Why do the pictures by children at a Steiner school look pretty much identical?

[emkana]

ARe they told what to draw?

Really sorry to hear that you are the subject of intimidation tactics, northern. I did not realise that they went so far or that mn has been cowed as well. Thank you for your continued efforts to shine a light on the movement that calls itself Steiner.

Oh Northern I wondered why there hadn't been many posts from you.

I think we all understand the very difficult situation that mumsnet has been put under with Sune Nordwall and Percy Bratt.

I think we are all being very restrained with what we are saying and how we are saying it.

blueshoes and barking thanks.
Yes- mumsnet are in a tricky situation certainly.
I don't even know if I'm allowed to post atall.
Which would be bizarre if I'm not actually saying anything about Steiner wouldn't it?

There's another thread which has started here
which I'm also not allowed to comment on.

blimey steiner threads are like buses - nothing for months then this!
I wonder if all this interest is due to the christmas rallies fayres.

Hi Barking and Northern. I've been off MN for a while, trying to think about restarting a career now I have a bit of breathing space and the kids are at school FULL-TIME!!
Northern - I am so shocked and sad to hear that. I guess they're scared after the Gina Ford affair but it just shows the power of the bigwigs in the movement in question that they can cow people like this...What about if we had a thread where we did not actually mention the S word - then those trawling the net for S criticism would not pick up on it...

Hi Janni. Hope you're revelling in your freedom- all of it- it sounds like it

I think mumsnet towers are just sick of it tbh, and I don't really blame them. Their inbox was innundated in a campaign of emails and appoplectic blustering bad english threats as far as I can make out. It is these people's life's work after all- to supress people telling their experiences in the public domain.

The absurdity of the situation is high- lighted in instances like this, when parents genuinely want other parents experiences, and we aren't allowed to voice them.

Hi Northernrefugee39

I get the picture and am sorry about the imposed silence. It makes for an interesting interpretation of free speech especially as if we met at a social function we could talk about what we liked and no one could complain about it. I was under the impression that discussion forums were for that purpose. I realise people may say online what they possibly would not say in person and that we should be careful to be respectful to others and their views. However are they not being disresptful to us about our views by not allowing our freedom of speech in this matter.

I also understand MN completely as it is not their fault that these people exist and they have to do what is best for everyone in keeping the forum open.

Yes barking I think the christmas events have started this by raising profile. We have been invited to one such event.

Hello Janni What sort of career are you thinking about?

What is cat? hHow do I do this?

FWIW, I also have experience of the S word, (we left 3 years ago), but at the time I didn't know the half of it.

I can only thank the posters here who have shared their experiences (similar to ours, but at the time I thought it was 'just us'), and I, too, am grateful every day that we got out (as well as being consumed with guilt for ever having gone there in the first place).

Hi Katch, sorry to hear you have also had bad experiences.

Please try and be gentle on yourself with the feelings of guilt, you did your very best with the information you could find at the time. As you know, they make it very very hard to find the information, we were all deceived. And unless public forums like mumsnet exist how can any prospective parent or parent who has questions about the philosophy find out what lies behind the movement.

If you are interested there is a yahoo group for parents and children, there are people from all over the world that use it.
Waldorf-Anthroposophy-Steiner-Survivors-Only-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Hi Alder, barking Katch.

Alder Hopefully anyone reading these will read between the lines as it were, and look at the links they have been recommended by barking, coted'azure, janni et al. There are links from those websites too; but be prepared for a marathon of eye opening stuff....
cat means contact another poster- you press the envelope on the right hand side , and if the person has paid to have this facility (I have- it's £5.00 a year) - you can send them a message with your email and they can send one back- off list. If you would like to talk about S off list- where we can't be threatened - you're more than welcome. As of course-is anyone.
Katch- what barking put very well. I still carry shed loads of guilt at being deceived - and that my kids went through all that; it is very common- the website barking recommended will confirm this. It isn't your fault. We did what we thought was absolutely the right thing for our kids at the time. Mine are begnning to really understand this.And they are SO relieved I now "get" what they were put through- although none of us really knows exactly what goes on.

Katch- the "we thought it was just us" rings a million bells- they try to make out it's that way- I've heard that said so many times.

Aldertree - freelance translation, from French and German to English. I'm studying and doing voluntary translations for charities at the moment, but it's a start and it's lovely to have
a vision for my life beyond the children and the all-encompassing S. world I've left behind.

Janni it is amazing what can happen from small beginnings.

One friend used to do translation, very good job in the city, then went freelance after children invaded for a bit and is now teaching post 16, TEFL, and beginners language courses.

Don't be afraid to look out for new opportunities and build up gradually. I imagine working out 'if this is right for me' is a bit fraught following your S experience.

Hi there, I know this is an old thread but thought id repky as people check old threads for info.
I went to a steiner sch open day and asked this question..I assume youre talking about the weton wet paintings? Well the teacher said that in Steiner its more about the process than the outcome (DH did comment to me that if the process is always the same then so is the outcome!), but I got the impression the teacher was talking about painting as a spiritual exercise.
I dont think its the same in mainsteam as some of you suggest. Children are taught to use a variety of different media and apply various styles and techniques. I think this is better, but my issue with mainstream is the lack of opportunity to do art in the first place...whereas in steiner much of the curriculum is taught through art.
Hope that is helpful to someone!