Entry #: 29 |
Entry Date: 2010-01-19 22:58:32
|
| Name: |
Rachel |
| Site Rating: |
2 |
Visitor Comments: Hi,
I browsed through you site and I'm sorry about your family's bad experience, but this is what I have to say. It is unreasonable to say that all Waldorf schools are inadequate systems. Your blog makes claims that make the system sound like the root cause of all the unfortunate things in life. Please remember that not all Waldorf schools are the same, and you can expect no fewer bullies or children with ADHD in these schools than in the public system. Your children met with poor educators. I'm sorry about your daughter, and about your sons. But at the end of the day, their lives are their responsibilities more than they are yours, and much more than they are the school's. This they should realise as they grow older.
My IQ is not in the gifted range, but I graduated from a Waldorf school a couple years ago and entered into the biochemical engineering program in university. The friends I met there studied the same materials in secondary school, and by the end of my first year I was wonderfully involved with student groups and on par in my grades with students from the international baccalaureate , gifted, advanced placement and higher level programs. There are graduates who are grateful for their Waldorf education. Waldorf was the best thing that ever happened to me. I am Asian. I was bullied. I learned the value of kindness and became stronger for my experience.
Don't give your children a scapegoat to blame their failures on. If you do, how will they improve?
You have told your story, which in itself is emotional and you have every right to be frustrated. But if you must tell the world that what happened to your children is entirely the fault of the school you sent them to, then please have the respect to tell everyone the name of the particular school.
That information would be more useful. |
|
Entry #: 28 |
Entry Date: 2010-01-18 01:58:24
|
| Name: |
Sarah- Waldorf graduate |
| Site Rating: |
1 |
Visitor Comments: I am a waldorf graduate who has just recently completed triple major undergraduate along with two certificates from Queen's University and is attending law school next september. I find most of your comments uneducated and ill-founded. Waldorf is not a cult, it's a fantastic learning environment. I attended public school for a few years before hand and did horribly and excelled after joining waldorf. Though I've had many TV's in my house throughout my whole life, can one really say that children benefit at all from watching a television? Waldorf is just trying to encourage playing with other children, reading etc. It is lazy parents who find it appropriate to sit their children in front of a TV. You should set a better example. I think you all should spend more time trying to deal with the issues your children have rather then trying to lay blame on an educational system which you may not like, but quite frankly, has produced some wonderful artists as well as brilliant scholars.
Take more responsibility. |
|
Entry #: 27 |
Entry Date: 2009-11-24 15:20:08
|
| Name: |
Roody |
| Web Site: |
Have I Joined a Cult (blog) |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
| Visitor Comments: This blog (my website) might be written in a jocular tone, but it is deadly serious. It is a definite situation of 'I have to laugh, or I'd cry'.
Although i don't openly mention anthroposophy or Steiner etc, I'm sure you might recognise some of what I've written. The good thing is that I have identified the subtle brain-washing tactics we've been subjected to, early enough to save my wife and family from it! |
|
Entry #: 26 |
Entry Date: 2009-10-29 16:02:04
|
| Name: |
AMH |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
| Visitor Comments: Thankyou for setting out your story here - our 6 year old son has been at a Steiner School for one half term so far and I have been horrified at the behaviour that is allowed to go unquestioned - biting, pinching, taunting, trousers being pulled down - as my partner and I have tackled this we are getting the distinct impression that our son is being marginalised and set apart as the bully when in fact he is being bullied - six of one and half a dozen of the other - we get told. Several of the parents have met and discovered that their children are as unhappy as each other, including one boy who is upset because he says he is being turned into a bully. We have spent half term week debating whether or not we should take him out and start afresh in the state system. It is hard to get the real low down on the place, questions are deflected with generalisations. We are sure that the open days are orchestrated and although there is so much good going on there, I fear that children don't get enough guidance and common sense discipline. When I asked the teacher if he believed my son was being bullied he calmly said 'no'!!! As far as i'm concerned if a person says they are being bullied then they are being bullied and it should be addressed. |
|
Entry #: 25 |
Entry Date: 2009-10-29 16:00:25
|
| Name: |
AnnieH |
| Site Rating: |
7 |
