Revitalizing Waldorf Education

No. 10 • December 2001

Interview: Christof Wiechert License Fees for Rudolf Steiner’s Works Speech Via Technology?

Topic: Inner Capacities 2 Anthroposophy around the World 3 Christof Wiechert, Anthroposophical Society 6 Leader of the School of Spiritual Science 7 Pedagogical Section Interview: Christof Wiechert 8 Forum: Speech via Technology 10 Feature: Fees for Translations 12

– THE NEXT ISSUE WILL APPEAR F EBRUARY 2002 – Playing in Japan

Our Middle – Where Is It? It’s almost too much. We have heard it so When the East becomes one-sided, the often already that it practically numbs us: a fanatical preacher appears. When the West wave of fear, dismay and pain is going becomes one-sided, the brusque materialist through the world. There is the suffering of appears. In their one-sidedness, says Rudolf the people directly involved, of course, in Steiner in The Tension between East and West West and East. Didn’t someone even say that (lecture of June 4, 1922, Hodder and Stoughton every innocent victim in Afghanistan raises 1963, GA 83), the two can only approach one the number of September 11 victims? In the another if a third, the artist, appears between final analysis it is a sum, a whole, not two them. Yet here, too, we ask: Where is this artist? separate sums, wrote the Indian author Surely the artist can only be awakened Arundhati Roy in The Guardian on October within us to begin with. Within the middle of 19, 2001. our being. That is, within the middle of our There is also the pain of countless people soul, which lives in the middle of our heart. worldwide who are asking themselves: “What Only in this middle can we meet it, only here now? What’s going to happen next?” And can it become effective, only here do we some awaken to the realization: “We lack a become one with it. middle.” Where two face off so implacably, it Referring to Christ, John the Baptist spoke takes a third to mediate between the two. But of this middle of our being: “There standeth where is this middle aspect? Should we one among you, whom ye know not” (John, expect it from institutions, from individual 1,26). Doesn’t the middle of our being also Members of Parliament? Should we under- refer to a place that we find only in recognition stand it in relation to the polarity of East and of the other person? West and look for it in Europe? Christine Gruwez, Belgium Translated from the German 1 Topic

Inner Capacities for a World Economy ment of the consciousness soul within the economic life in our times. I think Reflections in the Wake of September 11 this has happened over the last centu- ry. The youth sense it. They sense that The attacks in New York and Washington continue to reverberate in people. the outer technological structure of a Besides expressions of fear and uncertainty there are many voices that speak of world economy is present through the the need for change. This can be very concrete yet not activistic. Arthur Zajonc, Bretton Woods institutions, but that professor of physics and General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in these institutions lack a heart. Yes, the America, offers some reflections here. world is becoming more and more a village, but have we learned to care for The ruins of the World Trade Center symbol of a repugnant world econo- our neighbors? We have the outer are still burning now eight weeks after my and of material values gone wrong, semblance of a world economy, but their destruction. After visiting the an economy and set of values as much we have not developed the inner site one friend said to me, the smoke European as American. They did not moral capacities to sustain it properly. rising heavenward seems like a burnt see individual human lives but only an What will it take for us to learn that offering from the sacrificial altar of oppressive system. In Seattle, Prague, only brotherhood can be the basis for ancient civilization. Thousands of Davos, and Genoa young people had the true world economy? We are human beings lost their lives during a demonstrated against the injustices of being called to awaken the full force matter of moments in an event the global economy to both humans of human conscience now largely watched around the world. In that and the environment, but they had asleep in the many institutions and instant many in the West felt connect- done so using largely peaceful means. “towers” that organize our global ed to each other and to the world of Instead of murdering thousands, the economy and to make that force the spirit as seldom before. Collectively young protesters sought to awaken the core of our economic relationships. millions were placed at the threshold workers inside of the institutions of Unless we do this consciously we will in a way that normally only occurs the WTO, IMF and World Bank to be confronted with increasingly pow- when we lose a friend or relative. For the social and environmental damage erful reminders of our negligence of days after the destruction of the that many of their policies caused. the earth and each other. World Trade Center towers the mood Instead of destruction they sought a of America, and much of the world, new life of awareness and compassion. Extend our Circle of Awareness was profoundly changed by the shear I see these two as mirror opposites of Within the rubble of the World Trade psychological power of this unique one another, with youth seeking a Center are the ashes of approximately event. We were moved by the count- future based on the affirmation of life 4000 human beings. Each of their lives less stories of individuals who, know- and love, while the terrorists used was precious. Their personal aspira- ing the extreme danger, delayed their hatred and death. tions were noble, their willingness to own escape to assist others unable to help another person who sat next to descend the long flights of stairs. One Premature Development them in the office were sufficient to New York student of anthroposophy, In the weeks since September 11 the risk death. But adversary forces can Patrice Paz, returned to help a preg- mood of the threshold has receded blind us to the distant effects of our nant colleague. The last sight co- and been replaced by news of the work. We must extend our circle of workers had of her was helping the “war on terrorism.” At least in the awareness and compassion. Youth have pregnant colleague to the elevator. A United States we have largely forgot- been reminding us of this, inviting us few minutes later the second plane hit ten the youth protests in Seattle and to extend our humanity throughout their tower and the two perished. In the Kyoto environmental accords. Yet the institutions in which we work, tragedies of this scale it is important my own sense is that the real issues transforming them so they are expres- to recall that every death is individual. connected to September 11 are these. sions of life and love. This is the work Children are left without a parent, In speaking about the end of the cen- of the consciousness soul as it must husbands without wives... There is tury Rudolf Steiner pointed to the develop in the sphere of our economic nothing impersonal about death. rhythm of 666 and spoke about what life. Thus, in rejecting the vicious By contrast the terrorists only saw this rhythm would mean for Western means of terror, let us not be blinded the two towers as representing the humanity in particular in the years by revenge but rather affirm the heart inequitable power of the global econo- around 1998 (3 X 666). He described of our common material life: brother- my. The buildings were for them a the danger of a premature develop- hood. Arthur Zajonc, U.S.A.

