Apologies in advance for the epistle I have written below. It just came tumbling out.
Sune, I have read literature produced by the organisation and a school prospectus. I have read a government report on Steiner education that was generally positive, so I have looked at both sides of the picture as much as I can, given time limits, etc.
I don't know much about anthroposophy, and I'm sure there are good anthros out there, as there are good jews, muslims, hindus, buddhists, christians...
But we are all aware that power-greedy, control-freak, over-zealous (etc etc) people do tend to climb the ranks within organisations, and I'm sure anthro is just as prone to zealotry and fundamentalism as any faith is. Doesn't mean you're all a bunch of nutters, though! Just, as with any faith, some of you are, and perhaps some of these are the more mover-and-shaker types that have influence in schools, etc.
However, I am worried by a small number of PERSONAL (so much more important than what you might read in a book or website) experiences/feelings I had in my brushing up closer to Steiner schools/anthro stuff while exploring this possiblity for my child.
Firstly, one person I spoke to on the telephone that runs a school was incredibly judgemental about me and my choices (and, what's worse, they got the wrong end of the stick and judged me on that misconception!). Nevertheless, I asked for a prospectus that never came through the post. Perhaps it got lost, but perhaps that person decided I wasn't suitable, based on a short conversation on the telephone in which innacurate snap judgements were made.
Secondly, as I mentioned before, when I went to visit a school, I was keen to see how the kindergarten children seemed on leaving school. I really did not like what I saw. Either unhappy looking or disturbed looking, every single one of them. Not one single smile, not even for mum picking them up. What's that about?
Thirdly, my brief forays into Steiner culture at events, have left me with the impression that, while the 'civilians' interested in Steiner seem a perfectly good bunch, the more involved members of the community seemed to have a smug, self-satisfied air and seemed to be scrutinising and judging everyone in the joint. I wasn't expecting that and felt quite shocked by it the first time. My social radar was blinking all over the place.
Fourthly, having heard the impressive talk that a Steiner teacher gave at an open day I attended, I was surprised and horrified to hear people's experiences in which anthro beliefs came into the classroom (eg. karma, reincarnation) with such a strong negative impact (leaving bullies alone as it is the victim's karma, for eg.). This was NOT talked about at the school, or in the prospectus. In fact, one visitor asked the teacher if anthro was taught at the school, as if it was a faith school, or if the religious principles had any special or unusual impact on the teaching, and that teacher quite categorically said NO.
So all in all, I'm put right off. All religions have something beautiful to pass on (as well as a load of cobblers to go with it). It's a shame the humans that keep these philosophies going are so fallible.