• With thanks to my sister Paris and parents Saskia and Michael.
• Final credit thanks to Nevin Howell.

_{This piece was made for the CBAA's National Features & Documentary Series 2017, a showcase of work by new and emerging Australian community radio producers, with training and mentoring provided by the Community and Media Training Organisation. The opinions expressed in National Features & Documentary Series content are those of the individual producers or their interviewees, and not necessarily shared by the CBAA or CMTO.}