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Original poster

So if your only choice was a strict Anglican school or Rudolph Steiner...

68 replies

MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 06:49

... which would you choose?

Unfortunately we find ourselves in this ridiculous situation. On the one hand we are atheists so the Anglican school goes against our beliefs. On the other hand we are worried that the Steiner school will not be academic enough.

I need to know what my fellow MN'ers would do. It's for our DS who is just about to go into secondary. Thanks.

OP posts:
givemestrengthorgin · 27/04/2017 07:16

I lived with a girl in new Zealand that went to a steiner school. I had never heard of them before then. She was clever, funny, successful and has one of the closest knit group of friends I've ever know anyone to have...all friends from school. Not sure how representative she is of a typical steiner pupil but she was certainly a good advert for them.

meditrina · 27/04/2017 07:17

If neither school had an acceptable ethos, then I'd choose on educational grounds.

The Steiner school is likely to be much more rigid (the later start to reading isn't flexibility, it's part of a tightly prescribed programme which all pupils must progress through in order and to the same time lines. And of course anthroposophy is a faith.

The Anglican school, no matter how strict, is still far more likely to be responsive to the pupils individual needs. You describe it as 'strict' - do you mean in terms of behavioural policy or level of observance within the school?

Cantseethewoods · 27/04/2017 07:17

We are not in the UK.

I think on that basis it's hard for most MNers to give reasonable advice since most people's experiences will be based around the requirements of a faith school in the UK - i.e. daily act of worship, RE content etc. and how Steiner is interpreted in country (e.g. I live in HK- the typical way Montessouri is interpreted here would be unrecognisable in the UK)

Just to understand the situation, are you moving to this country now, or are you already in that country but just moving within it? If the latter, can you ask some local parents what the deal is with faith schools in this country?

If Anglican is the only real option then surely unless all the kids in the whole town are Anglican then there must be a load of atheists or at least non-practicing nominal Christians there.

sleepingdragons · 27/04/2017 07:19

The adults I know who went to Steiner are creative and smart but have all have mental health issues. A small anecdotal sample but still gives me pause for thought.

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:20

Some thought-provoking responses. Thank you.

OP posts:
squoosh · 27/04/2017 07:20

Anglican.

Steiner schools seem very weird to me.

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:21

May I ask what kind of mental health issues sleepingdragons?

OP posts:
claraschu · 27/04/2017 07:21

It really does depend on the individual school. Steiner can be lovely and hippyish or can be frighteningly doctrinaire with racist overtones and unable to deal with SNs or bullying. Anglican would depend on how much emphasis is put on religion and whether the school is very straight-laced in other ways.

BertrandRussell · 27/04/2017 07:21

Strict Anglican. And I am an atheist and opposed to faith schoolsnof any sort.

I would not let my child within 100 yards of a Steiner school

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:23

Anglican

Steiner schools seem very weird to me.

They both seem weird to me squoosh Grin !

OP posts:
sleepingdragons · 27/04/2017 07:23

MythicalChicken I don't know details sorry they're all DH's friends. I'll ask.

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:24

Yes please, I'd really appreciate that.

OP posts:
squoosh · 27/04/2017 07:25

Well Anglican is a few notches along the weird scale whereas Steiner is way out in front in Weird Land.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 27/04/2017 07:25

The Anglican one without a shadow of a doubt. I am really against Steiner. Any school who uses gnomes to foster obedience (by telling the children they are always watching) and maintains that a devil called Ahriman is transmitted via TV, and discourages the use of properly qualified medical help, is not something I want my child to be subjected to.

sleepingdragons · 27/04/2017 07:27

The thing about Anglican though is at least:

1: they're up front about being religious
2: they're not (I assume) using their belief system as the basis of all education. They're not for example making the kids only draw images of crosses and jesus or failing to in their duty of care wrt to special needs as "it's god's will" or somesuch nonsense.

Dozer · 27/04/2017 07:30

Steiner is waaay weirder.

Bad decision to move to wherever this is!

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:32

Any school who uses gnomes to foster obedience (by telling the children they are always watching).

What the hell? Do you know me? I have a serious gnome phobia Grin !

PS: You were talking about the Steiner school, not the Anglican one, I assume?

OP posts:
picklemepopcorn · 27/04/2017 07:34

In my area, Steiner. You would have to visit the school and find out, though.

The children who go there have a have a higher proportion of needs, in my area- in addition to the natural Steiner intake, the sensitive bullied not thriving children go there too. I moved my dyslexic some there at seven, as the national curriculum was doing nothing for him. He really came out of himself.

It's a more holistic approach to learning. You need to meet the class teacher, as they stay with them for several years. That is a big deal. If your child and the teacher click then it is a profoundly positive thing.

If you go and see each school, you will get a feel for where your child fits in. Don't prejudge, as my strict local Anglican school and my Steiner school may be very different from yours!

picklemepopcorn · 27/04/2017 07:35

It's the elf on the shelf. Fairly main stream these days.

sleepingdragons · 27/04/2017 07:35

MythicalChicken gnomes are a Steiner thing.

Original poster
MythicalChicken · 27/04/2017 07:36

MythicalChicken gnomes are a Steiner thing.

Fuck. That. Anglican it is then... if they'll have us!

OP posts:
lizzyj4 · 27/04/2017 07:36

Personally I'd choose the Steiner school, but if you're after a traditional, structured 'academic' environment then you should probably go for the Anglican school. It depends very much on the individual schools though.

You don't need to buy into every aspect of Anthroposophy for your child to attend a Waldorf school, just as you don't need to be a practicing Christian (which I am, btw) for your child to attend an Anglican school.

Nospringflower · 27/04/2017 07:50

Regarding mental health issues at steiner schools i think some children with existing problems get sent to Steiner schools because they cant cope with the conventional
Schools so it isnt attending that results in the difficulties.

We live in a UK city with steiner school and it seems well regulated and most seem happy with it. I wasnt aware of reincarnation philosophy but believe they believe in kearning from each other and reducing power imbalances between pupils and teachers. Overall it seems a reasonable philosophy and with balance from home could be good.

SeagullGirl · 27/04/2017 07:58

If this was the UK then Anglican every single time. I say that as an atheist and as a sandal-wearing, lentil-weaving, muesli-eater.

picklemepopcorn · 27/04/2017 08:02

None of the parents at the Steiner school believed in Anthroposophy. A couple of the teachers did.

The gnomes are just a hangover of the German folk culture of the time. There was no secondary in my area, so DSs cohort all went to mainstream secondaries. They all did very well and went on to Uni, though, despite starting reading and writing at seven.

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