FYI, the Greenwich Steiner School has been in the local newspapers recently. The school is putting in a bid to move to new bigger premises at Mycanei House (the Borough Museum has just vacated this buiding). The papers carried a lovely group picture, rather strangely almost every child and adult was either wearing a stiped jumper, a striped hat or a striped scarf - scary!
Anais to pick up your point about HE children learning to entertian themselves at home. Well I am thinking what would happend if I was HE - ing my 9 year old. He too entertains himself at home, no problem. He got lots of interests ie collects fossils, likes drawing and reading, but also likes playing with his gameboy and xbox. The latter are major distractions and I think too much freedom of choice about what he does with his day would not work in his favour tbh. We would have endless small arguments about his use of time. He's great at bargaining, and that can be very time wasting. I know this because we have it already when he has homework and music practice to do.
His current school, the one he likes so much, is strict on performance aad behaviour. There are lots of rules, the smallest things are rewarded and punished. It is a small school and teachers know all pupils well and by name. Nothing much escapes them. My son knows exactly what is expected of him, exactly where he stands with them, exactly what he should be doing at any time of the day. Yes it sounds horribly old fashioned and regimented. I don't think I would have liked it as a child. I went to a very liberl primary school in the late 60's full of hippy teachers. However my son has beeen to more liberal schools and not only under achieved but also was not that happy.
I read somewhere (Steve Biddulf, 'Raising Kids' possibly) that many boys need a firm structure to their day, rules, discipline etc. A liberal approach works better with girls. I scoffed at the idea, but my son's education bears out this theory so far.
Robin, going back to your point of wanting your child to feel special - well yes, I didn't phrase myself too well. Of course I do want my son to feel he is special, in the sense that every child is special in some way. I want him to know he is very, very special to me. But I don't want him to grow up believing he is automatically special to all other adults and that's what I was trying to say.
singingmum, I agree that HE with working parnets must involve a larger family. For that reason alone it would be impractical for dh and I to HE. We have no extended family nearby. I will look at the links you suggest.
Anais, talking of my theoretical HE career follower who then sends their own children to school so they can get on with their career, I agree with you when you say 'everyone is different, just because you acknowledge that something contributed to your success, or just what you became, doesn't mean you will want to replicate it for your children'
It's just that when the same argument is used in the following way, ie 'I had a bad experience of school, it contributed to my unhappiness, so I don't want my child to go through the same thing' I want to say 'of course everyone ( every child) is different'
fairymum, I think your last sentence sums up how I feel about my son's education 'I wish to be involved in my children's education and not to be in control of it'
This half term we have gone to the science museum, where my son hepled dj and produce a radio show, as well doing as lots of other interactive stuff, we saw the lord of the rings exhibition because we are making a fancy dress for him - Samwise Gangee (sp), he's been drawing figures from the exhibition, he's visited a victorian classroom, we've all taken part in a family african music lesson, spent time on a city farm (now he wants to become a volunteer) practiced his tenor horn and read books at home, today we are going to another museum where he will do a class in drawing cartoon characters etc. I feel I take responsibility for my son's education, but not sole responsiblity. Simply because the above list does not represent his full education. He will go to school next week and learn tons more stuff. I will have no active part in it. I chose the school, I try to send my son there in a happy state with his homework done. I would take him out of school ultimately if he is unhappy. That's where my responsibility ends. I am happy to let the teachers have control over the rest.