Steiner Kindys & Schools

My brother and sisters went to Steiner school. It has a real emphasis on creativity and learning things that will be useful in life. Gardening, pottery, music and movement are some of the things they do daily.

They also have very small classes, and stay with the same teacher/class the whole time they attend. Students are treated with respect.
The philosophy behind the running of the school is really good, rarely would you get bullies etc

Here is some info on the Titirangi one.

http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2008/jun/auckland-west/open-day-titirangi-rudolf-steiner-school

I think it is an awesome school, and plan on sending my son there for sure.

They hold an open day every term :)

Edited by Kellie

I know two people who started education in a Steiner school and then switched later to mainstream. They were both incredibly bright and well educated. One has a master's in Computer Engineering among other things and the other is a musical genius. So personally I think they must be onto something with the way they educate the kids.

Thanks Kellie I will go to an open day there

Bobbie do you know why they switched??

If anyone has anything negative to say about the schools I'm interested too! I just want to see what different people say about them and if there are any stories of people who have been to one or have children attending one.

BuzzyBee all that I know are Titirangi and Michael Park which i think is in Ellerslie

I've just been studying this stuff!

http://www.educationrevolution.org/waldorf.html

http://www.rudolfsteinerfederation.org.nz/

http://www.michaelpark.school.nz/waldorfeducation/specialcharacter/

HTH

There's another one north of Auckland, ummm it used to be called something twee like Happy Rainbow school but they changed it...

The Ellerslie one goes from Kindy right the way through to the end of High School. Both of the people I know went to that one.

I know one of them switched to mainstream because her mum was worried that she hadn't learned to read until 7 (I think it was) and so she was put into my primary school at 8. But seriously she never had a problem - you wouldn't have been able to tell at all.

The other I have no idea why they switched him. I knew him at uni but I never asked.

My long ago BF went to a Steiner School and she hated it. I recall she used to tell me after school had finished when she came round to my place how todays lesson was them dancing around the field being a fairy (and she was high school aged) lol.

At 16 she rebelled, got into drugs and got packed off to live with an Aunt in Australia. Luckily she settled into mainstream and now she is an upstanding member of society.

So its probably like any other form of education, it doesn't suit every person.

On a side note - Do WINZ pay for a private education too?

Lilfatty - I highly doubt that WINZ would pay for private education, I can't speak for other mums on DPB etc but I couldn't handle staying on the benefit and not working once L is at school - if I was to look at private education it'd be off my own back or only if i was in a financial situation to do so.

TBH I went to a private catholic school and it ruined me, I missed 2-3 years of primary school because of issues that stemmed from attending a prvt catholic school first off and having religion shoved down my throat - seriously the whole day, every activity revolved around jesus/god!

I was put into a little country school and absolutely loved it. I went on to miss a lot of time at Intermediatte and High School also due to bullying, behavioral, social and psychological issues. I truly believe that if I had of just been placed in mainstream education or any option OTHER THAN a religious school for starters, then I wouldn't have gone through life having the problems that i did.

My Father still helps out the Country school both my brother and I went to, and its been well over 5 years since any of us attended. Providing I'm still in Auckland when he's of school age, i'll most likely be sending my boy to that same school. I do however like reading up on concepts like Steiner & Montessori, makes for interesting reading I think.

That is unfortunate fearnot. My family had a really great experience at the Titirangi school.

We were there over a span of 12 years as well and only left in the past 2 years.


Edited by Kellie

I've found most of my information online - on the websites of the main schools - and I can highly recommend the book 'You are your child's first teacher' which is supported by Steiner principles.

I've heard good things about the Hastings (Taikura) school (which wouldn't help you sorry), and the Steiner kindergartens in particular - the family/home-like atmosphere is a good introduction to school life.

I like the fact that a teacher goes right through primary school with them, the emphasis on routines and festivals, empathy with others, the use of wooden toys and organic foods, and that it's really big on fostering the imagination and creativity. More here ...

In theory I would like Clara to go to Steiner for kindergarten and/or primary school, and then go to a mainstream high school so she can have every opportunity to excel academically ... I'm not sure how that would work in practice though, by the time she's ready for high school she'll probably have her own ideas!

Edited by anakk