Our Experience with a Waldorf School

at the end of the day; I believe that whatever works best for someone and whatever they decide is right for them. but I had to share our experience because I felt like it would be a disservice not to.

LINKS:
My Blog Post with References:

I'm just begging you to be INFORMED and AWARE.

Do your OWN research as well.

+ + MORE LINKS + +
"The Occult Significance of Blood" by Rudolf Steiner - the Founder


FACTORY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER PDF LINK:

RUDOLF STEINER HOW TO KNOW HIGHER WORLDS

WEIRD WALDORF

WALDORF LAWSUIT

[Emilysmith-sspk]

my first school was steiner and i left in year five....we were never taught how to "cast spells with wands" we were taught to respect nature and yes the celebrations for winter and summer ect were alike to some wiccan celebrations thats as close as it got to witchcraft

[jacintagorchs]

I went to a Waldorf school for 13 years. It was the best experience I could have ever had.

[annii]

hey! I want to give you my opinion about it, as a Waldorf student I can say that this school was probably not really a Waldorf school ... the Waldorf schools have nothing to do with witchcraft ... and I feel very sad that you had this experience because the best thing that happened to me in life was to study in a waldorf school

[funkycoMedina]

My daughter and I went from Montessori to Waldorf. She had been going to Montessori school since she was 2.5 years old while I was a TA at the school. We left the country when she turned 4 for about eight months to be with family, came back and unfortunately lost our placement at the only Montessori school in our area (the school is small and in high demand). I was stuck on alternative education so I was naturally lead towards Waldorf and wanted to give it a try given the frequent comparisons people make about both pedagogies. So to share my experience.. after a couple of weeks into the academic school year she got some headaches, I started noticing red rashes on her temples and third eye after school. I realized it was because they were rubbing essential oils on her face before nap time, I think she told them she didn't want oil on her face because I stopped noticing the rashes. She would also have, a sort of traumatized look, on her face with a sense of confusion after picking her up from school. I think she once cried to me and said she didn't want to go to school anymore. I was concerned and emailed the teacher to ask her why she could be feeling this way. The teacher couldn't give me an explanation, so I was left to guess for myself. After a couple of months in October she was getting nightmares. She was telling me her friends were whispering gory things in ear at recess. There was a time my daughter started talking about blood, cutting off hands, and knives and told me about the conversations the kids would have. I thought whoa, wth, why are these kids talking about this and how aren't the teachers doing anything about it. I found out later on, coincidently, through watching some of Bella Luna's YouTube videos that the teachers read from GRIMMS books! I thought NO EFFIN WONDER. I was very shocked to find out they were storytelling off of GRIMMS books! If you don't know about it look it up, in short they're very old dark children's stories. I think in Sarah's video she explains why they read from Grimm's stories but, I was sitting there thinking to myself, why isn't this being shared with us parents. Like what actually is being taught in her class, and why is there no transparency in regards to their curriculum. Though I think there is reasoning behind there being no transparency, especially in regards to curriculum (point made later on). The teachers also seem secretive (I definitely wouldn't feel safe with my child and the teacher alone). They're also weird/sketchy and not as friendly as you would think they would be given Waldorf's philosophy as it being coined "social education". So yes, I also see the exclusivity, and get a sense of "cultness" going on. Are our kids being brainwashed, oh without a doubt! Why? It's probably a belief system. I like to joke around with my husband when I'm on the phone with him before walking into the school, I say ok I have to get off the phone now or the tyrants will get upset. In all seriousness, yes Waldorf education is very strange. Waldorf education is the DEFINITION of holistic education, their duty is to foster the WHOLE child and protect that very very much. To them the nature of what makes a child, a child, is very sacred to them. Waldorf wants the kids to be set free of the worries of this world, in every possible sense. Even the pressures of academic competence. So yes, there is no complete transparency in regards to curriculum because they don't want the parents to "care". I think they see themselves as free spirits of the world. Do I think it's a cult, yes, in a way. My daughter is now 5 years of age finishing up the academic school year with Waldorf. I've debated and debated whether I want her to continue (I don't think were are). I can say though that I'm incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to experience Waldorf from a third person perspective as a Montessori teacher, because now I can say NO Montessori and Waldorf are NOT similar. In a sense that they actually both contradict each other in regards to some things that define the core of both. Waldorf is founded on the spirit (spirit based), Montessori is founded on a scientific approach to the whole child. Steiner was a philosopher, Montessori was a scientist. Waldorfians are like hippies out of touch with reality. Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate Waldorf education because it fills in the gaps with what Montessori falls short on and believe one should not exist without the other. Meaning, they both should coexist because when both pedagogies are practiced in a classroom a beautiful classroom environment is created!

