14 February  / 14 March Towards an Independent Youth College

Finance and Education - Spiritual insight as public benefit

Education is facing growing pressures, the essence of which is to undermine a free spiritual life. Many ofthe pressures are financial in guise, but also rely on an inadequate understanding of law and equity. In this project the case of Waldorf (Steiner) education is explored, both as a case in point and for the contribution it might make to the wider debate.

Today’s youth need to be taken seriously as human beings with destinies and talents to unfold, with diverse contributions to bring to humanity’s table. It is not about jobs, but about introducing young people to themselves, encouraging them to know and develop their skill base, but above all to have a sense for their own biography. In this, as well as a broad curriculum, financial literacy plays a key role. In these two sessions, the idea of an independent youth college is explored in two main aspects – structure and financing; and curriculum and accreditation.

Coordinated by Dr. Christopher Houghton Budd, the project is intended to involve teachers and would-be teachers, school administrative staff, bookkeepers and accountants, and those responsible for governance. It will combine conventional understandings of finance with Rudolf Steiner’s approach, providing a thorough backgrounding in the topics covered.