What do you know about Steiner schools?

[hunkermunker]

Anyone been to one? Sending their children to one? Know children who go?

bbs, by "follows Science", I mean, doesn't pretend to believe in things that aren't proven by science. I don't mind schools teaching "some people believe in fairies" or whatever (even without saying "but we have no proof/it's probably rubbish/etc"), but I mind them teaching "fairies exist". (Or "God exists." Or "homeopathy works." Or whatever.)

so is it a religious school then? Sounds really scary. My ds1 (7) loves reading.

Um, nearly all schools in the UK are religious schools, aren't they?

Well, maybe not "nearly all". But certainly "most", right?

no! what???

I am lost. Most schools have an RE component, which is a bit of comparative religion, but also quite a bit of stuff about God, Jesus etc etc (as appropriate for whether it's an RC school, CofE, nondenominational Christian, or whatever).

well, yes, but I wondered if Steiner was based on some religious principle. you know, promoting some specific religion.

well, what I mean is my ds school is non denominational, but obviously go to church at christmas etc.

catholic schools are built on the catholic principle.

is steiner some weird religious sect.

sorry, can't be bothered with capitals.

changer99 you are way off the mark! just read your thread to my dh (please read my previous post) he just laughed and shook his head. The fact that you have changed your name is a bit dodgy? surly you are just enjoying taking the micky here?

Do you seriously beleive all that?

no competition -not true (they even hold an interschools olynpics once a year)

boys sitting to wee -absolute rubbish

push button entertainment is suggested to be limited not restricted (is that so bad?)

Full time starts at aged 7 but full time in steiner is not the same as british state schools but more like most other schools on the continent

Religeous festivals are taught and celebrated as in all schools that teach RE.

Individuality is celebrated in Steiner education.
And please tell me how being cramped in a classroom with 30 other 5 year olds for 6 hours a day with a teacher who has to tick the same box for every child (no matter how individual they are) in order to meet government targets reflects 'real life' well it certainly does not reflect my real life or that of anyone else I know.

I live next door to and opposite families who use the local Steiner school.

They're both self-obsessed and the most selfish people I've ever met. They're noisy, let thir animals run riot, help themselves to my land, and basically seem to think they can do as they please.

Sorry if you disagree, but I feel better for getting it off my chest. I think it's child abuse of sorts, and I feel for these children as they have no hope of making it in the 'real' world.

i loathe private education at the best of times

Steiner sounds even more elite than 'normal' private schools and that makes me cringe

Bellalasagne thats an outragous comment. I too have horrible neighbours they sound just like yours but they are all in state school.
To say it is child abuse is really offenssive are you saying I allow my child to be abused? WHAT?

no hope of making it in the real world? I'm bloody smug to say that my dh and his sisters have all 'made it very well into the real world' and are very kind and wonderful people, generous of spirit, highly intelligent and very well paid!!

"I feel for these children as they have no hope of making it in the 'real' world. "

Ta for that, Bella

sorry though, thanx, but I don't think individuality is especially celebrated and also, the class sizes are not tiny, around 1:20.

There is huuuuuge pressure to keep up with the bodenistas. There is also huuuuuge pressure to incarnate properly.

It is a religious/mystical/whatever sect. Its an occulty thing. Believe me, I come from a family where the religious side of Steiner is practiced. They believe in reincarnation. And that some "races" are on the "ascendant". I quote, from somewhere.

Ugggh.

Private education just leaves a bad taste in my mouth all around.

Chacun a son gout, I suppose.

I don't intend offence to anyone, I'm talking about these particular individuals and just want to get it off my chest.

hmm.. national curriculum leaves a pretty foul taste in my mouth.

no offence taken, bellalasagne.

I don't live in England. Alas.

I didn't read Bella's post as being about all Steiner children, just the ones she knows. We haven't exactly got a huge amount of data to draw on here, as not many of us know many Steiner children or parents, so anecdotal evidence like this is about as good as it is going to get I would imagine.

aha, expat, I find you here too!

And it warms my cockles that you agree with me as to private education.

Let us celebrate our enormous class sizes and non cricket playing children together.

hoorah!

trying hard to not get frustrated here! I'm so not weird or alternative or odd or rude or self-obsessed or any of the other anecdotal comments, neither are my children or my dh or my sisters in law!
I'm frustrated because some of these tales of Steiner are so exagerated and taken so far out of context and there is such a wonderful schooling experience being had by so many children I know and they are being painted in such a bad light!

so will have to turn off computer and calm myself down, just let it be known that this has not been a fair argument and I think I am one of the few posters that have real first hand experience.
goodnight all
must go and tuck the fairies in.

alas, expat... ALAS!!!? are we nursing a viper at our jocktastic breast? (well, i'm not nursing anything - just ask moondog - but you get the gist.)

Poppet, I would view this as a chance to remain very calm and sane and convert us all - as you say this is one of the only chances mnay of us will get to converse with a Steiner follower

so try not to get shrieky or go overboard on the old exclamation marks

Jock! LOL!

I think this term must come from the French, tbh.

My mother's mother was French. When they learned in school about the Revolution, they learned that there had been many other revolutions before the big ones, and they were called 'Jacqueries'. B/c, after all, all peasants are called 'Jacques'.

I think it's easier to hate 'private' education if you are lucky enough to have a child for whom the state system is fine.

I agree thankyou. From my limited experience of Steiner there are lots of good things about the system. Not least they accepted ds1 at a time when he wasn't tolerated in many places (and not because he was disruptive- quite the opposite aged 2- he would sithappily and do his own thing- he just appeared a bit odd at the time).