[nicolebennett]

This woman accidentally sent her child to Hogwarts and has the audacity to complain about it.

[GarethWareth]

Sorry, what? This isn't Steiner/Waldorf education. My mum is a qualified teacher and I went through Steiner/Waldorf education my entire education.

I'm not saying this didn't happen. Just that this isn't Steiner education. Rudolph Steiner's personal ideals are not pushed on students and that is not what teachers, who usually have to go through a specific teacher training. From my experience and knowledge, Steiner is supposed to teach about all religion as well as spiritual freedom.

America is a weird place and these kinds of things are more common in the US. Not just Steiner schools but with religious schools, some public schools, some private schools and also some Montessori schools. A lot more shit is allowed to slide and education is much less regulated in the US than it is here in most of Europe.

I will say, because Steiner attracts a lot of "hippy" people, some of them are very weird. I've been to three Steiner schools and my mum has taught at four. There are some teachers that shouldn't be teachers and some schools which are badly run - both of which occur in other education forms and are much more common in public schools (at least here in the UK). Some schools are just shit and Steiner schools are not prone to being run badly or in the hands of incompetent and sometimes strange people.

I don't recognise that "clique-ness" you describe. There is a community, but the only reason it tends to be closer is because the schools are smaller. There's no weird witchcraft going on. That is not Steiner and if it's happening at a school, that sounds like exploitation.

There is a lot of opposition to Steiner education that really comes from a place of ignorance. I recognise you open-mindedness to this and respect that. Your blog however is a little misinforming. You insinuate that all Steiner schools are the same and I can tell you, they are not. They don't bow down to a central body, most are pretty much independently run. More influence generally comes from the government than it does the "Steiner community". There are some bad schools out there, as with any type of school. Secrecy is not a thing, every Steiner school I've attended have been very open to the public, students go on to be successful and the education they go to after Steiner tend to love Steiner students. And I know for a fact this is the case for most Steiner schools.

There are, however, some badly run schools. I know one in the UK was pretty bad for bullying. They simply didn't have the people capable of dealing with that. However, that is much more common in public education. And you can see the effects of public education in the US with the number of school shootings that happen.

That said, some parents won't like Steiner.

And I'm not going to discredit your experience. There are some bad schools out there. What you're saying (with the wands) sound suite unbelievable. But if whoever runs that school isn't being checked on, then who knows what could happen? I am also aware, that there's a lot of bullshit opposition and propaganda about Steiner schools. And also aware that there are a lot of people who have lied about stuff. Hope that isn't you, but you aren't fully informed. That much is clear from your blog and video. So thought I'd comment here.

Finally, I'm sorry if you had that experience. But if it is true, name the school and report it to whoever is supposed to check on schools in the US. Because it sounds bullshit. I mainly wanted to comment so that if this is people's first time hearing about Steiner, they can understand that the vast majority are perfectly good schools.

[angelanbayern]

I am a Waldorf parent, but here in Germany. None of the things you describe happen at my daughter‘s school, and this is the home country of Rudolf Steiner‘s school and pedagogy. The curriculum changes through the years. First and second grades are about fairytales and saints, second grade the Old Testament, fourth grade covers Norse mythology, fifth grade on Ancient Greece, and eventually the kids learn about other religions and cultures. I believe it is because Steiner himself believed in spirituality over specific religions, although he did not denigrate the latter. For sure, I would find out if this school your son went to is affiliated with AWSNA. If not, please inform AWSNA, because they are keenly interested in ensuring no school passes itself off as a Waldorf school if it in fact, is not.

To be sure, Steiner‘s pedagogy is not for parents of kids who believe in the traditional model, and at our school, great effort is made to educate the parents about Steiner’s philosophy and pedagogy. Also the parents‘ nights are unconventional but intellectually stimulating; there is a bit of school daily business discussed but there are guest lecturers on ecological topics, child development topics, and even subject matter review for the parents (e.g. Einstein’s theory of relativity for example).
I understand how it might seem cliquish in that many of the parents do not want their kids going to the Waldorf school if the parents of other kids allow their own to have a lot of plastic toys, iPads, other electronic items, etc., because after all, part of the Waldorf environment is a focus on nature and emphasizes that artificial toys and electronics are not good for the child’s psyche, and surprise surprise, if you are paying private school tuition you do not want any influences in the school, be it from peers or parents of the peers, that reduce the impact of the ambience you pay for.
Example- my kid got a present- a knitting kit- that had plastic knitting needles and my child made the mistake of bringing it to school. I got shade from other parents and my kid got shade from a few kids in the class. There we go. The message is, get on the bandwagon or leave, see.

