are waldorf and montessori elitist? - Page 2

[mommy22]

I don't know about Waldorf, but Montessori has certainly not lost it's 'humble beginnings'. If the traditional public school system would sit up and take notice, and use Montessori methods in the classroom, this question of elitist would not even be an issue. Just because one has to pay for such education these days is only the fault of our local governments. What's important is that these methods work. It's just a shame that most of us have to pay for such an education. The only real change in most Montessori classrooms today compared to long ago is that due to societal expectations, the Montessori of today is almost forced to rely on homework and testing to proove themselves. None-the-less, compared to traditional schools, my children have far less testing and homework. I can only thank God that I have a top of the line Montessori Charter school in my area. Without this, I would be forced to go back to work to pay for a good education for my children. We are not an elitist school. We have children from all walks of life, and from all ends of the economic scale. We attend a Montessori school based on their educational methods, not because Montessori is some sort of 'title'.

[Rhonwyn]

Most Waldorf schools are not elitest.

There are always exceptions so I am sure that some Waldorf schools have lost sight of their origins. Most Waldorf schools have some form of tuition assistance, even very pricey ones. One of the things I have heard is that Steiner believed that parents should pay something for schooling because they will then appreciate it more. I don't think my school will ever have complete scholarships but we are working toward the day where lower income parents will only have to pay a nominal monthly payment.