Correspondents/News Agency: Anthroposophy Worldwide Jürgen Vater (Sweden), Marianne Møller-Nielsen (Denmark), Andrew “Anthroposophy Worldwide – Life in the Anthroposophical Society” Wolpert (Great Britain), News Network Anthroposophy (NNA) is published monthly. It is distributed by the regional Anthroposophi- We expressly wish for active support and collaboration. cal Societies – in some cases augmented with independently edited news and articles. It also appears as a supplement to the weekly paper “Das Goetheanum.” To receive Anthroposophy Worldwide, please apply to the Anthropo- sophical Society in your country. If questions with the distribution Publisher: arise, only the subscribers to “Das Goetheanum” should contact the General Anthroposophical Society, represented by Paul Mackay. address below. For all others the address is the address of the Anthro- Editors: posophical Society in your country. Carol Brousseau (responsible for the English-Language Edition), Address: Weekly Paper “Das Goetheanum,” Box, CH–4143 Dornach 1, Sebastian Jüngel, (responsible for this issue), Dietrich Rapp, Ursula Switzerland; fax +41/61/706 44 65; e-mail Remund Fink, Michaela Spaar, Stephan Stockmar, Justus Wittich, Falk [email protected] Zientz. © Copyright 2001 General Anthroposophical Society, Dornach, Switzerland. Printing by J.W. Arrowsmith Ltd. Bristol

2 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 Anthroposophy around the World

Great Britain standard. The final report also included three commendations: one was for Commended for High Quality Teaching another program but two were for the University of Plymouth Waldorf Teacher Education Program Waldorf Steiner course. This was Awarded 22 out of 24 Marks commended both for high quality teaching and for innovative curricu- The School of Education at the University of Plymouth’s Exmouth campus spent lum design and student involvement. 18 months preparing for a review by the Quality Assurance Agency. Reviewers Apart from receiving such an evaluated Student Support and Guidance; Student Progression and Achievement; unexpected accolade from the univer- Curriculum Design and Organization, Learning Resources; Teaching, Learning sity system, the implications are sig- and Assessment; Quality Management and Evaluation. The BA program in nificant for the recognition of Waldorf Steiner Waldorf Education received a final mark of 22 out of 24. education in the British university system. “In the current climate of The evaluation by the Quality Assur- ing records of lessons and student negotiation between the Department ance Agency was a good opportunity feedback; detailed minutes of meet- for Education and Skills and the Stein- to find out how outsiders might see ings; examples of good, average and er Waldorf Schools Fellowship,” the BA program in Steiner Waldorf poor student work; detailed self-eval- writes John Burnett, “this can only Education. Although graduates from uation by the tutors; copies of hand- serve to strengthen the case for Steiner the program are pursuing good work outs and action plans for the future. Waldorf Education as a truly viable as teachers in schools and care cen- The reviewers also observed classes alternative to conventional education” ters, the program’s tutors have had and interviewed students. Waldorf (News for Members of the Anthropo- little recognition from their own school colleagues in Bristol and sophical Society in Great Britain, institution. Totnes were questioned to give the Autumn 2001). This is significant not In preparation, a large amount of “employer’s” perspective. least considering that British schools detailed documentation had to be pro- Yet all this documentation was are losing staff to other countries duced, which took months. It’s no convincing. The program was award- where attractive salaries and excellent wonder the process took so long, as ed 22 out of 24 possible marks and is working conditions are available. all aspects had to be covered, includ- thus approved as having an excellent S. J.

U.S.A. modern technology offers unusual opportunities for participation from many areas of the world. The partici- Distance Learning Master Degree Program pants in the meetings left Maine with The Owen Barfield School of Graduate Studies Founded a feeling that the groundwork had been laid for the school’s graduate The Owen Barfield School of Graduate Studies was founded July 14-18, 2001 at programs, and that the nucleus of a the Rudolf Steiner Institute in Waterville, Maine. About 20 people participated. faculty had been formed. The program’s founders are Arthur Zajonc, Robert McDermott, Marie The Owen Barfield School of Hubonette and Doug Miller. Graduate Studies plans to begin offering classes next summer in Maine with Each of the participants had been a tion, the school’s founders hope to work leading to a Master’s degree. long-time member of the higher edu- expand the faculty group to include Doug Miller, U.S.A. cation community. They came togeth- qualified overseas faculty members er in order to focus their experience and make it possible for students Source: News for Members, Autumn 2001 and knowledge of their disciplines on around the world to enroll. Certainly, Contact: Arthur Zajonc, tel. +1/413/256 46 79. the question of founding an anthropo- sophically based institution offering degrees beyond the Bachelor’s level. Participants of the founding meeting of The Owen Barfield School of Graduate Studies The school will make its coursework available by distance learning during the year, with brief summer sessions on campus as well. An earlier meeting (March 23-24, 2001) at Columbia University’s Teachers College had explored the issues of how to work on-line in an anthroposophical educational context. That, and an interest survey circulated earlier in the year, formed the background for the discussions at the meeting. The intensive meetings helped to establish the basis for a curriculum that promised to be both innovative and deep. While The Owen Barfield School is not currently accredited, it plans to seek accreditation. In addi-

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 3 Russia Louis Bolk Institut 25th Anniversary Moscow Waldorf Initiatives Gather 10th Anniversary Rudolf Steiner School in Moscow Louis Bolk Institut in Driebergen, the Netherlands, was founded in To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Rudolf Steiner school in Moscow, its 1976 to do scientific research and founders Elsbeth and Felix Stöcklin invited parents, guests and the 12 other local promote renewal in organic agricul- Waldorf initiatives. Christof Wiechert represented the Pedagogical Section at the ture, nutrition and medicine. Its aim Goetheanum. Speakers included the wife of the German ambassador in Russia, was to develop new methods that Polly von Studnitz, and the Swiss ambassador, Walter Fetscherin. can be used where ordinary ones fall short. Anthroposophy is one source About 100 participants attended Equality for the Smallest of inspiration but is not propagated Christof Wiechert’s three evening lec- Then came the surprising close of the with missionary zeal. Today the tures, in which he portrayed the meeting. Would we succeed in taking institute employs 45 people. anthroposophical view of the human an essential step toward coming closer Founders Ferdie Amons and Jan being as the fundament and unceasing to and understanding the situation of Diek van Mansfelt originally envi- source for Waldorf education. each of our local schools? After mutual sioned a sort of faculty representing Wiechert’s solemn attitude came introductions and initial discussion of various disciplines such as biology, across in a temperamental, dedicated common problems needing to be natural history and chemistry. In way of speaking that was sometimes resolved in the future, Wiechert the early years they researched interrupted by unbridled humor. On appealed to us to feel ourselves as one homeopathic medicines, later going the third evening he spoke of the need large Moscow school in addition to sin- on to study blood crystallization. to include life before birth as some- gle school individualities. Truly, this Can non-material realities be overcoming of narrow demonstrated in medicines? cantonal thinking is a Although they were getting good deeply Swiss idea. It results with their studies of homeo- entails assuring equality pathic medicines, there was no for the very smallest initia- interest in this outside the institute, tive, not just the large, and so they stopped it in 1979. demonstrating strength The problem with blood crys- toward the outside world tallization research was that differ- (such as the education ent evaluators reached different board). Willingness to conclusions. In 1999, after eleven reach an understanding years of research, it seemed that no and school our conscious- certain relationship is discernable ness are ways to focus between the blood picture and the forces inward and achieve patient’s illness. Yet this did then things together. Definite lead to insight into how evaluators follow-up meetings with work and how they can better Christof Wiechert are understand each other. These Elk come right up to the suburbs of Moscow planned for 2002. We are insights are now being applied in in very cold winters (from a local history and not expecting quick helping medical students and others geography lesson, 4th grade). results. Something that has develop diagnostic capacities. unfolded for up to 10 The institute’s healthcare and thing that works in our lives. One years on its own ground need not nec- nutrition department employs 12 goal of our school (in addition to its essarily develop immediate understand- full-time people today, but its agri- educational task) is to push open the ing and tolerance for the needs and cultural research attracts much door to a new, rejuvenated kind of goals of other initiatives. more interest. One key to its spirituality in Russia. approach has been to actually go to Polly von Studnitz, the wife of Consolidating Our Freedom the farm. The farm is where the the German ambassador (who was Our own goal as a school consists questions are and where valuable detained) introduced herself as a five- not only in consolidating the free- material is to be found. The farmer fold Waldorf mother. “Each one of dom thus far tolerated by govern- observes and reasons along with the our children attended a Waldorf ment officials, but in helping other researchers. school for 12 years, whether in Ger- initiatives become more conscious Louis Bolk Institut is acknowl- many or the U.S., where my hus- and courageous in this regard if they edged as a pioneer in bridging the band’s work took us. Now they all ... see a justification in it. Our school gap between organic and conven- have found their places in life and still has the rare chance of working tional farming. One project devel- they have all become able, each in his fully out of Rudolf Steiner’s art of oped criteria for applying conven- or her own way, to master their diffi- education in kindergarten to class tional plant processing techniques culties.” In this sense she encouraged nine. Only then do we have to prove to organics and made concrete sug- everyone to thoroughly banish the that our students are capable of gestions for how to move toward doubts that will arise as long as Wal- reaching state standards. organic agriculture. This led to dis- dorf education is so new. Elsbeth and Felix Stöcklin, cussion in the Netherlands and The Swiss ambassador, Walter Switzerland/Russia beyond. An international follow-up Fetscherin, placed our school in the tra- project with Platform Biologica has dition of helping and healing – one of already started. C.B. Switzerland’s most noble tasks. He Donations: Spendenaktion Moskau, UBS AG, reminded us of the well-known Swiss 3000 Bern 77, acct.no. 30–35–9, 233–927 330.40 educator, Heinrich Pestalozzi, whom he H 233, or Freunde der Erziehungskunst, Post- Source: An article by Michel Gastkemper in bank Stuttgart, BLZ 600 100 70, acct. no. Motief no. 45, October 2001. characterized as having been a trailblaz- 39800–704, project no. 4503; marked “Begeg- er for Rudolf Steiner’s art of education. nungskonferenz Moskau” for either option.

