Does anyone have a child in a Waldorf school?

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

My daughter (1st grade) is simply bored to tears (literally) with her first grade class - it doesn't challenge her. My wife is looking into the local Waldorf school. It looks very cool - and I want to do the best for my girl - but it's like $8,000 a year - and I have NO IDEA where she thinks that money will come from??

If anyone has or knows firsthand anyone who goes or has gone to one and can provide feedback on it's worth/value over public (that I already pay for via taxes) I'd appreciate it.

R.O.C.



http://richmondwaldorf.com/default.htm

[katty]

1. family friend has child in Waldorf-loves it-enjoys learning

[no_hypocrisy]

2. You can read the theory behind the Waldorf schools in "Summerhill".

Basically the kids learn by whatever interests them. If your child wants to learn knitting instead of her ABCs, then she'll be set up with a couple of needles and yarn. If your child wants to grow a garden, that will be his/her program. The kids learn basic principles of math, reading, science through application.

Founded by Rudolf Steiner, I believe

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Summerhill-School-Alexander-Neill/dp/0312141378

[dicknbush]

3. I have had several friends who hae their children in Waldorf schools and I know some teachers

My friends speak very highly about the schools and the folks that I have met casually at parties and such seem to be very nice folks. I have two children but I was not able to send them to Waldorf because of the expense. I would have liked to try it out though.

[uppityperson]

4. A nephew was in one, did well, esp younger ages.

Nephew attended 1 up to highschool (chose to enter public schools then) and did quite well. Nephews parents weren't the "must only have wooden toy, tv is evil" extreme (some waldorf people are, some aren't) and they liked the school. The school he was in had a sliding fee thing, perhaps you can check out that avenue. They liked the fact that creativity was valued, and that while you expose children to many things at all ages (math, reading, etc0, their brains are not capable of actually doing (math reading) until they develop the right connections.

Not sure if that made sense so will try another way.

Pressuring a child to learn to read, to do math, to do these sorts of things will cause frustration because until their brains are physiologically capable, they just can't do it. This does NOT mean to not expose them, but to do it in ways that are not pressuring. Learning by playing is a big thing, games involve learning.

Money can be an issue, do they have sliding fee thing or parental involvement for tuition discount? How about part time Waldorf? If there was 1 where I lived I'd have sent Jr through as was a very bright intellectually, socially delayed person and the mixture of exposure with low pressure would have been good.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

10. My daugeter is 7 and actually reads very

well. One of the things that's she's bored with is not ENOUGH math. We keep telling the teacher she wants more and more challenging math but it doesn't seem to get addressed.

We'll check on the sliding scale for tuition. Thanks

[uppityperson]

11. Does your public school have an alternative program?

Ours had 1 and we got jr into it, got supplemental materials, etc. Jr was in regular class part time, extra-curricular/alternative program part time.

[Rabbit of Caerbannog]

12. They have a "gifted and talented" program - BUT

the GT kids meet with the GT teacher for 45 MINUTES per week. A pretty un-gifted GT program, in my opinion...

[uppityperson]

13. Our GT program was pitiful also.

See if there is another program, usually they have 1 for older kids (highschool), sometimes for younger ones. Another possibility would be to talk with any homeschooling people in the area/state. Most places public school teachers are overworked, but I think schools have to provide alternatives, working with parents to keep the kids in school (even early grades). Best of luck and keep being an advocate for your child.

[AlCzervik]

5. i looked at one in my area and maybe it was just that one school but i didn't

care for it. My daughter goes to a secular country day.

[Lance_Boyle]

6. I put mine in Statler school.

[Marnieworld]

8. Man those guys were the best

My friend and I used to call ourselves that because we were always so happly critical at plays and movies. So funny in a way that I didn't get when I was really little. Thanks for the smile. :hi:

[supernova]

7. Linky for the local school here

I don't know anyone who goes now, but I worked with a single dad who had his kids there and absolutely adored it.


http://www.emersonwaldorf.org/

[bemildred]

9. Our son went to Waldorf for 6 years.

We did not have the best experience there, however in fairness many people we know did. The particular class/cohort he was in had trouble with teachers coming and going and the school had management issues, being relatively new.

I would investigate the particular Waldorf school carefully first, and compare it with your local public school before putting money up. Not that it was terrible mind you, just less than advertised in our case. It all depends on the teacher really, since theoretically you have the same one all the way through. There were many good aspects to his experience there. We still think highly of their program, and it was certainly a more stimulating and friendly situation than many public schools these days. We still have mixed feelings about it. He is in college now and doing OK.

We had four different teachers, only two of which were really up to the job, and it got rather disruptive, so we finally moved to another private situation, and then put him in a public High School. I sometimes think about what I could have done with the money applied to enrichment in other ways.

Sorry I can't give you a definitive yes or no answer. I would feel a lot better about it if it was an old and well-established Waldorf school with a teacher that had been at it for a while.