I know this is a long shot as there are only a few of these schools in Italy... but does anyone here have their kids in a Steiner school? If so, would you like to share your experience?

Thanks,
Kanga

Hi Kanga,

Can you explain what a Steiner school is? And maybe what's good/bad about one etc?

A Steiner school is a private school that functions by the principles set forth by Rudolf Steiner. From my limited understanding, it is similar to a Waldorf school (also based upon the philosophies of Rudolf Steiner). There is an organization of these schools in Italy (see http://www.rudolfsteiner.it/ ) and one of these happens to be close to where I live.

The idea of Steiner/Waldorf education is to let the child be a child and develop their intellect through a natural, child's impression and experience of the world. The materials in the classroom are made from natural products and are designed with the child's physical and emotional needs in mind. They learn through interaction with their environment... knitting to learn counting, for example... and the world of imagination is fostered.

That said... what's good/bad about the Steiner system is what I'm trying to determine. I'm considering sending my son there for second grade and want to make an educated determination as to whether or not it's the right environment for him. First grade at the public school was really hard on him. He has survived, but I'd like more than that for him. I'd like school to be something more than just survival.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kanga,

Kanga - I know people who went to the Steiner near me in the UK. One couple have been very successful in their lives, the husband working as "something in the city" and the wife running a business from her barn that does impressions of babies feet and hands. They had such a good experience all their children now attend. That being said in the UK it seems to be the school of choice for the wealthy, liberal minded middle to upper classes - their parents were probably the product of the flower power generation but with cash. So if it goes wrong the kids have mum and dad and their cash to fall back on. It is definitely unconventional education at its best - for it to work for a child they have to be incredibly self-motivated or they will literally come out with skills in pottery and little else.

Another friend sent her children their for Pre-school but removed them to a conventional school once it was time for them to actually learn something, her fear being that they wouldn't, she felt her daughter probably would have made the most of it, but her son would have kicked back and just had fun but not learn anything.

It really depends on your son. If you feel he is motivated enough and doesn't need a conventional teacher keeping an eye on his progress then take a look at it, but, as I seem to understand from your reason for looking at this school is that he isn't coping well with conventional education, I'm not sure going to the other extreme would actually be the answer. Maybe finding a school with a more pastoral approach would be the answer. That's my personal view - kids who don't like "normal" school are unlikely to flourish in this environment, whereas the ones who want to learn and are doing well at a "normal" school will - bizarre isn't it?

Alyson,
Great feedback... thanks! My son is actually doing really well academically but is continuously stressed/depressed by the methods of discipline at the school and then lack of it on the playground. He describes the class time as a lot of yelling on the teacher's part, or keeping the kids out of extra activities like gym, art, and music if kids are misbehaving (this has continued the duration of the year, obviously ineffective) and then having to literally fend for himself on the playground. Lots of really rough violent play there. My hope is that Steiner would provide a more serene environment for him. He's a very sensitive kid and the adjustment to the Italian level of chaos has been especially difficult for him.