4 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 W HAT H APPENED TO…

...the idea of organizing social forums? ...Waldorf Education in Slovakia? Small social forums have now been held in California and Brazil as a step toward preparing an international meeting of social workers. The goal is to establish a world- Bratislava. A new kindergarten and wide network of social initiatives that base themselves on a spiritual approach. first grade have opened in Slovakia (see Anthroposophy Worldwide no. Los Angeles. In July 2001, a Social São Paulo. In Brazil about 45 people 9/2001). Ten years’ preparation pre- Forum on the Power of Civil Society joined us, coming from as far away as ceded this event, with teacher train- took place on a university campus in Fortaleza in the North and Flori- ing, political engagement to secure a Los Angeles. Both Nicanor Perlas and anópolis in the south, and mostly pluralistic school system, curriculum Orland Bishop gave important contri- working in informal education with development, and legal and official butions, Nicanor speaking about rural or urban poor children. There measures to integrate Waldorf educa- social threefolding worldwide and was a very interesting presentation of tion into Slovakian society. Orland on his work with youths at a new attempt to provide financial There is great interest; 22 chil- risk. The Forum’s participants were of support for social work in a way that dren arrived for the opening on Sep- a good multicultural mix. The age of is less dependent on donations or gov- tember 3, 2001. The school is starting half of the eighty people was under ernment subsides. The Empresa Par- as a private school because the state thirty. This was possible thanks to ticipativa Social was founded as a par- school system allows no leeway for generous donations. Quite a few of ticipative enterprise (in this case the independent forms of education or the participants had been in gangs, on production of ecological bricks). Any administration. This means that the drugs or had done prison time. Oth- financial surplus it produces flows school must make do with less finan- ers came from Waldorf or anthropo- back into the social work. cial support from the government. sophical backgrounds. The highlight of the meeting was However, the funding of private Nicanor was pleased to experience the participation of some local govern- schools is due to be gradually equated a real vitality in the group. This to him ment representatives and local entre- with public schools over the next few is a necessary ingredient for bringing preneurs who, in an interactive play, years, so funding will improve. Dur- about positive change in the world. experienced what it is like to feel like a ing its initial years, though, the school After the catastrophe of September 11, social entity “begging” for money and will need outside financial support. words spoken at the Forum ring even to elaborate criteria for giving it. It was Its pioneer teacher, Renata Blaschke, louder. “Each one should feel himself or an exercise in social threefolding. moved to Bratislava with her col- herself as a seed. What you think, love, Some interesting youth initiatives league and her family expressly to do resolve, will be the next world. In the also attended: young people from the this work. deepest woundedness lies your task.” middle and upper class, most of them It turned out to be even more dif- Orland and a few participants from Waldorf schools, go to public ficult to found the kindergarten, but were instrumental in pulling the reali- schools to tell fairy tales, make music, this also opened its doors on Septem- ty of the Forum together in an show puppets, plays, etc. In this way ber 3, with 26 children. Eva Backova impressive ritual, using the themes of they bring more joy into the hard and is founder, with Maricka Sebestianova, the Forum: the Gate of Birth and the dry school life of students in suburban and Patricia Svetlikova as an assistant. Gate of Death, and the Fire that welds schools and also get the opportunity A building is being sought to house both gates together. Not the destruc- to gain real insights into and new both the kindergarten and the school, tive Fire, but the inner, therapeutic experiences of the life of marginalized so that they can become a legal and Fire. Truus Geraets, U.S.A. children. Ute Craemer, Brazil organizational unit. Cornelis Boogerd, the Netherlands Source: Christian von Arnim, NNA. Note: An international conference is planned for 2003. People active in social initiatives are kindly requested to contact Ute Craemer ([email protected]) Donations: Stichting Helias, De Bilt, acct. no. or Truus Garaets ([email protected]). For more details about the “Forum pela Humanização do 0403272, Postbank in den Niederlanden, Social” (forum for the humanization of society): www.humanizar.com.br (in Portuguese). marked: “Bratislava.”

