scandal at local Waldorf school - Page 2

[mother of three]

I would like to clarify one issue. I have no idea what the educational background of Ms. McConnel is. I was referring to my daughter's class teacher who hadn't any college education and although in her class there wasn't any physical abuse that I knew of, there were situations of psychological abuse. My impression was this was due to her lack of understanding of children and their educational needs not to mention in waldorf terms the development of their "astral body" (during the 7-14 year age bracket the teacher need to develop this part of the child). What I was sure of was that for the most part these were not the type of adults I wanted my 3 children role modeling off of. As mothers, we know that our children role model all the time off of the adults in their enviroment and if there is severe shaking, nasty comments about abilities, hand bounding and mouth taping, kids may imitate that later in life.

In response to Hydrangea on the teacher who gave a student whiplash. You mention that it was a male teacher. The incident that I was referring to was a female teacher so this must have happened a couple of times at HVS. It is unfortunate that HVS is not accountable regarding these child abuse issues. I want to know why if this is out in the media criminal charges aren't brought against this teacher. When my children attended HVS it was an "insider" parent whose child was injured so they kept the issue between the parent and teacher.

One last comment. It is always interesting to me to look at what the graduates have done since they left Waldorf and then to look back at who their class teacher was. It can be very telling.

[anythingelse]

Currently, teachers in CA must have a BA plus two years of graduate study and supervised student teaching resulting postgraduate degree (in CA called a "credential" ) to teach in a public school classroom as the teacher of record (which simply means head teacher or teacher in charge).

Interesting... that is what many people believe but not what I have lived. I know my sil is teaching in ca ps right now while pursuing her bachelor's in elem ed. that is all they required of her as a new hire. Personally, I really do not think that many years of college defines a persons teaching ability or success in a traditional classroom anyway.

I have not found those qualifications mentioned to be the case as a parent or teacher - in any state we have lived in, especially in CA private schools, we will have to agree to disagree about this. We are getting ready to move back to CA again and I have been heavily recruited by a district that knows we are coming my mom taught there for over 20 years before coming to midwest to teach 20 more, my sil & cousins teach in the area. Seems to me that teacher qualification ( what is stated is 'law' and what they actually require) in all kind of schools varys from district to district depending on administration whims, and from this thread -- certainly in private schools there is a lack of accountability to the parents.

Mary
mom to ds 14 1/2, ds9, ds6, dd 3 1/2

[hbhales]

Vanna's mom

Please send me a private message. It is a violation of state law for a teacher without a bachelor's degree to even substitute in a California public school class room. Should the CCTC become aware of this situation, the repercussions could be severe.

As I stated before, a public school teacher in CA can be hired with say a bacherlor's degree in basket weaving (doesn't matter as long as it's from an accredited college or university approved to issue degrees) and teach 4th grade on an emergency credential while pursuing the required postgraduate degree ("credential") in either elementary education. Perhaps this is what your sister in law is doing? Or perhaps she is an aide or assistant teacher who is supervised or overseen by a properly credentialed teacher?

At any rate, the situation you describe is *highly* illegal. If indeed she lacks a four year degree+ passage of the CBEST, her job and the jobs of the people who put her into that public school classroom are in jeopardy. I have no wish to get her in trouble, but this sort of thing almost always comes to light sooner or later. Send me a private message so that I can forward some info to her through you.

Here are some links for you to peruse as to what the law requires of teachers and school districts in the state of California. Honestly, I find this hard to believe with the number of out of work teachers I know personally who are looking for work right now. Many of them have Masters degrees in Education in addition to their credentials. A copy of a valid credential or emergency permit must be submitted to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Board of Education with every new hire in every public school in every district in this state. This has been the law for many years. An emergency permit cannot be obtained without an official copy of valid college transcripts showing the award of a bachelor's degree as well as proof of passage of the CBEST. A teaching credential cannot be awarded without showing the same proof of completion of an accredited post-baccalaureate teacher education program.

http://www.calteach.com/require/ba01.html

http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo...ts/cl533p.html

http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentialinfo...ts/cl561c.html

Private schools are an entirely different matter. This is why Waldorf schools don't have to require *anything* of their teachers. Unlike the public school system, there is no law which compels them to do so. It is up to the individual private school to decide what combination of education or experience they will require of their teachers. At the extremely prestigious prep school my brother attended, 75% of the teachers did not have a state issued teaching credential. 99% had a master's or doctorate in the subject they taught. None lacked a bachelor's degree. The parents who sent their children to that school simply would not have tolerated teachers without college degrees. Not to say that more education always equals better teachers, but the law in the sate of California does set certain minimum standards for public school teachers.

[hydrangea]

Originally posted by Mom4tot
There are many stories of famillies being expelled from Waldorf schools for asking questions and voicing disagreement. This is such a scary story. Just because a classroom is beautiful does not mean everything that goes on there is beautiful. In our local Waldorf school a little girl was pushed from the top of the slide by 2 other little girls because she wasn't wearing a dress. The teacher in that case told the mom "the children will work it out". Again, no accountability.

I was bullied in my Waldorf kindergarten, and my mother complained to the teacher, who told her "Your daughter is just a victim." Someone else explained to my mother that this was in line with the Waldorf philosophy of karma.

