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Tell me about Waldorf schools
My neighbor mentioned a nearby waldorf school the other day and I admitted I didn't know much about them but didn't have a great impression. Something about late reading, and the neuropsychologists i worked w/ didn't seem to like them very much for some reason. Anyone wanna school me, so to speak?
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Re: Tell me about Waldorf schools
I am not a fan. They are taught to believe in gnomes and fairies, they are only allowed to use certain colors once they reach certain ages, and never black at all. Some Waldorf schools, which are very strict and in line with Steiner's teachings, don't discourage bullying because they believe it is karmic. They are generally very artistic environments, little reading if any until 2nd grade I think. Steiner also founded anthroposophy, which some consider cultish. They also often don't teach history but rather greek mythology.
Edit: I should add that my son is in a Reggio pre-school, which we love, and which is pretty free spirited and thinking. Even the most hippiesh teachers at his school have pulled their kids from the Waldorf school here.
Above Us Only Sky
My coworker's nephew went to one. By the age of 8, he could knit and bake bread from scratch, but really struggled with reading and basic math.
I'm all for free spirited and child-led learning, but from what I have read and heard from people who actually attend, it's a very odd curriculum.
What the what?
Although, I wouldn't mind having more fresh pastries in the house...
They be crazy. Gnomes inside the copying machine.
That said, I like a lot of the stuff they do- natural toys, no media, lots of outside time, etc. A waldorf-inspired school can be a great thing. A true waldorf school- no thanks.
As a friend of mine said "I feel like I am paying them a lot of money for DD to go play with wooden toys. She can play with wooden toys at home- I want them to DO stuff with her!". The specific school her DD went to, the teacher sort of sat in the middle and "let the kids come to her" while they engaged in independent play. And that was it.
They're crazypants, as other people have mentioned. Also, depending on your location they may be very strongly anti-vax.
From what I've read about it, it'd be a hot day in hades I sent a kid of mine to one, but I also really frown on the idea of super strong child-led-education. A huge part of life is learning patience, discipline, and learning to cope with activities and challenges that don't particularly interest you or you don't enjoy. I think there's a way to encourage freeplay and creativity without throwing multiplication tables out the window.
Access to media is very limited. Parents have to agree to also limit access to media in the house, so no or very limited television, computer use, cell phone access until appropriate ages. Which can be good or bad, depending on your philosophy.
Actually, I'm pretty sure you have to agree to try to reinforce all of the rules/lessons at home. Which is pretty typical for a private or alternative-type school, but it means you really have to be on board.
40/112
Or you lie. I'm pretty sure they'd still take your money if your kid played with your iphone a bit too much over Christmas break.
I hope Lanie comes in here. I remember back on the baby boards and AP I first heard about the late reading (not until "the first tooth falls"), restricting what color crayons kids can use (no black crayons for kindergarteners), and, yes, the whole gnome/fairy thing.
There are claims that the founder and strict adherents to his philosophy are racist and anti-Semitic.
It looks like Waldorf has done some online reputation management -- the bad stuff doesn't come up as easily on Google. Here's a salon.com article, and if you search for "Waldorf survivors" you should find some first hand accounts of strange stuff.
http://www.salon.com/2004/05/27/waldorf/
Zeus and Bubba
Can someone explain to me the age appropriate color crayons, please?
That will come in handy for him in the future! LOL
This stood out to me. I don't think this in and of itself is too bad. Finland does very well in international rankings and they don't start school until 7 years old. It's possible their parents taught them at home, but with the first tooth falling at 5 or 6, it's very possible that many kids aren't learning to read until then.
http://www.businessinsider.com/finland-education-school-2011-12
This is so hilariously funny to me.
But don't you need to read and know basic math to knit and read recipes?
It defies explanation.
Quote from a pro-Waldorf site:
Too bad if you have black hair or black skin or you want to draw people with black hair or skin.
That's so wierd.
Yes, yes you do. At least you do if you want your knitted things that are not scarves to fit.
We considered a Waldorf preschool...that is until I asked her a little more about kids asking questions and getting answers. When I asked the teacher how she would explain a well that was on the site for kids to pump water, she said she "wouldn't ruin their imagination with a discussion of suction or groundwater, but instead encourage them to think about fairies who provide special water when you say magic words or ask by using the pump handle."
When I also asked about explaining all the "why's" that young kids ask, she said, she would "encourge the kids to find the magic in the world" and so she wouldn't give them the "real answer, but instead help them imagine how the world should work." Great for a free thinker, maybe...but not so great for my analytical mom mind. I thought she was wacko and I'm totally a tree-hugging liberal, hippie-no-drugs-birth-mom, who spreads out my vaccines.
Are you united with the CCOKCs?
Some of my very good friends went to a Waldorf school. They are definitely quirky, outside-the-mainstream, march-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drum types, but also brilliant and successful, creative, hard-working, and just overall really interesting people. They are still close with many of their classmates from their Waldorf school, and I have had a really positive impression with all of them that I have met. I think part of it is that they all had pretty intellectual, involved parents, but I think it also really encourages kids to find and explore their own interests.
As a parent of a left handed child and a child with black hair I clearly have an issue with Waldorf based education. I don't care how "intellectual" the parents are, or how "creative" the children turn out. When you encourage my child to use her right hand so as not to encourage her "karmic weakness" you are a nutjob. And when my child can't draw a family portrait or her own image because you've only supplied her with acceptable colours, I get to call you something worse.
I'm not a fan of Steiner or his religion. I don't believe that illness is a result of a crime I committed in a previous life. I am a fan of vaccinations. I think reading is important even before your eye teeth come in. I believe in science and think you can balance creativity and scientific explanation. I think saying "fairies are in the photocopier" instead of teaching means you are a shitty teacher.