| Visitor Comments: Thankyou for setting out your story here - our 6 year old son has been at a Steiner School for one half term so far and I have been horrified at the behaviour that is allowed to go unquestioned - biting, pinching, taunting, trousers being pulled down - as my partner and I have tackled this we are getting the distinct impression that our son is being marginalised and set apart as the bully when in fact he is being bullied - six of one and half a dozen of the other - we get told. Several of the parents have met and discovered that their children are as unhappy as each other, including one boy who is upset because he says he is being turned into a bully. We have spent half term week debating whether or not we should take him out and start afresh in the state system. It is hard to get the real low down on the place, questions are deflected with generalisations. We are sure that the open days are orchestrated and although there is so much good going on there, I fear that children don't get enough guidance and common sense discipline. When I asked the teacher if he believed my son was being bullied he calmly said 'no'!!! As far as i'm concerned if a person says they are being bullied then they are being bullied and it should be addressed. |
|
Entry #: 23 |
Entry Date: 2009-10-02 09:32:36
|
| Name: |
Sarah Frazer |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
Visitor Comments: I am sorry to hear of the experience your family has had. We have had our issues with the Steiner system, and considered removing my son from the school he is in. I am sooooo glad I didn't. He has turned out to be so well balanced and intelligent and free thinking. I do not think this education system is for everyone, but for those it does suit, it can make the world of difference. I take issue with the those who suggest that Steiner schools generally ignore bullying, are cultish and have hidden agendas. This may be true of isolated schools or individuals within certain schools, but is simply not true across the board.
I would urge readers to look at the local schools to you rather than judge second hand.
|
|
Entry #: 22 |
Entry Date: 2009-09-12 07:15:25
|
| Name: |
nong |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
| Visitor Comments: really? |
|
Entry #: 21 |
Entry Date: 2009-09-09 13:40:17
|
| Name: |
Maria Cullen |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
| Visitor Comments: Thank you for taking the time to do this. I have three young children and am constantly thinking about what is the best educational system I can find for them. It is really helpful when people like yourself take the time to share their experiences with the rest of us.
I am sorry that it didn't go well for your children but please God it will get better for them and they will have wonderful lives.
My oldest son, only 6 was in montessori until 5 and loved it, then into small private school for a year where he was viciously bullied (headmaster/teacher said the problem was that children didn't know how to fall properly! should learn Rugby where their taught how to fall) hmm! he was tripped up on purpose by chief bully!!!!??? Anyway, only one year did he spend at private school, now I've put him in local primary school to see what happens there! Just holding my breath and waiting!
It's difficult. When my son was being bullied I did wonder about bullying and child abuse. Surely if a child sustains injuries at school it should be investigated not covered up? If it were at home then social workers would be straight on the case. So why is it accepted in the school grounds? Cannot understand this. I'm afraid in my short experience of the school system - I realise that some teachers can be really dishonest. Its just really sad. Now I'm going to have to look at homeschooling - if it goes wrong again for my son, then I will have no other option.
Bye and thank you and good luck to all the parents who just want their kids to have a great education in a kind, caring and honest environment. |
|
Entry #: 20 |
Entry Date: 2009-01-07 07:28:18
|
| Name: |
darkgirls |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
| Visitor Comments: Your story is so moving, and rings so many bells. We moved our three children from Steiner school when it became impossible to be in a place where bullying wasn't dealt with, and choices about our children in the classroom were being made for reasons we gradually realised were anthroposophical.
We feel so strongly that the schools and anthroposophical organisations and businesses go out of their way to deceive people about their belief system.
The way they behave is cult like.
It is also wrong that they have recently received state funding for a UK school, when they're not open about their pseudo religious agenda.
Sooner rather than later, they will be forced to be honest and open about it.
Good luck to you and all your family. I think you are brave and strong to have cone through this. |
|
Entry #: 19 |
Entry Date: 2008-05-12 11:56:16
|
| Name: |
Andrea |
| Site Rating: |
10 |
Visitor Comments: Thank you so much for posting your website. If it helps you any, I was until last night very entranced by the whole Waldorf education. I went to the Waldorf critics site to do some more research. That led me to your site. I had already begun to see the system as a cult before last night, and more so after looking at the Waldorf critics list. Your site put the final nail in the coffin. Kudos to you and your courage. I hold you and your family in my heart and hope everything turns out well.
AC |
|
29 Entries in Guestbook [ Accessed 1427 times ]
|