That said, I very much like the bandwagon because I think the norms and culture of the Waldorf schools are the way that we as humans should evolve in order to sustain our societies and sustain our environment.

[juliatokiohotellover]

I went to a Waldorf school and what you describe is not Waldorf education. I firmly believe that I would not be the person I am without the Waldorf school. I am so grateful for my Waldorf education and will be sending my children there. All I can say is what you describe is not a Waldorf school.

[the_snailll]

I was a Waldorf student for 10 years. Fucking hated it. It was nothing like this, just a normal Waldorf school, but still fucking hated it. But if it's for you, it's for you. The year I graduated they scammed 400 dollars from me and family and family friends. Kinda goes against their philosophy.

[cwy]

Your experience is in no way indicative of a Waldorf education. At all. They don't do spells, they are not into witchcraft. My kids excelled and were challenged across all learning areas--reading, science, math, art, and music. Experience-based a strong foundation to their understanding of all subjects. They are allowed to experience the subject matter physically first. They were not turned into rote-mumbling zombies like public school teaching. The Waldorf graduates I observed are empathetic, intelligent young adults and I cannot be happier for how my own kids have learned. Colleges like them too, with scholarships from every school to which they applied.

But I will tell you, that I was educated in a cult-like system. We were told ridiculous, conflicting stories about a really mean sky god who killed people all the time. Later, we were forced to believe that a ghost got a girl pregnant and that baby was actually a god too! I mean, don't get me started on how we were forced to eat bread that was somehow magically turned into the body of this god and we also had to drink his blood.

Talk about cults!!!

I'm sure you would have loved it, since you believe in the paranormal. But to quote you: You go girl.

[mishahlamazda]

I was in a Waldorf school. Huge stress on my moms life - she a very particular person and doesn’t let people pressure her into anything she isn’t interested in, and they made her an outsider. One of the teachers, ms loveday, has taught all over North America up until grade 3 and then she moves schools. She caused a bunch of issues, then left after 3rd grade. That’s her MO, evil lady. Waldorf was okay for me, but I’d never send my kids and it’s a completely curly vibe. Also as a side note, there were absolutely no teachers of colour and maybe 5 students total that weren’t white.

[acedarose]

I’m a Steiner / Waldorf student and this is NOT the average Waldorf education you’re talking about... my school is not anything like that, so please don’t target Waldorf, it’s that particular school in the wrong.

Are you saying all Waldorf schools are haunted and witch craft
Please. Sorry but you sound out of your mind.
Never touched a wand in my life so don’t make assumptions.

[franpado]

I understand what you're saying about feeling like an outsider. I think this happens a lot at any private school. Waldorf Schools are based on the teachings of Rudolph Steiner, a polymath who borrowed many of his ideas from his contemporaries without crediting them. He founded Anthroposophy, a Christian spin-off. Waldorf is not for everyone. But it does show a lot of compassion and respect for children, teaches art as a valid subject, and focuses on helping children develop into their true selves. I'm glad my daughter went to a Waldorf school.

[josefinemills]

I go to walldorf and everything your saying we have never done

[madelinejofriends]

I just wanted to leave a comment for anyone whose first exposure to Waldorf if this video. All of that may be true about that school but not all Waldorf schools are like this. The one I went to was extremely open minded and valued nature and imagination and play. We learned about many different religions and I never once heard anything about “spells” or “witchcraft”

[HowardEllisonUKVoice]

i'm sorry Sara's boy had a bad time, and hope all is well now. Can only remark that my two children say they had a highly positive experience at their UK Waldorf School, going on to college and then out into the wide world as a pair of balanced, good natured, intelligent, peaceable, curious, musical, feeling people. They certainly were not indoctrinated. Their teachers were cheerful, approachable, very devoted to their vocation - never pushed the anthroposophy to the kids or us, though it did underpin their commitment.


Agreed, some of Steiner's notions might look a bit antiquated, obscure even - but you can say the same of conventional curricula, too. And he did focus on the child as a person, developing their thinking and feeling. He recognised that many children don't have the basic motor skills to write until they are seven, let alone an appropriately developed cognition. When we ignore that we cause grave harm to some boys in particular - stuffing them with Ritalin when they squirm.


