Steiner Kindys & Schools
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Topic: Steiner Kindys & Schools
Posted By: RoSee
Subject: Steiner Kindys & Schools
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 9:42pm
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Where can I get info on Steiner education? I have always been really interested in it but anytime I mention that I am I get the "what on earth for? Do you want your child to grow up with no rules, an outcast from society, etc..." speach.
What are your opinions on it and does anyone know exactly how they work?  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 September '11
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Replies:
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 9:58pm
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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 :) ------------- 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:19pm
| Ohh intriguing, ill be closely watching this thread. Are there any in Auckland? |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:20pm
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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. -------------  
 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:23pm
There is a primary school in Titirangi, and the high school equiv in Ellerslie. -------------
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BuzzyBee wrote:Posted By: RoSee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:26pm
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 ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
September '11
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:28pm
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Something I thought was interesting was that they don't teach reading until 8 years or something.
Also you don't start full time school until you are 6 -------------
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:29pm
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I've just been studying this stuff!
http://www.educationrevolution.org/waldorf.html - http://www.educationrevolution.org/waldorf.html http://www.rudolfsteinerfederation.org.nz/ - http://www.rudolfsteinerfederation.org.nz/ http://www.michaelpark.school.nz/waldorfeducation/specialcharacter/ - http://www.michaelpark.school.nz/waldorfeducation/specialcharacter/ HTH ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:33pm
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The Wikipedia page is quite useful too, explains about the emphasis on the oral tradition and why they don't actively teach reading and writing til 7:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_Education - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_Education
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Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:34pm
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There's another one north of Auckland, ummm it used to be called something twee like Happy Rainbow school but they changed it... -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:38pm
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Found it, it's called Koru Grove and it's in Silverdale but I can't find a website sorry. That's all my serial posting done now, I don't have any first hand experience, was just doing an assignment on alternative education is all -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 07 September 2009 at 10:40pm
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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. -------------
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 12:50am
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This probably sounds like a funny question, but do they use "regular" teachers or do the teachers have to undergo some kind of special training? If so, what does that involve? Do the teachers still learn philosophical stuff like about reincarnation and karma and that?
I like the philosophies that the school has but don't necessarily agree with some of the belief systems that the schools were founded on. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 6:57am
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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? ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 7:48am
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DH went to steiner school in Lower Hutt, he was one of the first students to go through primary school there, they didn't have highschool at the time so he went to Hutt Memorial College afterwards.
His mum taught kindergarten which is for 5 year olds, they start teaching reading from 6-7 as that's when the childs brain is more receptive. DH is a great reader so that hasn't had any impact on him. Teachers are all trained as teachers and they do extra training in the rudolf steiner philosphy. In Germany steiner schools are the norm. I know DH learned all about the Jesus and the apostles in the form of social studies, not as a religious thing which I thought was quite neat and not something that would be taught in state schools. If we had one near us I wouldn't hesitate to send our kids to steiner school. The Evers-Swindell twins went to Steiner school. The lower hutt school was initially pretty hippy I think as that was they type of parents that were interested in sending their kids their, Dh went to school with Anna Paquins older brother and she went to the school too. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 10:33am
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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. |
Posted By: fearnot
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 3:59pm
Hi, please think twice about sending your kids to private non-integrated schools, like the Titirangi Rudolf Steiner School.....it is a loophole in the law which means that your kids will not enjoy any protection under the Education Act. We found this out the hard way at the Titirangi Steiner school who threw out all our three kids because we had to keep complaining about the appalling bullying there. They did this with no notice, no discussion and no right of appeal. Our now nine year old is severely traumatised by this and we are now home-educating three children unexpectedly!!! We can do that by struggling and changing our lives completely, but we can't undo the damage to our children's trust, and their self-esteem. This school considers itself to be above the law, and in many ways it actually is! There is no shortage of other people whose children have been hurt by this school. We are researching that and beginning a public campaign to close this dangerous loophole. Other Steiner schools, eg the Ellerslie one, are integrated and therefore enjoy protections under the Act but not so Titirangi who have fought against being integrated for years...... Why would a school need to do that? Beware - our children are so precious. |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 4:22pm
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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. -------------
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 08 September 2009 at 4:27pm
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My ex-boyfriend went to a Rudolf Steiner school and had quite a bit of trouble when he wanted to enrol at University as they don't do Bursary exams, also to learn things like Caculus and Chemistry he had to find alternate ways to be taught as they weren't part of the Steiner curriculum. Other than that he did really enjoy the school, class sizes were really small and he said it felt more like a family environment than a school one. It seems it would work great for some kids and not for others. -------------  
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Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 09 September 2009 at 8:52pm
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I've found most of my information online - on the websites of the main schools - and I can highly recommend the book http://www.amazon.com/You-Your-Childs-First-Teacher/dp/0890879672 - '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 http://www.taikurasteiner.school.nz/index.php/about-us/37/72 - 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! |
Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 09 September 2009 at 9:08pm
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We're looking at alternatives and have been trying to find out info on the Steiner schools so this thread and all the links has been a great help.