...the Belgrade Initiative? Serbian; they need to be sold and lent. tion in our time they decided to rent Lectures, seminars and new initiatives suitable rooms immediately, regardless need to be organized. This would of uncertainties in funding. The aim is The Belgrade Initiative convened a make it easier for people to find to intensify their mutual work. Susret, second conference October 4-6, 2001 anthroposophy in this troubled region. Yugoslavia’s first public anthropo- (see Anthroposophy Worldwide nos. During a podium discussion, one sophical center, opened just one week 2/2000, 6/2000 and 1/2001). participant from Serbia reminded us after the conference. It is there for all of the special role Germans can play people for whom anthroposophy Belgrade. Exactly one year after half a in encountering southern Slavs and of means something or will come to million people brought about a politi- Belgrade’s special significance as the mean something. The first six months cal transition in the streets of Belgrade, threshold to the Balkans. To end the will be a trial period. What happens approximately 100 people from seven conference, some participants present- after that will be decided then. The countries met there for a public con- ed the results of their work on Rudolf organizing group plans to offer activi- ference. There were lectures and podi- Steiner’s second mystery drama in ties relating to anthroposophy five um discussions, but central was the Serbian. days a week. future of anthroposophical initiatives One result of the conference is Thomas Kraus, Germany in Serbia. Already the previous year’s that three participants from Zrenjanin, conference had shown the pressing Panˇcevo and Belgrade (where regular Contact: Thomas Kraus, Schillerstrasse 21, DE– need for a public meeting place for anthroposophical work has been hap- 10625 Berlin, Germany; tel. +49/30/31 01 71 91; e-mail [email protected]. – Donations: GzF – Bel- anthroposophy in the center of Bel- pening) have formed an organizing gradinitiative, Bank für Sozialwirtschaft Berlin, grade. Books need to be published in group. In view of the explosive situa- BLZ 100 205 00, acct. no. 3180404.

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 5 Anthroposophical Society

G ENERAL A NTHROPOSOPHICAL S OCIETY

How to Handle Individual Proposals at Annual General Meetings Members’ Conference November 10-11 at the Goetheanum Because of the large number of motions submitted to recent annual general meet- to set up a commission or a prelimi- ings of the General Anthroposophical Society, Rembert Biemond proposed that the nary meeting (with the chair and the statutes be changed to allow future motions only if they are signed by at least 2% people proposing the motions), or to of the membership or a general secretary or council member. This motion was post- relieve pressure on the general meet- poned at the suggestion of Ulrich Hölder (acting on behalf of an action plan group ing by adding one or two weekend that meets in Frankfurt, Germany). Instead, these issues were discussed at a week- meetings a year. end conference with about 150 members and nearly all council members and gen- At first it seemed as if at least eral secretaries. some of the members of the diverging groups would be able to understand Some speakers pointed out that voting. Some spoke up for the need each other’s point of view. However, motions often represent restricted to school our sense for individual during the second day the attempt to individual or group interests that take rights. Others, in contrast, main- let bygones be bygones and seek a no notice of the worldwide Society tained that all matters of the Anthro- common solution for the future that should also be visible during a posophical Society belong to the cul- receded. The outcome is still open. general meeting. Several people men- tural sphere. U. R. tioned the importance of freedom for One suggestion was to introduce the cultural sphere and the rights of a round table at which controversial Source: Reports by Ulrich Rösch and Elisabeth individual members. In the cultural themes (not yet ready for a vote) can Beringer, published in Nachrichtenblatt no. sphere nothing can be achieved by be discussed. Other suggestions were 47/2001.

Many who worked at the Goetheanum in the past had to make do with a modest income. Many did so gladly out of love for Christmas Appeal anthroposophy and love for the Goetheanum. Then and now people have other reasons than money for working here. However, the greater Dear Members that sacrifice was in the past, the smaller the public and employer At a time when opposite extremes In addition, our conferences have pensions that could be built up for are splitting apart on various levels become more international and mul- them. It is self-understood that the and to an increasing degree, we turn tilingual; the exchange between the Goetheanum will continue to care trustfully to you with a request for Goetheanum and the world has for these people after they have left strong help in making the Goethe- intensified. active work. This year we will anum a place of the middle and a All this, along with its invisible require more than CHF 800,000 to mediator between opposites – East consequences for the Goetheanum, meet this obligation alone. and West, North and South, inside entails considerable costs that cannot We would be very glad and and outside. Particularly in recent be met by stagnating or even dimin- extremely thankful if you would years the Goetheanum has seen ishing members’ contributions. see a possibility for making a spe- many encounters between the A further, particular worry at the cial donation to the Goetheanum in widest variety of people, who met end of this year is our internal obliga- this Christmas Season. on the ground of the Anthropo- tion to retired Goetheanum workers, Cordially yours, sophical Society to communicate whose public and private pensions Rolf Kerler their differences, mutualities and don’t suffice. backgrounds in different cultures. I am thinking of our conferences on the world religions. – In all our Ways to Donate endeavors it is clear that we need 1) Checks: Make out to General Anthroposophical Society and send to Goetheanum, to develop our strength even more Finanzwesen, Postfach, CH–4143 Dornach 1, Switzerland. 2) Credit card: telephone +41/61/706 43 40. to be able to make the contribu- 3) Deposits: tion to the world that is more – Switzerland: General Anthroposophical Society, acct. no.: 10 AA 108 862 00 at Raiffeisenbank needed than ever. in CH–9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Swiftcode: Raifch 22, Clearingno. 80000. – Germany: Anthroposophische Gesellschaft in Deutschland e.V., acct. no.: 10 084 510, at the Several new people have GLS Gemeinschaftsbank e.G. in Stuttgart, Germany, BLZ 430 609 67, marked: joined the work at the Goethe- “Goetheanum / Christmas Donation.” anum recently. Certain sections 4) Cash: To the Central Cashier at the Goetheanum, Entrance Carpentry Building. have grown and the Executive Please mark your donation: “Goetheanum / Christmas Donation.” Council has two new colleagues.

6 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 S OCIETÀ A NTROPOSOFICA IN I TALIA growing inner participation was pre- served right into the breaks. United in the Foundation Stone Eurythmists from various groups Eurythmists from around the Country had traveled long distances to their Share the Foundation Stone Meditation at a Whitsun Conference monthly practice weekends. The “North-South” group traveled from Rudolf Steiner’s Foundation Stone Meditation and its rhythms were the theme Aosta, Rome and Taranto to Bologna; of a Whitsun conference in Milan in June 2001. About 250 members of the the “East-West” group – from Anthroposophical Society took up the invitation of the Italian eurythmy associa- Gorizia, La Spezia, Torino and Lau- tion, which was supported in hosting the conference by the Anthroposophical sanne – practiced in Milan and Torino. Society in Italy. Only the “Center” group was located in the vicinity of Milan. Eighteen eurythmists from all over Italy The theater of the Milan Rudolf This conference brought a new met a total of seven times since 1998 to Steiner school was renovated express- impulse to Italy’s anthroposophical work on the Foundation Stone Medita- ly for this conference. A model of the culture. We consider ongoing work on tion under the guidance of Christine first Goetheanum was placed there. the Foundation Stone in the original Custer, with the support of Annemarie It was the first time that a group language to be a necessary foundation Bäschlin. This led to questions about of eurythmists in Italy performed the for performing it in Italian later. the connection between the forms of Foundation Stone (with recitation in We plan another conference with the first Goetheanum, the beginnings of German by Johannes Händler). A lec- Sergei Prokofieff when our work will eurythmy, and the Foundation Stone as ture by Sergei Prokofieff preceded have achieved another level of devel- a direct inspiration for it. each performance. An atmosphere of opment. Maria Teresa Fossati, Italy