No way would I recommend sending any child into the current state-backed (UK) 'tickbox' educational culture. It starts with testing four-year olds. In the junior years, it goes on to more or less ignore arts, truth about colonialism, the industrial revolution. And no time for human typologies, psychology, critical thinking skills... Kids are born with bright minds and we dumb them down in the earliest years.

[ladderman]

-I go to a Steiner School it’s the parents choice how much techno stuff happens at home.

-I have attended a Steiner school for 8 years and never had to “cast spells” or been told to recite poems that sounded like spells.

-that sounds like some weird sh*t. If I, a Steiner kid was told to go there after learning that I would say hell no. It’s with noting that my Waldorf or Steiner school is in England. All the teachers and kids at my school are just like my body else.

[NayRezendee]

I can't speak about this particular school, but I've studied in a Waldorf school for almost my whole school period (from kindergarten to high school), and am currently working as a teacher assistant in a Waldorf kindergarten. The pedagogy is most definitely not unbiased, but it's not related to witchcraft. Waldorf pedagogy intends to nurture the child so they can develop freely as a whole -, that means mind, body and spirit. It's very much based of Anthroposothy, which is a philosophical doctrine also founded by Rudolf Steiner. It is defined as a "spiritual science". It's Christian based and very beautiful. I'm far from an expert but, speaking from my experience, everything we do is a form of ritual because life itself is viewed as very sacred. And when I say "rituals" is more about bringing a sense of harmony and sacrality into everything we do. Be it through prayer, song, fairytales. As I said, it's very much Christian based, but it embraces the idea that the truth comes in many forms, so no matter your truth, your faith, it is absolutely valid and doesn't undermine mine. At least, this is what I have learned as a Waldorf kid. Hope I was able to bring you a bit more clarity. I really think you should look more into anthroposophy, I am doing so myself and finding it to be a truly beautiful study on our world and ourselves as spiritual beings. I only say that because you defined yourself as faith-based spiritual person, and that's pretty much anthroposophy! I'm now discovering the Montessori method and am finding so many interesting things, and a lot coincide with Waldorf thinking. I am now starting to ramble hahah but just wanted to contribute to the conversation with a bit of my experience :)

[johnevans]

I am a parent of 2 children. They went through 8 years of Waldorf School and experienced nothing of the sort that this person is talking about. Quite the opposite in fact. My children loved their experience and say that they will send their children to Waldorf schools. I will say much of any child's and families experience depends on the teachers they get. We happened to get 2 very good ones.

They both entered public school in 9th grade and did very well academically and socially.

I agree its not for everyone. They have a lot of ceremony honoring seasons, festivals, developmental stages etc and some of it may seem strange to those not used to ritual and ceremony. If you don't like ceremony, seasonal celebrations and the like and just want to get right to academics and sports then Waldorf schools are not for you. But that is no reason to speak ill of them. I would venture to say far more people love the experience than not.

[emmareverie]

I’m not saying what happens to you is not valid but I don’t know what school you went to but it is not a true waldorf school. I attend one right now actually and none of these things happen.Yes we do some spiritual things like say a small blessing before we eat to show gratitude and we say a morning verse which is just about trying our hardest at school and always striving to be a better person. Yes some people can be a little “hippy” but I’d say more people aren’t like that. We actually have classes where the teacher brings in a laptop. Basically the point of the class is not about “technology is evil” but more of technology in moderation is good and also learning to effectively be safe on the internet and use it efficiently for learning. But I mean we talk to our teachers about movies and shows and memes! The philosophy is like learning for the heart, brain and hands meaning ex. In public school you may learn about how plants grow and read from a textbook but here we’d grow the plants ourselves. You know putting yourself through the experience. They teach to always be kind to others and never compare yourself to others.The teachers especially our main teacher is incredibly close to us. We are like a family. It’s quite obvious the love the teacher has for their students and we love our teachers back. Our teacher says it was one of the hardest things to do to come to teach our class. She said she thought that she’d “fail us” but she says now she’d never take back that decision and never regretted it.Honestly my teacher has helped me through some of the toughest times of my life. I used to go to a public school but coming to this school in grade 4 saved my life honestly cuz I was bullied severely at my past school. All I want to say is that just do research but true waldorf schools are not like that. And the real ones out there I would strongly recommend. Thanks for reading 😂