Thread jacking a bit but I was watching a programme on TV one night aaaages ago and there was a school in Auckland somewhere where the kids were allowed to do kid things like climbing trees and jumping off things and so on. Does anyone have any idea what school it might be? You could see the Harbour Bridge from the playground but that's all I can remember of it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Konagirl
Date Posted: 10 September 2009 at 7:37am
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I went to the CHCH Steiner school. It's integrated into the mainstream so we did exams. I loved it, think it's a fantastic education. Small classes, great teachers and you get a really wide and varied education.
The teachers usually have a diploma in teaching like all NZ teachers and then do speciality study as well. I'd so like to send my kids there but don't live close enough to CHCH to make it viable. ------------- Angel babies Mar '04, Oct '08 and Sep '09. |
Posted By: queenb
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 11:33am
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Rose, I've been looking at steiner as well! we've been to the ellerslie school, it's sooo cute. doesn't look like a school at all. more like hobbit town lol i like their values, but didn't realise they don't teach reading until 7yrs. but hey, we are our babies first teachers, so we can help there
hope this thread continues, as very interested in learning more! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 1:38pm
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I wouldn't worry about the reading thing. DH went to Steiner for primary school and he's a good reader.
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: RoSee
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 7:14pm
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Haha hobbit town! I want to go and check it out. Yes I like their values too, I like the way respect is a big thing... if more people knew the meaning of the word the world would be a better place....
Yay Layla and Ty can go to school together hehe 
Are Titirangi and Michael Park 'private' schools? Are they expensive? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
September '11
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 7:47pm
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I teach at a school where we've seen a few kids move to our school from a steiner. Some were really lovely well-rounded kids and were achieving well, but some were way below their expected level (reading, maths, everything) and had bad attitude... and we're still working to remedy these issues. I think it totally depends on the child whether that type of schooling will suit them. I mean of course each school has kids who are achieving well and kids who aren't, but some of the students just seemed to slip through the cracks with their reading and stuff.
We sometimes have sports tournaments against this steiner school, and to tell the truth the kids seemed really unruly (year 7/8), they had no teacher supervision and they were playing with a sharp pocket knife. My students were shocked! In saying that, one of our Year 8 students went back to the steiner school for highschool (year 9 this year) and loves it - he's very happy there, they move to different teachers for different subjects and have lots of homework! ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 8:18pm
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just a different option, at my granddaughters school there are two montessori classrooms ------------- susie |
Posted By: RoSee
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 8:48pm
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Susie what 'style' (if that's the right word!) does montessori teach? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
September '11
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Posted By: ButterflyMum
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 9:20pm
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http://www.montessori.edu/FAQ.html - http://www.montessori.edu/FAQ.html
here is just a quick goggle I looked up I really like most of what they do just can't afford private education for my kids and love the school we have picked out. -------------  
 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 12 September 2009 at 9:54pm
The titirangi one is about $3000 a year but they don't enforce payment. -------------
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 8:46am
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I don't think "unfortunate" is the right word for what happened to Fearnot, Kellie.
Outrageous, shocking, disgusting and abusive feel more appropriate. How can a school kick out a bullied child and not discipline the bullies? It's completely upside down and the titirangi Steiner school doesn't look like a safe environment for children unless your child has bullying tendencies of course. :-( |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 9:33am
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I quite like some of the ideas behind the steiner schools, but find it rather scary that reading doesn't start until 7! even at 5 we are missing a lot of valuable time when children learn like little sponges I think if anyone were to consider steiner schools you would want to seriously consider a home literacy programme.
I think Steiner schools would work well for some kids and maybe no the best option for others... I think you really need to look at the individual child. ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 10:30am
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freckle- sorry i havent read whole thread but one of my special needs boys went to the titirangi one and he was in the preschool part before then?
his sisters(well one did) loved it and I like some of the ideas behind it too but it does tend to suit certain children and not others which is where they had an issue as one didn't suit the style of learning. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 11:05am
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I really wouldnt worry about the reading only when they are 7 part. In SA kids only go to school in the year they turn 7. So in whichever year you turn 7 you start school that year (in the beginning of the year, so everyone starts at the beginning). They also start reading a bit slower than they do it over here.