School of Spiritual Science

S ECTION FOR S OCIAL S CEINCES Patrick Hohmann stressed the need for active interest, on the one hand, and true knowledge and under- Significant Encounter with Gandhi’s Impulses standing for the other culture on the Indian Activist Rajagopal and Patrick Hohmann of the Maikaal Initiative other. Only this enables us to bring Contribute to a Research Colloquium at the Goetheanum something into the conversation. The freedom of the other person is the A remarkable meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Rudolf Steiner occurred most sacred commodity and our own nearly unnoticed on November 2, 2001 during a research colloquium of the Sec- intentions can only be adapted tion for Social Sciences at the Goetheanum. The colloquium was marked by the through dialogue with our partners. presence of Rajagopal from Madurai, India, who is an important successor of We have Anand Mandaiker and Gandhi and an activist for the rights of the poorest (see box). Ulrich Rösch to thank for this meeting; they invited these two people to The beginning of his padyatra march bear the desired fruit – and not fall Dornach. The short talks, and a con- through violence-torn Bihar this year into the hands of bankers. It happened versation between the speakers mod- happened to fall on September 11. that Rajagopal encountered Patrick erated by Paul Mackay, were conduct- Satyagraha, non-violent resistance, is Hohmann, who initiated the Maikaal ed with the greatest possible openness beginning to bear fruit. People of a project in India and continues to and intensive mutual listening. The new generation are beginning to accompany it. (Maikaal involves more significance of the encounter between understand Gandhi’s “my life is my than 1100 small farmers who work Gandhi’s impulses, which can fire our message.” They ask less what Gandhi their land biodynamically and sell action, and anthroposophy, which can meant by his words; they live and act their cotton as far away as Switzerland help us understand our action, was according to his principle of the har- for the COOP supermarket chain. tangible. Julius Reubke, Germany mony between thinking, speaking and action, as Rajagopal expressed it. Through his more than 3000 kilo- meter foot march through Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, Rajagopal success- Rajagopal has devoted 25 years to working fully campaigned for the rightful to secure the rights of the poorest of the return of land to the poorest of the poor in India. He teaches village dwellers rural population (80% of the Indian how to improve their lives and encourages population lives in the country). The protest marches and hunger strikes against provincial governments were induced excessive exploitation of nature and expul- to set up task forces to evaluate the sion of the natives, among other things. claims and implement them. Restoring His actions are strictly non-violent. He is rightful property distribution is not the initiator of a social political movement, sufficient for a new beginning, howev- Ekta Parishad, in Central India, in which er. Notably, ways need to be found to about 500 “barefoot activists” are working link groups of small farmers with each to tell the impoverished rural population other, and to supply them with the about their rights. most necessary tools, seed and especially the necessary knowledge. Only Photo: http://www.solothurn.ch/cesci/d/verein/ rajagopal.htm then will the fields returned to them

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 7 Revitalizing Teaching Interview with Christof Wiechert, Leader of the Pedagogical Section

Waldorf educator Christof Wiechert became leader of the Pedagogical Section in November (Anthroposophy Worldwide no. 9/2001). Thomas Stöckli asked him about his plans for the section.

How do you see your task as section This is something that often leads to upper school teachers. These are leader and what are your goals for the personal professional crisis. teachers who often come from uni- Pedagogical Section? versity with excellent knowledge of Waldorf teachers are achieving extra- And what exactly can their subject, but lack educational ordinary things, day after day. This is the Pedagogical Section do about this? freshness and energy as well as not surprising. Teaching is one of the Conferences on these topics, which enlivened, enlivening thinking. The most beautiful and healthy profes- we offer, are one possibility. Above all theme of how to rediscover Waldorf sions there are. First I would like to we can conduct modest workshops on education in ourselves needs to be express my appreciation for this daily specific themes. The Pedagogical Sec- cultivated. The section would like to ongoing work. Nevertheless we tion has many personal contacts offer suggestions for this. know that the reality through its way of is often different – working. The collab- Acknowledge Positive Trends there can be stress, ...the crazier our times, oration of many can These endeavors sound very fine, but burnout syndrome, the more relevant Waldorf make a contribution. students are still forced to take exams illness. Fresh vitality education becomes. These meetings can and win diplomas in a way that can no longer be tak- provide impulses for encourages one-sided learning. en for granted. This the work. Together I think we must also acknowledge is our starting point. How do we with the Hague Circle we are current- new and positive trends in today’s access the wellsprings of education, ly planning a major international society. In scientific circles people are how do we find the source of teachers’ conference for Easter 2004. discussing the connection between refreshment for which so many An important theme would be the education and health. This will lead to yearn? Essentially I would like my renewal of the teaching profession. innovations. Also, the inclusion of work in the Pedagogical Section to We may need to introduce an psychosocial factors in education help revitalize the teaching profes- international conference just for might help make an inroad on the old sion, particularly Waldorf education; educational system with all of its I would like to help find ways of stress factors. I see new ideas being accessing forces of renewal. developed to augment the exam system, not just in Waldorf education. That sounds good but how Think of the portfolio system. I con- can it become more than a wish? sider it much more humane to docu- We already have experience in this ment your own activity and your regard; we don’t have to start from individually attained capacities in a scratch. I know from my own experi- portfolio than to take exams. So the ence that anthroposophy is capable of Pedagogical Section is cooperating opening up wellsprings of spiritually with people who have initiated pro- oriented originality that lead to capac- jects of this kind. ities for teaching. We need to get to the modernity and topicality of Wal- Who belongs to the Pedagogical Sec- dorf education again. Otherwise we tion, anyway? It’s still quite an reduce our work to the mere applica- abstract idea for many... tion of Waldorf methods; we remain Every teacher who finds educational behind the times using forms that CHRISTOF WIECHERT was born initiative through a spiritual path of have become empty. In actuality, the 1945 in Germany and grew up as schooling actually belongs to the sec- crazier our times, the more relevant the child of Dutch/German par- tion, even if it is not recognized. The Waldorf education becomes. ents in the Netherlands. After Pedagogical Section is a way of work- graduating from the Waldorf ing, among other things. This is one And what do you consider to be school in the Hague, he did train- aspect. There is also an external side, the kernel of Waldorf education? ing as a state school teacher and the possibility of exchanging with and It consists in humanizing and spiritu- then taught for nearly 30 years at joining forces with other like-minded alizing education. The nature of the the Hague school. During that people in the School of Spiritual Sci- child as a being in development is cen- period he founded a state accredit- ence. That’s how initiatives can devel- tral. You can only achieve it if you ed Waldorf teacher training in the op the strength to change society, yourself remain in development. In Netherlands with other colleagues. which you can’t do alone. Thus peo- addition to enthusiasm for the devel- Wiechert served for many ple who work this way can organize oping person, a second pillar for the years on the Council of the regionally, which they do – some recovery of teaching seems to me to Anthroposophical Society in the more, some less. But it must be said be rediscovery of and enthusiasm for Netherlands. He has been a mem- that this effort is quite modest from a the material we are to teach. Here we ber of the Hague Circle since 1992 quantitative point of view. need to discover quite new ways of and has lectured widely at home doing it, ever again afresh. If we and abroad. He has worked for the Based on Free Initiative remain stuck in traditional forms – Pedagogical Section at the And what do you do exactly? however wonderful, proven or verifi- Goetheanum since 1992. He is We work here in a small but very able through the Waldorf curriculum married and has five children. committed team. Although I have – we scleroticize this living education. now taken on the leadership of the

