Steiner education

[casawasa]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I can't find a thread. I'm looking for feedback and advice on Steiner education.

Thanks

[swampster]

I think you can't find the thread because they get anything that suggests that anthroposophy and rest are a bit cultish odd deleted. Nuff said.

[zoekinson]

and for some it is perfect, go to the school yourself and see what you think.

[Feenie]

I can only speak for the ex-Steiner children who have joined our school in Y2 and Y3, unable to read or write and struggling hugely until they caught up years later.

[exoticfruits]

From what I have heard there are far too many disruptive DCs.

[onadifferentplanettoday]

I think you should go and look at your local school and make up your own mind.Every child has different needs and what is right for one is not necessarily right for another. My son who is just 13 started at our local school a year ago and loves it. he is doing very well.learning three languages,two instruments and his enthusiasm for learning and his confidence have increased well beyond my excpectations. I certainly don't consider myself 'snobby and exclusive' nor am I a 'museli weaving' mum. I have four children all who have gone to different schools and I know that Steiner would not have been the school for the others. In all schools you will hear horror stories of unhappy children but I have heard far worse tales of children in our local state schools. I accept it is not the right school for every child but am grateful that I made the effort to go and investigate for myself rather than just listen to the opinions of those that didn't like it or who just repeat third hand information.

[exoticfruits]

Nothing beats a visit on a normal, warts and all, day. Make an appointment and visit.

[maverick]

But read this first: www.anthroposophy.org.uk/
This is the philosophy behind the schools though it may not be articulated.

[bidibidi]

I am not sure that the words "Steiner" and "education" belong in the same sentence, lol.

I have an adult friend who went to Steiner school(s) and feels it was best thing for her. She had learning difficulties (oxygen deprivation as a baby), and that a pointedly non-academic school was just perfect for bringing on her other talents. She has a profession, can drive a car & do maths and reads as well as most of us. Her parents worked for the foreign office so were not hippydippy types at all. She knows nothing about anthorposcophy.

I think a lot depends on the indiv. Steiner school, you really have to check out your local one.

[casawasa]

Thanks for your opinions. I think I have discounted Steiner for the time being.

[IntotheNittyGritty]

It horrifies me that so many people are so negative about Steiner. There is so much rubbish posted on mums net. Their way of teaching might be different that some schools, but you could have four schools within a mile of each other and they will all teach in different ways.

The children do learn a lot about their environment and self development and self thinking. What is so wrong with that? They are not allowed to use computer -at all. They are encouraged to question what the are taught, that way they understand and remember.

[swampster]

Computer - agents of darkness.

[hazeybabes]

You don't say what age you are interested in. The Cambridge Report (an independent report) recommends that formal education should not start until age 6. Some children just aren't ready for it and they can therefore lose confidence in their academic abilities so that they never catch up. As an educational professional, I wish that the government would listen to this report rather than the government sponsored Rose report which is affected by political interests. I put my children into a Steiner Kindergarten because it gives them the space to be a child and to develop their social, emotional and physical abilities. My August born son went into Year 2 in a state school last September. He has caught up on his reading level for his Year group (and reads more challenging books at home for fun). He is still behind in writing and numeracy (although his teacher reports that he is hard to level because in some areas he is working at a higher level eg. his spelling is poor but he has an incredible understanding of punctuation). His imagination, vocabulary and understanding of story are extremely developed and I think the story telling aspect of Kindergarten helps here (although the same could be gained by oral storytelling at home). He is a happy, confident and intelligent boy and I have no regrets about putting him into formal education late. My 4 year old son loves Kindergarten and I am delighted that his active nature is not being stifled and that his complete lack of interest in numbers and letters is not making him feel inadequate. I cannot comment on Steiner education beyond this age as we don't have a school in our area yet but I do know that my oldest son's best friend (who moved away to go a Steiner school) loves it.