And I am really perfectly fine with great scores ect. They are however moving to try and do reading a lot sooner ect with preschool stuff and all that. But I am all for kids to be kids. Sometimes we concentrate so hard on the actual academic stuff instead of the natural climbing, running and gross and fine motorskills they need to do all this academic stuff to the best of their abilities. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:13pm
Obviously there is more to the story methinks... I have 2 sisters and one brother who went to the Titirangi school from age 6-13. They had such an awesome experience I remember being jealous that they got the opportunity to attend! lol Oh another thing I don't know if it has been said, but the parents are on a roster with assisting with classroom/utilities cleanup. Also you are expected to be quite involved (helping out with the festivals/activities/etc) One time my sister came home with instructions that mum had to make 20 cushions (materials were supplied) to sell at some craft thing they were doing. If you are at fulltime work it could possibly get abit demanding. -------------
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:36pm
You're right Kellie. I did a simple Google search for "titirangi steiner" and came up with this site: http://www.titirangisteinerbullying.com - www.titirangisteinerbullying.com which must have been made by the victims of the event described in Fearnot's post. There's tons of stuff there - way too much to read it all, but it appears that the entire email conversation between them and the school has been posted online, including three videos (which I watched). One details a bullying event witnessed by the mother, another highlights what happened when that family got kicked out and the apparent massaging of the truth by the school and the last talks about how the school has been set up. Something bad happened there and I wonder how your memory of the school and those events can co-exist. Whatever happened to fearnot appears to have been devastating to that family and all because they wanted their child safe from bullying JavaScript:AddSmileyIcon('  ')
It's all from the parents' point of view of course, but it looks pretty bad for the titirangi steiner school. Anybody here have any more information of this event? |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:43pm
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Seems to me like Rubinia and Fearnot are the same person (or perharps husband wife)..... ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:47pm
Oh I've got it... Rubinia from looking at your profile you're Steve, the dad, and Fearnot you're the mum. Looks like you came across this site from a google search, seeing as how you're both very newly registered and have only commented on this thread. Just call me detective  ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:49pm
I assume they can co exist as it appears this event happened in 2009, and my siblings had finished there by 2007. I know quite a few people with kids still at the school (ex neighbours etc) so will ask around! Definitely worth looking into. -------------
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:52pm
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Haha arohanui I was thinking the same thing!!! -------------
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 12:56pm
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Funnily enough the owner of that website is called Steve Paris according to the Registrant details.
and Rubinia=Steve... hmm the mind boggles! Why not just be honest? It is your site and if you had of just said so you probally would have gotten a bit of sympathy, but your actions make me a little skeptic now -------------
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 1:05pm
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Yep and Steve was the guy who was protesting outside the school.
Angel and Steve, your kids' experience was absolutely awful. However, I have to question you Steve, signing in and pretending to be someone else - you would have been far better off being honest. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 1:07pm
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OK, my cover's been blown.
You're right I should I have been open but what's happened to us has affected us a quite badly (and I guess I may have become a little paranoid - gonna have to work on that). But that doesn't change the fact of what happened and that the school has a dangerous side which cannot be ignored. We even heard the other day from one family still speaking to us from that school, that one of the boys who bullied our daughter recently hit an older child from a different class in the face with a hockey stick. Nothing was done about that except to say that "he's very boisterous". I would actually appreciate it if someone could contact them and ask for their version of the events... because they never told us. The only reason they ever gave us for expelling us like they did was citing our behaviour AFTER having been kicked out. They did say that we were not in agreement with their behavioural policy but since our child was being bullied every day for four months (and the bullying happened before we got there and obviously still does), then it's apparent that that policy isn't effective. But should that be a reason to expel children? |
Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 1:33pm
Hi Arohanui My wife was being honest in the earlier post on page 1 and all she got was "that's unfortunate". I mistakenly tried a different approach. |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 1:44pm
Well it was unfortunate wasn't it? Sorry but this is the internet, I apologize for not starting to picket the school after her post but generally if I already have my own opinions on a subject it takes more then 1 vague-ish post to sway me. I am really, really sorry that your family had such a horrible experience though. I would absolutely hate for anything like that to happen to my family. -------------
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 1:49pm
Have to agree, she could have posted again and elaborated further, or you could have come on explaining you were the dad and elaborated that way. What can I say, honesty is a big thing to me and I don't like it when people try to pull the wool over other peoples' eyes (ie pretending to be someone else). ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:00pm
