The main purpose of this paper is based on the following two aspects; First, it introduces the key idea of Steiner’s educational philosophy, as an alternative pedagogy for pre-school children initiated by Steiner and illustrates its main principles...
The main purpose of this paper is based on the following two aspects; First, it introduces the key idea of Steiner’s educational philosophy, as an alternative pedagogy for pre-school children initiated by Steiner and illustrates its main principles of the education for pre-school children, in which a comprehensive art disciplineis to be chiefly discussed in detail. As this pedagogical philosophy has been recently disseminated across the locale of nursing homes in the UK. Second, this paper pursues the effective applicability of this idea to the Korean situation to be incorporated, on the basis of the studies on the Ring time, which is one of main principles pointing out a rhythmical life in a nursing home same as kindergarten in other European countries. In doing so, it illustrates an applicable model to the pre-school education of Korea. In order to do so, two main methodologies have been applied for this paper. In the first place, as a literature review, the pedagogical concept is to be illustrated on the basis of reviews on the teaching training programmes of Emerson College in the UK, where has been well-known for a exemplified place of Steiner education, in which the rationale of principles is to be discussed, and on the literatures on theoretical resources related to Steiner’s Anthroposophy from abroad as well as Korean ones. By this, the main issues related to Steiner’s educational philosophy would be clearly described. In parallel with the theoretical aspect, the fieldwork has been implemented so asto find out how such concepts have been incorporated and practised in the UK in person. Based on this full-time observation, some programmes related to Steiner’s Ring time principle are appropriately modelled in order to apply to the cultural context of Korean nursing schools. On the theoretical description of human development by Steiner, it is enormouslysignificant for the infants to encourage their willpower rather than to have them perceived activities. In a bid to enhance their will power, it isnecessary to provide them with some regular time to use their hands and feet, whereby, to develop their physicalabilities. Thus, it is to a great degree significant to make a Ring time plan that the infants are able to use their hands and feet during themorning class in Korean nursing homes. In accordance with this, such Ring time discipline has considerable significance not only to enhance the education of the infants but also to direct the right way of the Korean pre-school education. The following are suggested for future study so as to apply this idea to the Korean situation. First, as the Steiner’sdiscipline has been newly introduced to Korea, it is essential to understand the main idea of its pedagogical philosophy and direction, rather than to duplicate unconsciously the teaching methodology, more often observed in Korea without consideration on cultural differentiation. It can be criticized by the fact, which such practices in Korean are far away from the crucial aims of Steiner’s philosophy. Second, it has been acknowledged across the world that the comprehensive disciplines of art teaching based on the principles of Steiner’sconcepts has been effective on the development of the infant’s ego. Meanwhile, as noted above, as it has been newly introduced in Korea, it is necessary to set up a positivist analysis to find out whether the application of the Steiner’sprogrammes has been effectively appropriate, and how the applicability can be achieved, following with its pedagogical idea. Third, in order to achieve the aims of the idea, it is basic to train properly human resources enough to understand the pedagogical philosophy, then to take practice in to the locale in Korea. To do so, the training programmes for human resources should be paid more attention socially and publicly, in which the human resources experienced in Steiner’s nursing home should better participate in the initial stage of the development of such programmes. In conclusion, the Steiner education programme pursues a comprehensive education of art for developing infant’s ego in which all activities of education programmes are dealt within a dimension of art activities, just like a definition of concept of art. Meanwhile, the educational question in the Korean preschools is that such programmes have been regarded as a tool of competition, which has educated the infant quite often to the extent of what a specialists should be even in the early stage, without considering the internally physical and psychological development of human being. It should be changed into a comprehensive art programme to consider a developmentalstage of the humane characteristics. Under the circumstances, it is necessary to apply the Steiner idea which put more emphasis on the development of infant’s creativity,voluntary will, and personality to Korean situation, therefore, to give rise to transform the existing perception on the early childhood education in Korea, as sought after by the aim of Steiner’s pedagogical philosophy-freedom of human being.