Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Alabama Waldorf School actively repudiates racism in all its forms. As Waldorf educators, we hold the dignity of every human being at the center of our work. Our school is founded on the principles of education developed by Rudolf Steiner, and we acknowledge that Steiner did express racist ideas in some of his writings. However, our school rejects all ideas that state or imply that any person or group of people is inherently inferior to any other person or group of people. These ideas are not a basis for our curriculum or our pedagogical approach.

We actively affirm that all people — of all creeds, cultures, and communities — are inherently worthy and deserving of our respect and welcome. The college of teachers adheres to its free authority to make decisions and develop the curriculum of our school. We do not condone or endorse any of Steiner’s depictions of gender, religion, or racial hierarchy, and we actively oppose any racialist understanding of evolution.

It is our responsibility to bear witness to what is happening in the world, to elevate the voices of marginalized people, to change the course of inequities, and to break down structural prejudice in all forms where it exists. We are committed to the continued pursuit of improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school community for the sake of transforming the lives of our students, families, and community for generations to follow. We affirm and embrace all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, knowing that every person makes a rich and valuable contribution to our education and school life.

As part of our ongoing efforts to further these principles of equity and inclusion, our strategic plan includes increased representation in the student body, faculty, and board of diverse backgrounds, genders, and identities; providing supplemental training and support for faculty and staff on BIPOC, LGBTQ+, ability level, and religious inclusivity; establishing hiring recruitment practices that reach a greater number of candidates of color; addressing the heavily white/Euro-centric curricula by incorporating more multicultural stories, histories, and ways of knowing; and redeveloping our annual festival celebrations to reflect the diversity of culture among our students and families.

Please read more from the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.