Riddle of America, The - Waldorf Research Institute

articles, differently emphasized. Readers will eventually experience a quitewide, overlapping, almost topographical tapestry, with articles echoing andfurther revealing the various themes.Readers unfamiliar with Waldorf education may be surprisedby references to the Austrian philosopher and educator, Rudolf Steiner(1861–1925). Rudolf Steiner referred to his extensive understanding of thehuman being as Anthroposophy, or the wisdom of humanity. Steiner hada profound interest in and understanding of America’s past, present, andfuture and what it might bring the world, sooner and later. In 1919, Steinerwas asked to form the first Waldorf school, for the children of the workersat the Waldorf-Astoria factory in Stuttgart, Germany. At present there areover two hundred Waldorf schools in the Americas and over eight hundredin the world. Anyone interested in learning more about Waldorf educationmight contact:The Association of Waldorf Schoolsof North America38 Main StreetChatham, NY 12037The spirit of this collection, like the spirit of America, is eclectic. Theeditor certainly hopes that this collection may be of help as a resource to allkinds of teachers, not only in the Waldorf movement. Above all, may TheRiddle of America serve the interests of anyone who ponders the mysteriousnature of this hemisphere. Of course, how we understand our past andpresent will affect our future. May these articles help us not only to betterrecognize but as well to better clarify the “native expression-spirit” ofAmerica. Ideally, these articles will both reveal and catalyze others.xiv