AWSNA Position Statement on Diversity
The following position statements of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA) have been adopted by the Olympia Waldorf School:
Waldorf schools are independent schools, which are designed to educate all children, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. The pedagogical method is comprehensive, and, as part of its task, seeks to bring recognition and understanding to any world culture or religion. The Waldorf School, founded in 1919 by Rudolf Steiner, is not part of any church.
Waldorf schools are committed to developing the human potential of each child to its fullest. Admission to the schools is open to everyone, without regard to race, sex, creed, religion, national origin, or ethnicity. In company with many other tuition-based independent schools, Waldorf schools are actively seeking ways to increase the economic and ethnic diversity of their student populations.
It is a fundamental goal of our education to bring students to an understanding and experience of the common humanity of all the world’s peoples, transcending the stereotypes, prejudices, and divisive barriers of classification by sex, race and nationality. We most emphatically reject racism in all its forms, and embrace the principles of common humanity expressed by the founder of Waldorf education, Rudolf Steiner: “[We] must cast aside the division into races. [We] must seek to unite people of all races and nations, and to bridge the divisions and differences between various groups of people. “
Olympia Waldorf School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender, (including gender expression or identity) or economic status in the administration of its admissions and academic policies.
Waldorf schools are independent schools, which are designed to educate all children, regardless of their cultural or religious backgrounds. The pedagogical method is comprehensive, and, as part of its task, seeks to bring recognition and understanding to any world culture or religion. The Waldorf School, founded in 1919 by Rudolf Steiner, is not part of any church.
Waldorf schools are committed to developing the human potential of each child to its fullest. Admission to the schools is open to everyone, without regard to race, sex, creed, religion, national origin, or ethnicity. In company with many other tuition-based independent schools, Waldorf schools are actively seeking ways to increase the economic and ethnic diversity of their student populations.
It is a fundamental goal of our education to bring students to an understanding and experience of the common humanity of all the world’s peoples, transcending the stereotypes, prejudices, and divisive barriers of classification by sex, race and nationality. We most emphatically reject racism in all its forms, and embrace the principles of common humanity expressed by the founder of Waldorf education, Rudolf Steiner: “[We] must cast aside the division into races. [We] must seek to unite people of all races and nations, and to bridge the divisions and differences between various groups of people. “
Olympia Waldorf School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender, (including gender expression or identity) or economic status in the administration of its admissions and academic policies.
Olympia Waldorf School recognizes we are on the unceded land of the Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes of Nisqually, Puyallup, Steilacoom, Squawskin (Squaxin Island), S'Homamish, Stehchass, T'Peeksin, Squi-aitl, and Sa-heh-wamish. We acknowledge that this land is the territory of the Steh-chasspeople of the Squaxin Island Tribe. We hope to cultivate our relationship with the Coast Salish and their homelands where we mutually reside, care for, and protect all living things on shared lands and waterways. We welcome indigenous participation and critique as we strive to support indigenous sovereignty and culture.
