How do we cultivate a strong "will-culture" in our high schools—one that confronts apathy, isolation and entitlement to help students connect their ideals with purposeful action? And how do we, as teachers, model that same connection in our work?

This course explores the concept of an “ethical will”—the inner orientation that guides us to act with integrity, compassion, and imagination—as both a personal practice and a pedagogical approach. Participants will reflect on the values that shape their teaching while also gaining practical tools for daily work with teens.

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Inspired by a view of adolescent development that's informed by Rudolf Steiner and other progressive educators, the course provides practical tools for Waldorf high school teaching: how to design lessons with rhythm and meaning, how to meet teens in their search for purpose (connecting to their "why"), and how to bring subject matter in a way that supports both intellectual and moral development.

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In this course we will:

• Examine the foundations of our teaching practice

• Explore ways to build a "will-culture" in our schools

• Reflect on contemporary obstacles to adolescent will development

• Collaborate with fellow teachers to overcome shared challenges in schools

• Design novel approaches to coursework that help foster the "ethical will"
   

Whether you are an experienced Waldorf teacher, new to Waldorf education, or transitioning from teaching in other settings, this course will help you understand and embody the distinctive gesture of Waldorf high school teaching—one that lives in both soul and practice.​