A child that learns to read too early in life, is introduced to abstraction too soon. And one would do many a future sufferer from sclerosis a service if one would not teach them to read too early. This hardening of the organism which manifests in the most diverse forms of sclerosis, can be traced back to children learning to read too soon. Of course, there are many other reasons why these symptoms occur. The point is that these things happen and that a more natural method of teaching, from out of the forces of soul and spirit, works in a healing way on the body. If you understand how you must give form to your educating activities, then you understand at the same time how you can help the child towards the best health for its future life. And you can be very sure: if healthier methods prevailed in the current school system, then many a male would not walk around with a bald head so early in life…
Source (German): Rudolf Steiner – GA 306 – Die pädagogische Praxis – Dornach, April 18, 1923 (page 82)
https://odysseetheater.org/GA/Buecher/GA_306.pdf#view=Fit
Translated by Nesta Carsten-Krüger
Previously posted on 10 August 2019
The great Rudolf Steiner Quotes Site 