To think there should be arts based specialist schools for younger children?

[SilverCharm]

Ok we have schools which are specialist schools at secondary level....some are performing arts based...others are academies with a strong background in computers or other subjects.

But why can't there be middle schools for DC aged 8 plus where the arts are stronger than the academic subjects?

People will say "Oh but 8 is too young to specialise" well I disagree. I know my 8 year old is very strong in arts based subjects and struggles with maths and science.

I know this. I see it. She's like me and she would be better off in a school where she could concentrate on building her art subjects....performance, creative writing, painting, media, music etc.

That way, she would be better prepared for a career in one or more of these fields....is it a bad idea? Why?

In terms of private schools, Steiner schools are actually very cheap. But as Really says, you have to totally buy into their philosophy. And they teach the national curriculum, just in a very specific 'discovery based' (my words) way. There's a lot of emphasis on creativity in Steiner, but not necessarily an emphasis on the creative arts, IYSWIM.

I don't know too much about Steiner schools tbh. The extent of my knowledge about Steiner is that he invented biodynamic gardening and that people who send their kids to Steiner schools tend to be well-to-do middle class progressive types (that?s just in my experience).

Wasn't Steiner into mystical new agey kind of stuff?

There's a lot of woo in Steiner - IMO, of course. They really don't suit everyone.

Steiner would be fantastic if you don't want your child to study maths and science.

Unfortunately, absolute crap if you want your child to develop and expand their creative side.

What parents think their children are suited to has an extremely high correlation with what they want/wanted for themselves, in my personal experience. What I want most is the ability to support and foster my children's actual abilities- not just the ones I expect or want them to have.

I could add my anecdotes here, but it's all been said much better earlier on. Never let yourself project, or only see what you expect/want. I hated maths until I was 16. I was encouraged and expected to hate. Then, I had a good maths teacher. I realised that I loved it. I studied it beyond GCSE, even! The mathematical understanding I've gained since then is something I use across my life, from altering cake recipes, to calculating APRs to analysing propaganda-filled pamphlets, or scaremongering articles.

Some people home school their children in the UK don't they? They must have to follow the national curriculum, but they probably have more scope for expanding on certain subjects. It's not for everyone though and some people are dead against it.

no need to follow the national curriculum if you home educate FunBagFreddie.

Also, the Steiner secondary in East Grinstead (can't remember what it's called) certainly does science (and would assume maths as well) - DD did a science course with one of their part time teachers. It was a bit on the woo side (but did let DD play with bunsen burners at age 9 and do glass blowing and modelling in the woman's dining room ).

I don't doubt that Steiner schools teach science and maths for one minute. I always thought that they provided more scope for 'discovery', although I obviously say that from a totally ignorant view point.

It all looks quite interesting, so I'll have to read up on it.

They don't have to follow the national curriculum. Results are variable. I was home-educated until 16. Results of home-education are entirely dependent on the parent. Accordingly, some people do brilliantly. Some... Don't. There are inspiring stories out there. There are also some sickening stories.

People do home educate, and there is absolutely no need for those that do.

However, it seems to me that the people least suited to home educate are those that think their child won't want to study a subject because they themselves didn't like it in their own school days.

why, oh why oh why is it ok to be bad at science and maths in this country?

it really depresses me.

Sorry, missing phrase" no need for those that do to follow the National curriculum"

So don't SS and the educational attendance bod give home schooling parents a hard time then? Just wondering.

It uses to greatly depend on your Local Educational Authority, the attitude of the local Educational Welfare Officers, and the social skills/middle classness of the home-educating parent. I entirely agree with Seeker, "However, it seems to me that the people least suited to home educate are those that think their child won't want to study a subject because they themselves didn't like it in their own school days."

Unfortunately, such parents tend to be quite enthusiastic about home-education.

I hated Maths at school, and really struggled with it. I was considered to be talented in Arts subjects, especially English. I only realised I liked science at about age 14, and went on to do science (and English) A levels and a biology degree. I then did a PhD in Cell Biology, during which I finally realised that I liked Maths, and was actually passably good at it!

So OP, YABVU. At 8 years old, the world should be your Oyster. There is plenty of time to specialise later, and you should help and encourage your DD in the subjects she finds difficult in order to build her confidence.

Great post cory.

I work in the arts and I use maths A LOT - for budgeting, fundraising applications, my tax return, to look at audience figures and work out discounts for tickets just to pick out a few.

"So don't SS and the educational attendance bod give home schooling parents a hard time then? Just wondering."

No they don't. Some home educators think they do, but only because they think anyone from "the government" saying "hello, how are you?" a vicious intrusion.

We looked at a Steiner School when DD was 3...we ran like the wind when we saw the bowls of faceless gnomes! Not only them....but the whole thing was just very odd. We were happy to send her to the local primary!

Ah yes, faceless things. Very Steiner. Not our cuppa tea either :)

It was the matching pinky orangey yellowy pictures that scared me. Even though i loved all the lovely wooden toys and gentle voices.

"You can play with these wooden logs" said the teacher to DD....who went and said "No thank you."

they were like what we put on the fire..rough and she was used to us keeping her away from them!

It was all peach and smooth. And all the paintings looked like they'd been done by the same child.

I ever been to a steiner open morning. Steiner parents at La Leche League scared me enough. They were utterly convinced that their opinons were fact. Whatever you do don't make the mistake of getting into a discussion with a Steiner parent. Jevoha witnesses are far more open minded and flexible in their thinking.

Oh gawd. I had the misfortune to go to a baby-related group run by a lady who, despite having only one child under the age of two, appeared to believe she was the all-knowing guru of childcare and education.

She spent most of the group attempting to persuade me to remove DS1 from his mainstream nursery and send him to a Steiner nursery and then school. I think she thought she had the best chance of succeeding in "converting" me because I used slings and cloth nappies and was therefore clearly open to all sorts of alternative woo.

Not saying steiner is alternative woo, obviously, although the philosophy doesn't appeal to me at all - just that it seems to be one of the list of boxes that you have to tick in order to be a fully signed-up alternative woo mum.

It's not posh enough round here for a Steiner school. I read somehwere that he was into eugenics and racism.

Silver I read your 16:34 post as 'playing with wooden legs'. Which would be odd, even for Steiner