Have to agree, she could have posted again and elaborated further, or you could have come on explaining you were the dad and elaborated that way. What can I say, honesty is a big thing to me and I don't like it when people try to pull the wool over other peoples' eyes (ie pretending to be someone else).[/QUOTE] Fair point. I'm terrible at subterfuge anyway. As I said above, we're in a very bad situation at the moment still and sometimes, you just don't think clearly when under a lot of stress. Let's ignore the subterfuge and stick to the facts: The titirangi steiner school is a non-integrated school which means it isn't bound by the education act and as a result neither the parents nor the children have any protection from the ministry of education. If they had, the management would not have been able to sweep us under the rug like they did. Our daughters loved the education there and it was such a difference from regular state schools. We didn't feel that getting hurt everyday was a price worth paying but sadly, despite the fact that management appeared to be open to our concerns, nothing changed in four months and on the day we were due to have a meeting with them, the trustees and teachers to discuss alternative methods of behavioural management, they cancelled the meeting and kicked us out. We have nothing against Steiner education (we wouldn't have enrolled our kids there otherwise). We just wanted them to be safe like they promised us they would be. |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:09pm
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Yeah that is really bad. I would never allow that as a teacher, and nor would any school I've taught in. Have you gone to the media? ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:13pm
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Rubinia, on your website you state that your daughter originally went to the local primary school, and that they were unwilling to sort out the bullying, so you started at Steiner.
Did the same thing happen at Steiner? -------------
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:14pm
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In fairness you are going to get bullying at most schools.
If you choose to put your child into a private non integrated school then you should be aware that you are not protected by normal rights and the school becomes a law unto themselves and I think it was fair enough for you and your wife to bring this to people's attention. Obviously some people have formed their own opinion and you will never sway these people (its just like the whole immunise dont immunise debate, people arent going to change their opinion based on what you say). Oh and I did the same google search and found the bullying website .. this thread just never interested me as its not a form of education I want for my children so I didnt bother posting it. I would never consider sending my kids to ANY steiner school but I am interested to hear in your experience. If I recall rightly I saw something similar to this happen to another family and it went to 20/20 or 60 minutes (I cant remember which) however I can not remember the school the story was about, only that it wasnt a school that I am considering for my children. ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:23pm
It is MUCH easier for children to learn to read when it's introduced at a younger age. Our levels of reading failure are high enough IMO and delaying literacy until 7 will not help this situation. It is those early years when the brain absorbs information much easier that is the best time to learn these skills and although it is of course possible to learn to read at a later age it is easier for the child when younger. I taught my DD1 to read at 3 - in a fun way... and she has always LOVED literacy and it has come naturally to her (she's 13 now). I absolutely agree that kids need to be kids... but lots of skills can be taught in a play based environment that is engaging to children. Play is work for wee ones... sorry not a completely relevant post but I believe it is one aspect of steiner schools that really needs to be considered...
Also sorry to read about the terrible situation you have encountered Steve. I can't imagine how awful it would be to know your child has been a target of constant bullying! I don't believe this would be representative of all steiner schools?! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 2:28pm
Hey I am waiting for a couple of callbacks. I'll let you know what I am told okay. If you want I could PM or email it? Or is it okay to post in here? -------------
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 3:33pm
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Okay have had some feedback now.
Also a rep from the school has insisted on everything being put in writing only so is waiting for an email reply from me and wants to know your exact questions. Pm me if you want Rubinia. I would be wanting answers if I was you. Good on you for putting your story out in the end :P -------------
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 5:24pm
We thought about it but decided against it - at least for now: the media can be voracious and would most likely love to put our kids in the spotlight but they've been through too much for us to allow that. We are pursuing other avenues however. The legal aspect of the Titirangi Steiner School is very murky but we are slowly making progress. It's time consuming work - especially with three kids at home at the moment (my eldest one is too traumatised to go back to a school right now so we're home educating her and our middle child is too upset that she was forced our of her beloved kindy so she's at home too). |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 5:37pm
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I will be in touch. -------------
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Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 17 November 2009 at 8:32am
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I know it's been a while since I last wrote on this forum, but I wanted to share a letter I have been distributing to parents at the school and other interested parties.
