waldorf parents/teachers - input please

[napless]

So, we've narrowed it down to unschooling or Waldorf. I like the idea of a community, so Waldorf is attractive. We have rejected public school and other private school options for lots of reasons, the chief one being that we do not want our children's innate love/thirst/drive for learning to be blunted.

So, that's my question: in your experience, does Waldorf education foster that love - or at least leave it alone? (I know that the theoretical answer is yes it does - but many public school teachers would say - and honestly believe - that public school fosters a love of learning too. I categorically disagree with that.)

In real life, does Waldorf nurture a child's passion for learning? As I've researched, I've come to realize that that's all I care about. I don't care if my child learns to read at school (he'll learn that at home by osmosis). I don't care if he's allowed to use black crayons. I don't care if 100% of the curriculum is about fairies and gnomes. Just tell me that he won't stop loving to learn, and we're in!

(I realize that I'll have to do more research about our local Waldorf school, but what has your experience been?)

[Deborah]

my answer is yes

Well, my daughter attended two waldorf schools, one in LA from nursery school through 7th grade and one in Toronto from 10th through 12th.

She loved school, loved learning at school and has become an active, curious continuing to learn adult. She completed an environmental engineering degree with a water quality emphasis and worked in her field before switching to motherhood (she says motherhood is much harder than engineering, by the way).

She has two children. The four year old is in a waldorf nursery program in Vermont (1 1/2 days a week) and the baby is at home. She runs a waldorf style day care in her house so she can be there for the kids.

She is currently serving on her second waldorf school board.

So to sum up:

Going to a waldor school did not destroy her enthusiasm for learning AND she likes waldorf so much she is planning on providing the same education for her children.

All that said, there is a lot of variation in waldorf schools and waldorf teachers, so you have to exercise the usual level of judgement and scrutiny that you would exercise in checking out any program for your children. And once they are in the program you need to work at keeping open communication with the teachers and the school and talking about concerns that you have.

Nana

(I went to a waldorf school too, but only for two years as a teenager, so it doesn't carry the same weight. I liked it though!)

[Rhonwyn]

Think about your child's learning style.

Are they very self-motivated? If they are, then unschooling may work better.

If your kid is like mine, likes to learn but doesn't seek it out on his own, then Waldorf would probably be better. My kid needs more guidance than unschooling provides. Remember that Waldorf is not child led but it is child centered. Waldorf has fostered my child's enthusiam for learning but it has also provided the guidance he needed.

Look carefully at the school you are considering as they are all different and every teacher is different.