How do you justify attending a Waldorf school?

[aHikaru]

I have finally caved and decided we want to attend the parent/toddler class or have AE attend the nursery program 2 days/ week.

It has taken a lot of my pride to put my home schooling aspirations on hold, but we have just moved half way across the country, my husband is in the military working 60+ hrs/ week and I would really like to feel apart of a community. I know its normal to feel like i'm being selfish because I know there are mothers who are able to balance a home school education and a social life with two or more children. But I've accepted we can always try homeschooling when we are ready :)

Personally, our waldorf school is now 45 minutes away, opposed to living in los angeles where we had 6 waldorf schools with in an hour :( We loved the parent/ child class and is consistent with our environment at home. I met great, like minded parents and AE was able to see the same children on a regular basis. She has never attended an independent program, so i have no opinions to refer to in concern to likes/ dislikes.

With that, I am curious to know how, as parents, you justify choosing waldorf :

How far is the commute to your childs waldorf school?

What are your childrens reasons for attending?

What are your personal reasons for choosing waldorf?

Likes/ Dislikes?

[DariusMom]

Originally Posted by cassandraz 

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How far is the commute to your childs waldorf school?

What are your childrens reasons for attending?

What are your personal reasons for choosing waldorf?

Likes/ Dislikes?

Before I answer the questions, I wanted to quickly comment on your terminology . .. You use "justify" and I'm wondering why? *NOT* trying to nitpick or be snarky! It's just that the word really stood out to me. I feel know need to justify choosing Waldorf (or any other sort of schooling) for my DS to anyone. Do you feel like maybe you have to justify this to yourself because you aren't going to be homeschooling? Or to people who don't agree with the Waldorf approach? (family, friends). Anyway, you don't even really need to answer, but I just wanted to throw out the fact that "justify" seemed pretty loaded terminology, and that maybe you want to think through the idea that you need to make any justifications to anyone about your choices.

As for your questions .  . .

How far is the commute to your childs waldorf school?

about 15 minutes on the bike (app. 2 miles as the crow flies)

What are your childrens reasons for attending?

He wasn't happy at his old school. He didn't fit in socially (you can read some of my old threads about this) and we knew some people at the school and thought we'd send him for a few trial days to see if he liked it. He did! And we've never looked back. The emphasis on creativity and learning with your hands and your head really fits into the sort of child DS is . .. He loves to work with his hands and integrate creation with learning.

What are your personal reasons for choosing waldorf?

Pretty much the same. I was actually quite negative about Waldorf . .. even made jokes about it. However, it became clear to me that acquaintances kids were really getting a lot out of it and that I had to look at the child DS was and put aside some of my prejudices. I started doing research, sent DS to a few trial days, and we moved him in the middle of the semester.

Likes/ Dislikes?

I love the aesthetics of the classrooms and the building itself. I love the focus on myth and on integrating the natural world into the classroom and into learning. I happen to love DS' teacher and am thrilled he'll be with the kids til they finish elementary school (elementary goes through 6th grade where we live in Europe). I love how creative the approach is to learning and teaching and think it's really cool that DS is learning to knit (he loves it!), play the recorder, write with a fountain pen, and just generally explore lots of stuff that happens to be up his alley.

Dislike . .. the organization of the school is pretty sloppy (and I don't think our school is unique in this respect). It can be hit or miss as to whether information will reach me or not . .. The demands on the parents are pretty high. I've always been a dedicated volunteer, despite working outside the home, etc. but more is asked of us as parents at the Waldorf school than was asked of us at DS' old school. I don't dislike this per se, but it can feel like a lot on top of already busy schedules.

Hope this helps!

Edited by DariusMom - 9/14/11 at 2:41pm

[aHikaru]

Justifying something is showing reason towards something done and I just wanted to see under which reasoning others choose to attend their school of choice, which just happened to be Waldorf. Whenever we used to attend our Waldorf group we never discussed why we love the choice of a Waldorf education for our children, we just knew it was the right choice. 

But now we have moved to another state and our options are limited, so it's reassuring to be reminded why we are all doing our best to have the best options, as limited as they may become.

I always look forward to the experiences of how people have come to find waldorf and what they do to make it all possible.

Aside from the topic, my daughter was rejected today from the Waldorf school here for no particular reason, so we will be continuing with our homeschooling plans.

[DariusMom]

Originally Posted by cassandraz 

Aside from the topic, my daughter was rejected today from the Waldorf school here for no particular reason, so we will be continuing with our homeschooling plans.

So sorry.