It's rather long, but I thought it important for people to know. |
Posted By: Rubinia
Date Posted: 17 November 2009 at 8:37am
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Why we are protesting
We are here because of the appalling way my family has been treated by the Titirangi Steiner School: my eldest daughter who was 8 at the time was being regularly bullied in her class by children who had been behaving in this way since Kindy. We informed the teacher and management about it and after four months of us telling the school, them reassuring us that they took the matter seriously and nothing ever changing, they expelled our children, including my child at Kindy who never had any problems, and my little one at playgroup. But we weren't the only ones this happened to: three other families had left the same class in previous weeks, also because of bullying, and we've since learned of many others who have suffered at the hands of this school over the years because of the management’s refusal to deal with bullying. Our children, especially our eldest, have been severely affected by their treatment here, to the extent that we are seeking help for them. What the school says to other people The manager never gave us proper reasons why the school kicked us out, but here is what they say to anyone enquiring about this event: "The school's policy with regard to bullying is one of social inclusion." Setting aside the irony of being kicked out because the school believes in ‘social inclusion’, in the four months of communicating with them, the school never used that term. Not once. They only started mentioning it once they excluded us and we began making a fuss. But social inclusion doesn't mean letting children bully others without consequences. We never advocated expelling children, however. We simply wanted them to stop the bullying or separate the children. They have no such policy here. “The behaviour of the parents became unacceptable to both the school and other parents.” All we did was write emails to management and had meetings with staff. Many parents were in fact glad that someone was finally doing something about the bullying but I doubt they’ll be brave enough to speak out now having seen what can happen if you do. We didn’t protest or complain publicly about the situation until after we were kicked out, when we were rightfully angry at the school’s inefficiency and its inability to protect children. This is a school that told us that expelling a bully would be violent to the child. They had no such problem expelling a ‘sensitive child’ (as her teacher identified her) and her younger siblings. "Our enrolment agreement with parents requires them to provide an ongoing commitment to Waldorf Education which, in our view, was not forthcoming in this case. " Unless bullying is part of Steiner education, their statement is groundless: we were committed to their education system, even going to an anthroposophical doctor, on teacher’s advice, to help our daughter build her confidence up so she could cope with the bullying. But even if what they say were true, is it the school's policy to evict people without notice or warning, suddenly, with no possibility of appeal? Our eldest child loved the curriculum and we were determined to help her thrive there, by making her class the safe environment the school claims it was. We were scheduled to have a meeting with management, trustees and teachers to discuss behavioural management. A meeting proposed by the manager himself. But on the day of that meeting we unexpectedly received a letter cancelling it and chucking us out instead. When we went to the school to demand an explanation on the record for this sudden and violent action, they refused to talk to us, issued us with trespass notices and called the police within minutes of our arrival. "The school has investigated all incidents reported by this family and has found them to be without substance. " In all the correspondence detailing many events of violent behaviour, the school only questioned one, which was due to a case of mistaken identity on our part. If they queried one, you'd think they would’ve flagged up others if they had doubts. They never questioned any of our other reports while we were at the school. Where you can find out more Visit our website, which includes all the correspondence between us and the school as well as a few videos explaining the situation in greater detail: http://www.titirangisteinermessenger.com - http://www.titirangisteinermessenger.com Having read the correspondence in its entirety, one of the trustees said the following: “I am of the view that you and your family have been very badly treated. [...] You are being blamed for everything that is wrong in the school rather than seen as the catalyst of change that is needed [...] My wife & I discussed your situation at length and we questioned what we would do if we had been in your situation... we concluded that we would have not kept quiet either. “ Sadly, trustees are powerless at this school. How can a school do this? There’s an important loophole in the current Education Law that allows some New Zealand schools, Private Non-Integrated (PNi) ones like the Titirangi Steiner School, to operate almost entirely without safeguard or supervision by any Ministry Department. These schools are not covered by the vast majority of sections of the Education Act, including those covering protection of children from bullying and from damaging actions by the school. As a parent sending your child(ren) to such a school you need to be sure that the institution is up to the job, without Ministry support. But at the moment PNi schools aren’t by law obliged to inform parents of the school's different status in law with regards to the children's reduced protection and rights, a situation that further puts children at risk through parents being ignorant about it. We are calling for compulsory disclaimers in these schools that all parents must sign to show that they have been made fully aware of the implications for their children's safety and their rights in sending them to a PNi school. If you agree with this, please sign the petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pni/ - www.ipetitions.com/petition/pni/ Thank you for your time. |
Posted By: Karin169829
Date Posted: 03 January 2015 at 11:40pm
Hello. I am trying to get hold of everybody interested in the Koru Grove, Silverdale - School. We are reopening on the 2nd of Feb 2015 as Meraki Montessori School and we would like to invite everybody to our opening Pic-Nic on Saturday the 17th January 2015 from 10-14:00. Thank you, Karin. Like us on FB.
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