Steiner schools ( Autism and learning difficulties )

[almendras]

I fairly recently began working at a Steiner school for children with profound learning difficulties, including Autism Spectrum Conditions. I work mainly in the care side as it's a boarding school. At first I was really pleased with the move I had made and found the staff to be far more caring and well educated than the last place I worked. I'm a qualified Social Worker with 20 years experience but I needed a break and change of direction. I am now very concerned about a number of issues. Parents really need to very clear about what Steiner means and the implications before they consider it as an option for their children. I have seen things and felt things that have made me very uncomfortable and wonder how much people really know about the Steiner 'religion' ( non denominational Christianity with Pagan elements. ) and Anthroposophy, which appears to reject logic and science. I'm sure the approach varies hugely from school to school but from what I have seen it can be stifling and controlling and things are being hidden from parents that should not be.

If you have concerns you should raise them through the appropriate safeguarding procedures.

IMHO Steiner philosophy is somewhat at odds with education for those with SEN/LDD so can't imagine it is a particularly comfortable fit.

Hot Potato on MN.

You're spot on, btw.

Don't worry, I have already raised concerns under safeguarding procedures, just as I did at the last place I worked! I was told that 'nothing like this has happened in 12 years'. I'm afraid that if I have only been somewhere and see something like this after a few weeks then my view is that this may just be the tip of the iceberg. I can only raise safeguarding issues when I see something that directly effects a child or puts someone at risk. The issue is being dealt with and I'm awaiting the outcome. The other concerns that I have are more to do with the rigid nature of Steiner education rather than the more personalised approach that I would hope to see with vulnerable children who cannot speak out for themselves. I was hoping for a therapeutic environment but an over emphasis on prayer and ritual is not therapeutic in my opinion.

Why do you think Steiner Education is at odds with teaching children with special needs?

Are you teaching in a county in the south of England? Your observations are very perceptive...

Because of the belief that special needs are caused by failed reincarnation - we were told that ds1's neurological condition was because of something bad he'd done in a previous life needless to say we moved ds asap

As you are discovering it doesn't allow for the limitations or individuality of SN children. Being child/development led the programme may well not enable the aspiration and achievement of potential. Educational attainment can be low. Iirc There is also something in the philosophy which is negative about people with SN in general.

I used to attend a Steiner school (granted it was many years ago). I saw a child with SN in my class treated in such a way that it still haunts me today.

I'm not teaching, Muscat, I'm working in the accommodation with the children. Yes, I'm somewhere in the South but obviously that's all I can say. I was shocked when I read up on some of the beliefs in terms of reincarnation and race etc. The training that I had with outside organisations was very good but there was a bizarre few hours spent with on of the key Steiner proponents during which he rambled on for ages and dodged most questions. Eventually someone was brave enough to ask directly if the school was a religious school and if so what religion. He replied that it was 'non-denominational Christian'. As far as I'm concerned we are all of equal value on this planet. I am not looking for a Guru and I do not believe that someones beliefs make them superior. I believe in science and reason and personal choice. Perhaps these Steiner schools should make their beliefs more open so that people can make informed choices about whether they want to work there or educate their children there!

Basilbond. I am absolutely appalled at what you were told. This is completely unacceptable and you don't need me to tell you that what you were told is offensive rubbish. Thank goodness you moved your child. Unfortunately some of the parents I have come across are in a very vulnerable state and they may not have the capacity to delve into the belief system or consider moving their children. I would hope that comments of this nature are reaching OFSTED because they certainly need to be aware of this.

Rudolf Steiner was all pro Aryan, iirc.

So here's the problem Almendras. You work at a school with children with extremely complex social and educational needs. What you see going on around you is a very long way from ideal. But who is going to do anything about it? As you say, many parents not capable of doing so for a number of complex reasons and it is very hard to find suitable alternative placements for many of the children.

I think I know where you work. I think you are starting to see things that have made others pretty unhappy in the past. But nothing changes because the consequences would be too complicated for anyone to deal with.

Keep a diary. Write in it every day describing what you see, whether important or not.

I have a friend looking into Steiner education (may actually be linked/similar area I guess) and looked myself a few years ago. I liked the ideaof the "baking bread" during the preschool sessions and some of the alternative things I do like (in that I'm attachment parent orientated). I'm firmly science based though and i think a thread on here put me off (as well as financial issues!) about painting the same colours and not learning to read until 7.

What are the issues/problems? I didn't know Steiner schools do boarding. That must be interesting. No tv/ etc?

How can issues be raised if they can't raise them internally and the pupils are too vulnerable? I guess working there is the best place to be to raise issues....

Did you know how alternative they were when you applied?

Muscat. Keeping a diary is a good idea and I will begin doing this as you suggest. I tend to delve deep when something concerns me and I don't give up easily. I will know who to present this diary to when the time is right. Parents have the right to know what is going on. We should not be discouraged from telling the truth. I will speak up for those who cannot.