8 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 section, we are very happy that process of research and it begins with ences. We need to find each other Heinz Zimmermann still wants to a transformation, an enlivening of in certain themes and really collab- work with us. We also have two col- thinking. How else will we be able to orate. For example, we are plan- leagues, Rita Marbach and Dorothee understand and research the most ning a joint colloquium with the Prange, who take care of the practical alive thing there is, the quintessence of Section for Social Sciences on the operation of the section. We deliber- liveliness – namely, the child – if not theme of threefolding in the ately keep this aspect as modest as through adequate thinking? human being and in the social possible. Section should be initiative To practice this, we organize organism. Or, together with the and not administration. We organize intensive study weeks every year, Youth Section, we are inviting meetings, conferences, research pro- where we can research the anthropo- 12th graders to the Goetheanum. jects (including ones we don’t carry sophical view of the human being. Small, concrete steps like that. I out ourselves), publish a section This year, for example, participants don’t know how to do all these newsletter, visit schools, make con- have undertaken to each work medita- things but I think the general tacts and have conversations – there tively with one of the lectures in direction is correct. is a lot to do to cope with everything. Study of Man for a whole year. After We are still learning about this with the year we will talk about our experi- Corrected by Reality Itself the help of Wiltrud Schmidt, who ences. That is the actual work and I And now to you. Do you think there is took care of these matters until now. must be very careful to do this kind of any danger that you will become a We have also formed a Collegium intensive work myself, in spite of all frustrating functionary without notic- that discusses the general thrust of the rest of my work. This is the legit- ing it – and stop being the spontaneous initiatives. We meet quarterly. All imization for section work, after all. colleague you are today? meetings in the Pedagogical Section (Laughs) I certainly hope that I was are based totally on the strength of I know you also travel a great deal. able to internalize certain qualities as free initiative. We are not dependent What are your next destinations? a teacher – such as a self-critical atti- on any institution, although we do In 2002 I plan to go to the U.S., Rus- tude. Also, I have a question from my collaborate with a large number of sia and the Balkans. I also very much days as a teacher that has practically international committees, schools and hope that it will be possible to anchor become an instinct: is what you’re seminars. But this all arises out of Waldorf education in the Islamic doing meaningful? I also hope that independent impulses and not out of world. There is the Sekem initiative in my friends won’t desert me and – formal channels, so we can work Egypt as well as a new contact in should I do something strange – will quite independently. Free of any Amman, with a school that would like point it out to me in the spirit of institutional egoism. to introduce Waldorf friendship. Above all I am counting The same holds true education, because on the correction provided by reality for the institutions How can we strengthen hoped-for changes in itself. I have already worked inten- we work with; they each other rather than put education haven’t sively at the Goetheanum for the past are totally free in each other down? materialized. I hope two and half years and I can honestly relation to us. very much that this say that I have had only the best I myself also will lead to some- experiences in collaborating with give courses and contribute to vari- thing. Waldorf education is a way of everyone here. ous committees and meetings. In working that can be interdenomina- addition, the Pedagogical Section is tional if understood correctly. An One other personal question. What is also a service for people who have example is the small Oasis initiative in particularly important to you in your questions about anthroposophical Kosovo. path of development at the moment? education or who are seeking con- It may seem strange to some people tacts in the international school Stumbling Blocks but I am living with the question: Is it movement. We also use modern com- That all sounds very positive. What possible to develop a Waldorf school munication methods, of course. We stumbling blocks do you see for the consciousness? I mean, is it possible are currently creating a new home- whole further development of Waldorf to live with all the problems, worries page. education? and joys of the international school I could sum this up in three points. movement in a way that is real? The Do all these efforts have something to – We need to learn to differentiate tasks are so great that one thing is do with quality development, which between justifiable tradition and clear: For this we will need the help of everyone is talking about these days? dogmatism. the spiritual world. This not as an Of course, though I think it is impor- – How can we strengthen each other expectation, but as an attitude of turn- tant to build up quality from within. rather than put each other down? ing toward it. It has to be an inner impulse of the – teachers among themselves, par- Christof Wiechert was people involved. Mere demands from ents and teachers, and of course interviewed by Thomas Stöckli. outside do not accomplish much. teachers and students? We need new impulses in social compe- Pedagogical Section and research tence. Everyone sees this and it belong together. What would you say will take much effort and good research in education is? will. Otherwise not much will Research as it is practiced and under- happen. That is why I am current- stood in the Pedagogical Section is ly engaged in a pilot project on also spiritual research. This concept is this theme in the Parent Council. a little worn-out today. I would say it – I also see a danger of fragmenta- is the way of working in which the tion. The sections need to work researching person is always involved, together more – the General in which the research topic concerns Anthroposophical Section, the you and changes you. The path of Pedagogical Section and the Youth Contact: Pedagogical Section, Goetheanum, Postfach, CH–4143 Dornach 1, Switz.; tel. schooling and research are then insep- Section, as well as the Medical Sec- +41/61/706 43 73; fax +41/61/706 44 74; e-mail arable. This is part of the whole tion and Section for Social Sci- [email protected].

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 9 Forum

Each Drop Helps Increase the Flow – the cultural life provides the foun- Thoughts on September 11 dation necessary to each individual (education, values, social relations, ...What is a viable alternative to the locals can participate in the deci- ecology, freedom, etc.). [answering with an “eye for an eye” sions of what is best for them and If each of us in our area becomes really approach] in our Michaelic time? This their environment and how to achieve aware of this and works toward these time where two contradictory impuls- it with our selfless help, but not with goals, the relations between human es of “individuality” and “citizen of our present day predominant values beings all over the world will change the world” can only be brought in (materialism, hoarding money, “we and ... the terrorists ... will have no sup- harmony through love. Acts motivat- have the power because you gave it to port anymore. ... Sure it’s not easy, but ed by love, not by greed or revenge, us,” under pressure from us, etc.). if each one convinced of this positive will help to bring peace among human When those who hate us now see that approach does it in his/her small circle beings: respect of the other, his race, we are making a sincere, effective and of influence, it will change the whole his origins, his religion, his education, lasting effort to help them so that they world, in the same way as each rain all his values. To respect means: we can feel again their own dignity, that drop helps to increase the flow of the have to be humble and interested in they can start living a decent life, then river which joins many other rivers into the others, understand their problems, their actions will be very different.... the sea encompassing all continents.... struggles... and help them: not by We have to work actively so that September 11 was an awakening sending humanitarian relief following – the economy (business, market) call to all of us. Let us not be deaf to the bombs and missiles, but to help respects the individual and the this call. Let us examine our values, them worldwide (not just Afghanistan earth, satisfies real human needs and “That good may become / What and Pakistan). Forgive the loans (IMF, (brotherhood); we from our hearts would found / etc.) which create every day a deeper – the governments, independent What we from our heads would direct gap between the “haves” and the from business, look after the well- / In conscious / Willing.” “have nots,” put a strong break on the being of their respective citizens Chris Heintz, Canada present tendency of the WTO so that (equality); October 11, 2001

Speech via Technology

The debate on the Goetheanum’s interpreter system sparked by Jan Ranck (who, while concerned about the adverse effects of the technology, does not question providing “live” translations at the Goetheanum) continues here.

