Any Waldorf parents?

[bunnymendelbaum]

Our school search is stressing me out. My DH is interested in the Waldorf. They have a sustainable tuition program, but I'm worried about $.
My DD2s current pre-k teacher suggested the Waldorf for us based on DDs abilities.

Do you like the Waldorf style learning?

[redheadk]

I'm not at all interested in Waldorf. www.waldorfcritics.org

[Marmee]

There was a school in my neighborhood (moved to a bigger school last summer) & they put on an awesome winter festival. I love their emphasis on art but they have some extreme views (no learning to read until teeth fall out, big into fairies, dictate things at home (aka no TV, etc) for example). I wouldn't actually send my kid there because I have different beliefs.

[pitterwoo]

My opinion is....not well researched. Three members of our family go to Waldorf school and there are some things that seem very nice and nurturing about the school, but overall they are kind of turning out to be self-centered. The parents are very permissive and it appears to me that the school and parent community is too. Also this group is antivax (not sure if that is all Waldorf or not). If I were personally going with a private school tuition, this would not be my choice for my LO.

[Brie]

Dec 19, 2014 20:47:10 GMT -5 @this said:

Fairies.

Elves.

[Deleted]

Cult.

[thecatinthehat]

I remember a thread on CEP about this a few weeks ago. The teeth falling out and reading, fairies making printers and electronics work...ummm

[thecatinthehat]

Here it is: pandce.proboards.com/thread/377390/tell-me-waldorff-schools

[lilac05]

No.

If a non-traditional style appeals to you, you might want to look into Montessori. We have been thrilled with DS1's first year in Montessori, with only a few minor hesitations. It's a good fit for him/us.

[ssmjlm]

niq may have some insight. I know he's mentioned it.

[betsyray]

Three of my H's cousins were Waldorf school grads and they're...odd. Very nice, very smart, but I agree with the idea that they turn out somewhat self centered, and I don't know if they're anti vax, but they're definitely anti medicine, TV time, and electronic toys.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Seriously??? Fairies? Wtf. I had no idea. I was annoyed already with all the damn knitting.

[kershnic]

Huh. I've never actually looked into Waldorf, but have a positive mental association with it. Now I'm just confused.

The fairy toys are adorable.

Other sites about the anthroposophy don't sound nearly as creepy as the one redheadk posted, but huh.

Redheadk, do you have personal experience?

[mlt]

There is one near us. Some of my coworkers send their kids. They - perhaps by pure coincidence - are the type who talk about how well behaved and "mature" their kids are. You smile and nod. Then you meet their kids and they are ... neither well behaved nor mature.

[Marmee]

Honestly had I not looked deeper, I really like the concept & what they market on the surface. The incorporating of arts, drawing, sculpture, dance, music into learning. But there is also a lot of emphasis on crafts like knitting, sewing that I'm not sure fits as well into academics. My kids are very artistic, especially my DD1 but it's too kooky. They go to Montessori until 5th grade which definitely does not have the same arts emphasis but I like the Montessori materials & philosophy better than traditional school for my kids.

[matildasun]

In addition to all the woo involved in Waldorf, I will say that it is important to either just do Waldorf when they are really little or go until they are eleven or so. They teach reading late, so if you switch them in second or third grade they are years behind and some really struggle to catch up.

[bunnymendelbaum]

And now I'm side-eyeing her current teacher for suggesting it.
This school search is awful! Grrrr, I have a feeling we are going to end up driving 15 mins to a catholic school.

[pitterwoo]

Dec 19, 2014 20:58:06 GMT -5 bunnymendelbaum said:

Seriously??? Fairies? Wtf. I had no idea. I was annoyed already with all the damn knitting.

YES, forgot to add this to my annoyances b/c my family member is super crafty and loves to knit and sew.  She makes all the costumes for the plays (at her own expense).  She's never been able to make any money with these skills despite doing Etsy and craft shows b/c she's all about the concept and crafting and can't handle deadlines, making things twice, making things that are boring to do, can't handle dealing with the public, forgot to run a credit card once, etc.  So all that to say that she's been poor and had the kids attending Waldorf on need scholarship, until she married someone with a well paying job.  I just really feel like she's set up a really unrealistic view of reality for the kids about how money and life works.

[hrp22]

I too liked the concepts that they advertise online. A new school moved just a few blocks from us and I was very excited because their fees were totally reasonable and since our schools are failing, I'd be able to get a voucher to send my kids. Anyhow, I loved the idea of the nature walks and the focus on music and arts. Then I learned about the reading thing and did some more research and there are folks that wrote about their personal experiences and it sounds very much like a cult.

I also don't like the idea of having anyone tell me how to raise my kid while they are at home. If I want them to sit with an iPad all day, that's my f'n decision.

[pierogigirl]

woo

The toys are cute, though.

[imojoebunny]

I don't think it's horrible. It's not for my kids. The lunch baskets my DD and I might make fun of a little. The playground looks a bit like a plaintiff attorney's dream. The kids seem pretty peaceful. There is obviously no standardized testing.

Go visit. I know people who send their kids to the one here. I think they are more sane than the people whose smart kids are failing in the public school, but they "would never do private school".

There are two boys in my DS's public kinder I want to rip out of there and put in private school, Waldorf or anywhere were they are sensitive and flexible toward kids.

[CloudBee]

They add and subtract gnomes.

[heygrey]

this explains so much, lol.

my super crunchy mom friends are really into waldorf. and the ones that aren't are into unschooling, so...

[h]

I feel like I have a higher tolerance for elves and fairies than some, but no.

Reading readiness correlating to loss of teeth? Anti-vaxxing? Opposition to recorded music? Bizarre focus on "eurythmy"? No.

We have had great experience with Montessori.

[turtlegirl]

Dec 19, 2014 22:37:46 GMT -5 @this said:

Just reading the term "unschooling" causes me to have a physical reaction.

Yep! DH's cousin unschools her kids and my mood got better once I hid her on FB. She literally posted 18274647271 times a day. Half just random shit ans half professing the amazingness of unschooling. My eyes were about to roll out of my head.

[h]

What is this nonsense about measles being a rite of passage that rids kids of greed and selfishness? Exactly how bad does a childhood disease have to be before it crosses over from "rite of passage" to actual problem?

I can't even with these nuts. And this is a pro-Waldorf site!

www.openwaldorf.com/health.html

[ilikedonuts]

My mind is blown reading this thread. My friend mentioned looking at a Waldorf school. Yeah she will be getting a call from me tomorrow.

[rootbeerfloat]

The not reading until teeth fall out kills me as I have an almost 8 year-old second grader with a mouth full of baby teeth, lol. He wouldn't learn to read until middle school!

[niq]

Dec 19, 2014 20:55:38 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

niq may have some insight. I know he's mentioned it.

I have a friend who sent his son to a Waldorf "inspired" DC until age 4. But, it's not like the parents stick with the elves run the printer, no toys with eyes routine at home. The kid is moving to a new DC partly for logistics (dad got a new job in a different part of town) but I think they were going to move anyway. Apparently their son is behind on some basics and doesn't want to put in effort when he's not good at something. I don't know if that's Waldorf or just being a 4 year old, lol.

As described on this board, and news articles, it sounds like total woo. Second graders learning that elves run photocopiers, no toys with eyes on them, etc.

Is this the MMM unity horse we've been looking for?

[catwithspots]

Their system is beyond odd...and I would side eye their teacher as well for the recommendation!