Richmond Waldorf School DEIJ Statement
At Richmond Waldorf School we believe it is our moral and ethical responsibility to meet the needs of all our students. As such, we are committed to an ongoing process of learning, listening, and deepening our understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, both in theory and in practice. Three fundamental principles of Waldorf education inform this commitment: the respect for basic human rights, the diversity of humankind, and the belief that inclusivity and equality are moral and educational imperatives.
Located on sacred land of the indigenous Powhatans, in the commonwealth where numerous Africans were enslaved, and in the capital of the former Confederacy, Richmond Waldorf School is committed to the responsibility of becoming a community that embraces the difficult and necessary work of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Richmond Waldorf School honors and respects students, families, faculty and staff regardless of an individual’s immigration status, place of residence, country of origin and/or citizenship, race, class, serostatus, social status, ethnicity, beliefs about religion, political affiliation, gender/sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, first language, non-disability, and neuro-diversity. We educate our students to respect the dignity of all people and to reject discrimination in all its forms.
Holding awareness of the past, present, and continuing consequences of slavery, colonialism, sexism, racism, heteronormativity and gender binaries, religious bias, and homophobia, we strive to make each classroom and our community a safe space where our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are reflected in our curriculum, policies and procedures, staffing and student body.
Even as the pedagogical foundation and faculty of Richmond Waldorf School are supported, inspired and sustained by the writings of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, we reject all of Steiner’s biased depictions of gender inequality, religious and racial hierarchy, and we oppose any racist understanding of evolution. We strive to base our education at Richmond Waldorf School in accordance with Steiner’s later pronouncement that we “must seek to unite people of all races and nations, and to bridge the divisions and differences between various groups of people.” (The Universal Human by Rudolf Steiner).
We actively seek to create, embrace, support and nurture a diverse community where all feel respected, connected, honored and valued.