Can We Counter Subsensible Influences? technology in general, we know that we can only counter the effect of sub- In Anthroposophy Worldwide no. ted from the interpreter’s cubicle to sensible beings sufficiently if we try 7/2001 Sebastian Jüngel conveys the earphones of the individual par- to raise ourselves through inner work results obtained by Jan Ranck in eval- ticipant. The interpreter’s speech (or, just as high above the level of the uating the side effects that people if it is used as a hearing aid, the sense world as we must climb down observed when using the interpreter speech of the lecturer) gets trans- below this level into subsensible and amplification system in the formed in the microphone into elec- realms when we use this technology. Goetheanum’s Main Auditorium. In tric oscillations. These are processed Let us ask ourselves honestly: how no. 8/2001 Anna R. Meuss questions electronically (and also digitized in good are we individually and collec- the causality of certain of those side- this case?), which creates a series of tively at creating such a supersensible effects, defends the electronic system signals that are then impressed on the (spiritual) counter-weight? How as being appropriate and asks whether wireless infrared frequency. These much technology can we legitimately we want a “House of the Word” or a signals are then changed back into cope with? “House of the German Word.” electric oscillations in the electronics In the case of the mechanization Mrs. Meuss answers this last of the participant’s unit. These in turn of art, according to Rudolf Steiner, question, which would really require are changed back into the corre- such compensation out of one’s own differentiated examination, quickly sponding sound waves in the head- forces is not possible. Here, the and easily for herself. She considers it phones, which are then received by human being needs “the help of the to be our first priority to enable the the ear and passed on to soul percep- gods,” in order to avoid its negative foreign language participant to follow tion. effect. Do the gods still provide this events (except stage performances) The spoken word thus passes help today in view of our state of directly in his or her own language. through the subsensible sphere and (if awareness about these things? And She considers such facilitation for the it is digitized) reaches the level that how much deeper than the mere participant to be sufficient legitimiza- has been most alienated from nature. mechanization of art (Rudolf Steiner tion.... Unfortunately, she does not We can all know what beings must be spoke of the record player of his day) deal with spiritual scientific view- connected with the “speech” heard by does the electrification and digitiza- points in any of the aspects she the participant and we can try indi- tion of art drag us down beneath the touches on. vidually to sense the nature of such level of the sense world? – This brings Let us take a brief look at the beings. We should not harbor any us unawares to the question of record- aspect of electronics. To understand illusions about their character or their ing and marketing Rudolf Steiner’s this, let us begin with the technical corresponding effect on us. From works on CD as well as producing process by which speech is transmit- what anthroposophy has to say about spoken Steiner lectures on CD.

10 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 These are extremely weighty making clear to ourselves what we’re Banquo that sees Macbeth – an entire- questions. They touch the central core dealing with: the deeds we do within ly real ghost and not some vaporous of anthroposophy. The interpreter sys- the Society and those that go out from illusion arising from a bad conscience. tem in the Main Auditorium, however, it should be brought more and more One can picture the distant ideal was installed and put into use without into harmony with what we recognize of people being able to understand the slightest discussion of these ques- as being in accordance with spirit. something spoken on stage although tions among the wider membership.... This is the pioneer task of anthro- the language is foreign to them. When As members of the Anthropo- posophists for the world.... artists understand Rudolf Steiner’s sophical Society we have the task of Peter Schlegel, Switzerland suggestions deeply enough to be able to convey speech’s gift of “tongues of fire” to their listeners, we will have a true Whitsun festival. Materialism and technology have Our Real Capacities tremor of awe that causes it to both brought us the possibility of equip- jubilate and fall into perplexity (for ping ourselves with superhuman The Goetheanum: a House of the the perceived being can be tragic) but capacities: we fly vast distances in air- Word? – In her remarks Anna R. it also shines, because it has come planes, see far away via television Meuss takes a purely pragmatic view closer to a higher sphere of existence. screens, hear long distances by tele- .... No one will want to dispute the The same happens with speech phone. Yet we must not forget that validity of this point of view. Howev- formation, which causes people to these media are only caricatures of the er, when one uses it to legitimize one’s shiver through the power of congru- higher capacities that the human being opinion, as if one could make the ence between the timbre of a spoken needs to acquire through lengthy Goetheanum a “House of the Word” text and the power of thought or feel- work over the course of time. by installing an interpreting system, I ing that the text expresses. This con- Ahriman gave us these caricatures think it diverges powerfully from the gruence underlies the “reality” of only to distract us from our actual meaning that Rudolf Steiner gave this what is spoken – not in an intellectual tasks. Let us at least try, at this place expression. sense but as if it were a kind of sub- of the future and not of the past, to What do we mean by “Word”? stance. The picture that arises tran- cultivate the seed that lies in the Certainly not this intellectual residue, scends the meaning; it arises from the Goetheanum and not lose what is which enters our consciousness in the actual “Word” or creative power. meant by our real capacities. form of a dead thought and which we These two arts show the full reali- Annette Roy-Matmann, France call the “meaning.” It is the meaning ty of what performance and diction that the interpreter wants to convey are. Their role is to conjure up real Note: Only a German translation of the original French reached the editors. The above is a trans- and this is what, we must admit, cor- being before the soul. Then one lation of the German translation, yet we hope it responds to the direct demands of the knows that it really is the Ghost of conveys something of what is meant. consciousness soul.