A newmein...they do boarding at some of the schools for children with profound autism and complex needs. Many parents seek such placements because they can no longer cope with the demands, they want what is best for their children and want them to have more independence as they get older. My criticism is not of the parents. I have a good friend in similar circumstances and know how hard it can be. The children live in various 'houses' and are supported by paid carers who take them to the attached school on a daily basis. They are very vulnerable, mainly non-verbal and some have 'challenging' behaviours. Autism is a spectrum and the children here are at the very high end of the spectrum and often with other conditions that run alongside their autism, for example, ADHD, epilepsy or mental health problems ( bi-polar disorder. )

I think parents are attracted to Stenier schools because of things like later age to start reading/formal learning, without realising that it is following a curriculum that it actually just as rigid (but in different timelines). I think this is widely misperceived as somehow 'gentler'

I don't see it as particularly child-centric, simply because it is pretty rigid and can be very formulaic.

No, I certainly didn't know their stance when I applied for the job. At no point is this made clear, either in the application process or the interview. If this had been made clear then I would have thought twice about taking the position. I had already worked at another place for adults that had a slight Steiner leaning but very 'watered down'. It was more about using some of the daily rituals and therapies but we were not expected to recite prayers or attend Steiner services on Sundays. It was only during the induction that this was talked about and we were told to be 'open minded'. It was very difficult, as I have described earlier, to get a clear answer as to Steiner beliefs. I believe this is part of the Steiner philosphy but to me it appears secretive and manipulative. It was only because a Spanish man with a Law degree ( on the training with me ) was persistant that we finally got an acknowledgement that Steiner is 'non-denominational Christian' but even that was like getting 'blood out of a stone'. Surely any organisation should be clear at the outset about their beliefs? I am now put in a position where I am expected to recite prayers to a religion that I do not believe in..talk to the children about 'Angels guiding them into the realm of sleep'..and watch my fellow colleagues being berated if they do not follow the rituals by the letter. If I was a pupil at a CofE school, for example, I would have the right to miss religious observation if it contradicted my beliefs but it would seem that as an adult who has spent 5 years being University educated I no longer have these rights! I am a Humanist!

I agree, AuntyStella, It's a shame that the people 'at the top of the Steiner rung' don't see this. Why do some people feel the need to spend their lives controlling others?

Gracious - do the parents know the staff have to ask the angels to guide them into sleep... it sounds almost cultish :(

Almendras - "things are being hidden from parents that should not be" - yes, and it is very difficult to get anyone to believe what is really going on.
It is not just special needs education, but in "ordinary" Steiner schools too. There are many awful stories of how badly families have been treated before they finally leave Steiner education.
On "Stop Steiner in Stroud" we have heard from such families, but all over the world people are finding out how bad it can be.
You will be doing a very valuable thing by collecting evidence - perhaps the authorities will decide to do something about what goes on in Steiner schools, and stop funding them.
I worked in a Steiner school briefly too, without being told anything about their belief system at the beginning - it is shocking to find out what passes for normal there.
Helen

I agree with Stopsteiner, there are many awful stories of how badly families the world over have been treated by Steiner education.

We ourselves have gathered testimonials from France, Switzerland, UK, USA and New Zealand.

You can read about them in a series of articles on our site, but perhaps the most relevant ones would be:

Lies, Damned Lies and Steiner Education - www.steinermentary.com/SM/Luciferocity-Lies.html

and

The Problem Child - Dealing with Dyslexia - www.steinermentary.com/SM/Switzerland-ERSL.html

In case anyone is interested I was given a verbal ticking off last week for 'causing a bad atmosphere' by being critical of things. I believe this is something of a smokescreen because I have raised a number of Safeguarding issues. I have handed in my notice. If I had been told the true nature of Steinerism and Anthroposophy I would never have taken the position in the first place. Of course, when I took the job I wasn't looking for negatives and hadn't even looked at Mumsnet or 'stopsteinerstroud'. I feel as if I have fallen into a can of worms. Please, please, if you are thinking of working at a Steiner School or sending a child there make sure you look very carefully at all the comments out there because the schools will not inform you of their ethos. They don't even let you in on it when you are working there so I imagine it is the same for parents. If you are of no religious persuasion and don't want your children to be forced into beliefs then it won't be the right place for you. On the other hand if you are of a particular religion, such as Catholic, Anglican, Islam or Judaism then I would also imagine you would have a real problem if you sent your children to a Steiner school or began working there yourself. I have also noticed that the place I work at is generally very white dominated with no black or ethnic minorities that I'm aware of in positions of authority. In fact there are a large number of black women working there but most of them are employed as night staff, which is in my view a position with lower status. The fact that someone pointed out that there is a new school with a black head teacher does not change my view as this is an exception. I was feeling very low after my 'ticking off'. It caught me off guard and at a bad time and focused on eroding my self esteem as I have always thought of myself as a team player. Perhaps I'm just in the wrong team! At the end of the day I have a clear conscience because I always put the more vulnerable first, in this case the children. Their needs are paramount. Stay positive and don't let them grind me down.

:( Sorry to hear that almendras. Its a tad scary that they dont have anyone to speak out for them.