That was toward the end of kindergarten, and I went on to a wonderful class teacher in first grade, thankfully. Otherwise I hope my mother would not have kept me in the school.

Anyway, the article did come out in the local paper today. Here's the link: Teacher's discipline called "inappropriate". I was very glad to see it. It said some things that haven't been said yet. It interviewed someone who is leaving his child in the class.

Cumulus and Mother of Three might know that Columbia County is small and everybody knows each other, even outside the Hawthorne Valley community. This is why I'm now not even comfortable telling you my opinions on the individual comments in the article -- I know 3/5ths of the people interviewed, and I'm afraid particular things I could say could get back to the individuals involved. I think this has a lot to do with why more isn't being done. The HVS community itself is very insular, and then the rest of the county still has to live with each other. It's a difficult situation to be in.

I am glad though that this has been published, and I hope that it sets some things into motion. I feel that I have done my job as my children don't even go to that school. Does anyone have thoughts on what else I could or should do?

Mother of Three, yes, it must have happened more than once. Or perhaps the story I heard about this man (from the mother who removed her child from his class because of what he did to the boy) was told to me at the same time as the story about the whiplash so I confused the two stories.

Oh, and Mother of Three and Hbhales --

[BusyMommy]

[TraceyMc]

That is so terrible. I love that area and have considered moving there myself for my daughter to attend that school-scary! I have talked to you about it before Hydrangea-remember me?

In MD and PA you have to have a bachelor's degree and the Waldorf teacher training in order to teach. I am starting the waldorf teacher training next summer.

I can't believe they are just sweeping it under the rug like that, especially when the children stay with the same teacher through the grades. So sad.

[hydrangea]

Great news!

A woman who recently moved to this area in order to send her daughter to this school was so upset by this story that she took action. She got about 170 parents (the school has about 300 students and a lot are siblings or children of teachers) to sign a petition. I believe the petition asked for that teacher to be let go and for the school to come up with a policy on corporal punishment. I was pretty sure what would happen is that the family who got the petition together would be asked not to return in the fall.

But it actually worked! Everything is changing! Not only is that one teacher leaving, but a few other teachers who have questionable pasts have been asked to leave, the core group of parents and teachers who have stood up for these teachers and served on pretty much all the committees, has been disbanded, and a few are leaving "in protest." The school is now working on a corporal punishment policy. Would you believe the core group had believed the stuff going on there was okay because Steiner had said it was okay -- back when the types of things he said were okay were actually much better than what was happening in most schools?! The PTO will now no longer be entirely appointed by that core group of teachers -- parents will elect themselves.

A lot of things are happening, and I think it's great. It is such a beautiful community with so much potential, and I am thrilled things are changing.

We are still homeschooling, but it is nice to know that in the future, if I need to send my girls to school, the Waldorf school is a safe option.

[lauren]

Wow-That is so cool! Proof that one person really can make a difference. I hope the new structure works well and that the whole community can move on!

[mother of three]

Hydrangea,

Thanks for sharing that news. This type of action is a huge step forward for the HVS community and brings hope that nothing but good will come with these radical steps. Bravo to the parent who initiated it and for pursuing positive change. It had been tried in the past without luck due to the inner core. Maybe the hard line pedagogues can start rereading their Steiner and try to understand truely what the "wisdom of man" means in this new millenium. Out of curiousity and only if you are comfortable but would you mind the initials of the ones who are leaving to see if they were the same ones who have habitually driven HVS on an odd path. If you aren't comfortable I understand.

You are completely right in thinking it is a beautiful area. We miss Dutchess and Columbia county with all the natural gifts and interesting people. Enjoy homeschooling your girls. They grow up fast. My oldest is heading off to college in a few weeks! Best of luck.

[hydrangea]

Mother of Three, I would give you initials, except that I don't know most of the names more than just to recognize them when I hear them.

There is one man who my dh and I know in a different function who is probably leaving, whose initials are B.F., but I couldn't tell you about anyone else. If I find out, I will let you know.

It is a wonderful thing. I think it will only bring good things to that school and community and this area at large.

Congrats on your daughter heading off to college. That's amazing, and a big step for all of you.

[Margaret Barr]

Hydrangea -

Thank you for your posts -- I am reading this thread in disbelief, as in just a few weeks we are planning to commute 45 min. each way to attend this school!

I am somewhat relieved at the fact that there are changes, but not totally convinced that this is the right place (especially since we would have to move to attend the school in the long term.)

How do you like living where you do? Is there a good community of like-minded people? I find where we are (just north of Millbrook) I am hard pressed to find any parents who share my views.

Do you have any advice regarding "trying" the school? (my son is just 2.5 and starting just a day a week). And about moving closer to the school? Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[hydrangea]

I live in Chatham, which is about 10 minutes from the school, and I absolutely love this area. See my description in this thread if you are interested.

We are homeschooling, so I don't have intimate knowledge of Hawthorne Valley, but I know there is a Mommy and Me sort of playgroup there that is there so that parents can get to know the school.

Beyond the last information I posted, I haven't heard anything new. I am pretty confident that many of these changes will be made though.