Training the Imagination Soul However, Rudolf Steiner reminds us that the consciousness soul is destined Is it Better to be Awake than to Dream? to become the imagination soul through spiritual work (in The Effects In “In Praise of Slowness” the musician Jürgen Vater made a plea for tempi in of Esoteric Development, especially music and eurythmy that are conducive to inner quiet. the final lecture).* To enable us to develop the imag- ...[His ideas about tempo in music] coming from an international music ination soul, Rudolf Steiner gave us culminate in the statement that industry influence the tempo of per- two arts. It is a task of the Goethe- eurythmists’ difficulties in managing formances. There isn’t even a consen- anum to support these arts and offer the choreography are proof that the sus about how fast or slow a particular them a home. Only if we practice music has been falsely interpreted. work should be played! Vater’s article them, or at least understand them, can Such a judgement is based on the wish would like to point out the importance the Goetheanum become a House of to make the performance of one art – of quiet and patience. Every musician the Word. However, these arts have music – submit to the external pre- will of course confirm the importance nothing to do with electronics or requisites of another – eurythmy. In of these two capacities.... interpreting in the usual sense of the my opinion this thought stems from Robin Engelen, Germany word. false conclusions. Conditions for the portrayal of an Eurythmy and Speech Formation art can only be sought in the art itself. ...We don’t succeed in finding inner Eurythmy aims to open up an access Thus, in the case of a work of music, quiet in hectic activity, but neither do to the development of the imagina- reasons for or against this or that tem- we succeed in being awake in inactivi- tion soul through appropriate ges- po are to be found solely in musical ty. Rhythm enlivens... Slow tempi are tures and movements. Eurythmic ges- considerations. The musician chooses harder to have a feeling for, but fast tures and movements do not “trans- a particular tempo out of his individ- tempi are more suited to creating late” (in a deeper sense of the word) ual involvement with the work. Only awakeness. That is better for our con- what is happening in the soul of the after that will he consider whether sciousness than dreaming! eurythmist; they convey the inner external conditions necessitate a modi- Uwe Friedmann, Germany essential nature of the text that the fication of his interpretation (such as artist is bringing to manifestation in when the hall is larger or smaller, or space. This then appears to the inner when it reverberates more or less). eye in the form of a spirit-endowed Another thing that affects the tempo is Correction (Anthroposophy World- picture. The soul is gripped in a the inner state of the performer during wide no. 9/2001): The correct e-mail the moment of performance. In no address for Camphill in the Czech * Anthroposophic Press 1997, GA 145. case does some kind of propaganda Republic is [email protected]

Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001 11 Feature

Quality Control Why the Trustees of Rudolf Steiner’s Estate Are Asking for License Fees At the end of 2000, the Trustees of Rudolf Steiner’s Estate posophical Society is considering creating a fund to ease the contacted about 70 publishing houses around the world to burden on publishing there. In this interview, Walter Kugler, arrange provisions for using Rudolf Steiner’s work. In par- head of Rudolf Steiner Archives and board member for the ticular, the Trustees introduced license fees, which evoked Trustees of Rudolf Steiner’s Estate, explains to Sebastian Jün- consternation among publishers who were already strug- gel why these new fees (actually customary in the publishing gling to survive. In Great Britain, one hears, the Anthro- business) have been introduced now.

The Trustees of Rudolf Steiner’s Estate together. Then the shorthand notes have been drawing attention to the have to be transferred into under- lack of funds for preserving and pub- standable notations and then brought lishing Rudolf Steiner’s work. Does the into readable form. Then you have to new license fee have anything to do identify any authors quoted by Steiner, with these financial problems? as well as assemble notes, a register Yes. We owe it to ourselves and to our and documentary appendixes. Such supporters to use our resources as work costs a great deal of money and wisely as possible. In view of major this cannot be recovered through the financial pressures resulting from a price of the book. If we were to link substantial decrease in the number of this to the price of the book (an eco- Steiner books sold, we had to review nomic practice that people often rec- Walter Kugler, head of Rudolf Steiner Archives our accounts and increase efficiency. and board member for the Trustees of Rudolf ommend today) then many a lecture That brought the realization that Steiner’s Estate volume would cost between 300 and many foreign publishing houses regu- 400 francs. We think the fee will bring larly order free books from us, use first generation of Trustees. They in about 100,000 francs a year. (There them (that is, translate and sell them) wanted to do everything to make are about 1000 applicable Steiner but don’t enter into a contract of any Steiner’s work available, whatever the books on sale in various countries kind and don’t pay a license fee. sacrifice. This very idealistic (and sen- right now, as far as we know). sible) way of handling certain cases When does a publishing house or unfortunately led to a situation in Won’t it be costly to other user normally pay a license fee? which many publishing houses did not administrate the license fees? To put it briefly, copyrights exist for even contact the Trustees at all. This At first it will, but if everything goes Rudolf Steiner’s lectures, and there are does not concern license fees alone; it well, the costs should not exceed more protective rights for the publication of especially concerns advice. It is impor- than 10% of the fees. posthumous works. In addition, trade tant, for example, for translators to use laws forbid unfair competition, such the very newest edition of a book, so Met with Understanding as tacitly using the Complete Edition that any mistakes from earlier editions What do you do when a publishing of Rudolf Steiner’s works for transla- don’t get passed on unnecessarily. It is house cannot pay the fees right away? tions, photomechanical reprints, scan- also important for the translation of Most of the publishing houses met our ning and storing on CD-ROM or An Outline of Esoteric Science into request with understanding. In individ- posting on the Internet. Korean, for example, not to be trans- ual cases we have worked out agree- lated from the Japanese, which itself ments that are acceptable to both par- Distributing Rudolf Steiner’s Works was translated from the English. ties. That is, in these cases we have not Why did you not have To come back to your question of insisted on retroactive fees but are hap- a license fee before? why there were no or almost no py with any offer, any transfer of funds That is a long story. In Marie Steiner’s license fees until now, another source that reaches us. With some publishing day (she was responsible for publish- of uncertainty has been the difference houses we have agreed on progressive ing Steiner’s works for 40 years), con- in the length of copyright protection rates staggered over several years. In a tracts and license fees were almost in various countries. People in coun- few cases, particularly in economically always negotiated. After her death and tries where protection expires 50 years strained Eastern countries, we agreed the conflict that followed, people were after the death of an author assumed that the fee for this or that book can be not sure what to do. Many people that Rudolf Steiner works were now invested in further translations and considered the Trustees of Rudolf free to be used by anyone. However, publishing activities. However, we Steiner’s Estate to be non-existent. that is not the case. Publishing houses require a meticulous record of Only a few translators and publishers also have rights and there is the matter accounts that lists the license fee and stayed in contact with us and secured of unfair competition that I men- the way it is used. the necessary permission. Also, since tioned earlier. Thus we at Rudolf Perhaps I may voice a request in many publishing houses were just get- Steiner Verlag can’t simply publish the conclusion: Please contact us if you ting started after World War II, the Artemis Edition of Goethe’s works if are a publishing house that publishes Trustees often gave permission to use we feel like it. Rudolf Steiner’s works and we have the books without demanding a fee. not yet heard from you! We were thankful and glad that people Why are you asking for fees now, Questions by Sebastian Jüngel took on the time-consuming work of including retroactive fees? translating – thus helping Rudolf For one thing, publishing such a major Steiner’s works reach the world. work is very costly. The material for Contact: Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Postfach 135, CH–4143 Dornach, Switzerland; tel. +41/61/ This was also in accord with each single book first has to be identi- 706 91 30; fax 701 25 34; verlag@rudolf-steiner. Marie Steiner’s attitude and that of the fied in the jumble of papers and drawn com; http://www.rudolf-steiner.com.

12 Anthroposophy Worldwide 10/2001