Waldorf Steiner Schools

There was structure. The lessons were taught holistically so the youngsters learn about a subject in depth and in all aspects.
I don't remember any DC in my classes ever being bored.
This is why, in hindsight, I think my own DC would have loved it.

The teacher's pay wasn't brilliant though .

Germanshepherdsmum

I can see why they would stick together - a seven year old who hadn’t learned to read would probably not fit in with their peers in other schools. Does this not make friendships and mixing with others difficult?

I don't think 7 year olds discuss if a child knows how to read. My severely dyslexic son couldn't read at 7 but he was very sociable and had a huge number of friends. Teachers regarded his popularity with suspicion. They often thought he was planning something (and sometimes he was!!!)

That did not happen in the Steiner school here - lesson time was lesson time. I guess they all have their differences.

GSM - no, not mainstream. And the families I knew, was through a youth group, and they definitely got on very well with their peers. They were sociable and thoughtful kids.

Isn't there a thing about women teachers wearing longish full skirts in early years? I knew somebody who wanted to teach in one but was put off. she always wore trousers.

Not in any Steiner school I know!

Alexander McCall Smith writes about a little boy called Bertie who ran away from his Steiner school to play rugby at a local boys school! Bertie had become disillusioned by the non competitive sports at his Steiner school. Mc Call Smith is a very kind writer but he does prod the sensitivities of local middle class life

That is a fact Aveline neither rugby nor soccer are played at Steiner's.

I am OK with no rugby or soccer - they get lots of exercise but not in ways that involve aggressive competition.

Also to say that the 2 DDs who went to Steiner schools for varying lengths of time were involved in Brownies, orchestras and other outside organisations and had no trouble getting on with everyone.

What a fascinating discussion, thank you everyone 🙂

Aveline

Alexander McCall Smith writes about a little boy called Bertie who ran away from his Steiner school to play rugby at a local boys school! Bertie had become disillusioned by the non competitive sports at his Steiner school. Mc Call Smith is a very kind writer but he does prod the sensitivities of local middle class life

Oh yes, I've got that book! (A signed copy 🙂)

Callistemon ooooh. Lucky. He is a lovely man and a good writer.

Steiner schools are not child centred like the Summerhills, tthey are teacher centred as it’s the teacher who decides the activities.

www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jan/17/ofsted-inspections-find-three-steiner-schools-to-be-inadequate?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

The only thing I ll say is I went to a different school to all the local children (not private or Steiner) but when we moved I wanted to stay at my school and not change I was never really accepted by the local kids who all went off together and knew all the in jokes and local happenings I wasn’t invited to their houses or even their groups outside I sometimes snuck in if there was only one or two of them but I was called a snob and all sorts

That’s what I thought might happen BlueBelle. And if a child doesn’t learn to read before seven I would have thought that would set them apart from those going to the local state schools; they would have totally different learning experiences.

How do you stop a child from reading at the age of 7? Our girls and GCs were reading simple words when they were 3 and were reading Ladybird books by the time they all went to school. All still avid readers. Mind you none of them were interested in playing musical instruments.

Well I am disappointed that people are so quick to judge something they know little about.
I had to move schools many times as a child. I went to a village school, a private school and others between
I found the friendliest most accepting children at a London primary where there was poverty and huge classes. 46 in one.

My SIL attended Summerhill and went on to gain a BA (Hons) and MPhil. - alternative schooling isn't always to the detriment of the pupil. ( Of course that presupposes that success is measured by conventional academic achievements!)

I trust that Steiner's anti-Semitic, racist and esoteric ideologies have been relegated to the past.

My DDs were reading very early - including the one who went to a Steiner school when small - she just read at home and enjoyed the freedom of what went on at school - the reverse of normal! - which was fine. Children who are not as bright as she was benefited from not being pressured into learning to read before they were ready.

Steiner's theories were of their time politically - not great - but he had some good ideas but education. As I say - I ignored all the "woo" and other stuff and looked at what the benefits were for my children. Steiner schools are of course very inclusive now.

GSM - I think the whole point is to have "totally different learning experiences"! There were never any problems with my 2 DDs who went to the Steiner school fitting in with others of their age, whom they met through Brownies and other activities - it was all fine.

Every school is different in terms of the quality of Steiner education they provide - good ones and bad ones, just as in the state system. I am always slightly puzzled as to how the local Steiner school always gets an "Outstanding" as clearly the targets in the early stages are not met (deliberately of course). OfSted are clearly applying different rules for them and recognizing that it is a different system. I always feel a bit pissed off that the state primary where I am C of G is not afforded the same parameters and allowed to ease children into their learning more gently.

I am very much of the view that the rigidity of our state education system and the strait-jacket of the national curriculum has been to the detriment of education in the UK - particularly for the slower learners who just switch off and often become disruptive, and of the teachers whose freedom to use their professional judgement is curtailed.

I agree. There should be more flexibility and choice in education style and availability. There is absolutely no one size fits all.

Lucky I so agree with you.
the rigidity of our state education system and the strait-jacket of the national curriculum has been to the detriment of education in the UK

I campaigned against the National Curriculum before it was imposed (along with many teachers and educationalists). I think this became a stick to beat good ideas with and it continues to restrict the most creative teachers and pupils alike.

Some of us who have direct experience of alternative education for our children (or ourselves) will inevitably see things differently to the mainstream.

Some schools suit some children better than others... One size will never fit all.

Agree Aveline.

There’s a Rudolf Steiner school near here. It is a bit ‘alternative’ but quite popular and has been there for many,many years. They don’t teach kids to read and write until they are quite old and there is a bit of fairly unusual philosophy taught. Arty kids would love it and they would thrive. A few friends sent their kids there back in the day when my kids were at high school. The ones I came across seemed happy and well adjusted but there were a few difficulties with University entrance then because the curriculum was different. Maybe that has changed,though.