I have clearly been drinking the Waldorf cool-aid for close to 4 years now - since I first toured a school for my older son, and immediately knew it was the right place. One of the things I like is the pressure to be a better parent - to spend time with my kids rather than siting them in front of a TV or video game - and that the pressure from my sons' peers is not nearly as extreme to have the latest video games or consoles.
Yes, I touched my first computer at age 4 - a Commodore Vic 20 - the predecessor to the Commodore 64. I had a computer at home from that time on, and they started formal classes in 3rd grade. I remember learning to use a mouse. Both my husband and I work in the IT field. My kids are limited to 2 hours a week of screen time, and only on weekends - many weeks they don't even get that. Instead, they help me in the kitchen, they make up games, they build forts, they draw so much I could paper my whole house with the results. My 6-year old can use a mouse - earlier than I learned it - and both of them can navigate my iPod or Droid. They sure are focused when they do get time with technology.
I am constantly surprised and impressed by the Waldorf things that once seemed a little nutty to me and how they really work and are just food for my kids' souls. When we started, I couldn't imagine not having cable. Now we have only one tv in the house, and it has only a roku, and it's in our bedroom, which is mostly off-limits to the kids. You should see the pride in my son's eyes when he brings me something he wove or finger knitted or tells me about the umpteenth new game they played outside that day. His joy in cooperation and in creating something is incredible, and it's training him not to be just a 9-5 monkey pounding at a keyboard, but to be a fully engaged human being - even if what he chooses to do has him sitting at a keyboard.
Knitting? That develops hand strength and coordination for writing and typing and more delicate hand work. It also teaches him a respect for things and where they come from. Sweaters don't just magically appear - someone spends time knitting them, and there is a difference between the ones bought cheaply at the store and the ones someone knits with love.
Late reading? It's not late - he's learned true comprehension first. Public schools push early reading too much. He can tell me all of snow white from memory, and not just rote (and not the Disney version). Since age 4, he can follow the complex story lines of chapter books that we read before bedtime, and he can remind me what happened to Laura and Mary last night.
Like many others, I still don't get Eurythmy, but I think it might become clear at some later time. In any case, it has him moving, and that surely is more healthy for a young boy than sitting still.
The current thing that I just love about the school is how it truly is run by the teachers - I now believe that all schools should be, and that more and more relevant training should be required of our teachers - we should raise our teachers up and let them decide how things should be run and make it the lofty position it should be, not a backup for people who failed at some other career.
Is it involved upper-middle class parents? Yes, it is. But the other demographic is people who are struggling day to day just to make the tuition, but like me would put it before paying the mortgage if it came down to that. I do think parents across the board should be more involved - including myself - it is very hard to do too much to support your child. I would prefer more socio-economic diversity, but it's more important to me to have my kids in an environment that I would want to be in if I were the one that had to go to school, and one that prepares them for the ivy league if that's what they choose, or to be happy in a simpler life if they choose that instead.
Are Waldorf kids "Weird"? I sure hope so. I've always said I would hate to be normal. I was "Weird" without a Waldorf education. I don't believe achieving "normal" or "average" to be a laudable goal.
All in all, Waldo
Slashdot Mirror
I have clearly been drinking the Waldorf cool-aid for close to 4 years now - since I first toured a school for my older son, and immediately knew it was the right place. One of the things I like is the pressure to be a better parent - to spend time with my kids rather than siting them in front of a TV or video game - and that the pressure from my sons' peers is not nearly as extreme to have the latest video games or consoles. Yes, I touched my first computer at age 4 - a Commodore Vic 20 - the predecessor to the Commodore 64. I had a computer at home from that time on, and they started formal classes in 3rd grade. I remember learning to use a mouse. Both my husband and I work in the IT field. My kids are limited to 2 hours a week of screen time, and only on weekends - many weeks they don't even get that. Instead, they help me in the kitchen, they make up games, they build forts, they draw so much I could paper my whole house with the results. My 6-year old can use a mouse - earlier than I learned it - and both of them can navigate my iPod or Droid. They sure are focused when they do get time with technology. I am constantly surprised and impressed by the Waldorf things that once seemed a little nutty to me and how they really work and are just food for my kids' souls. When we started, I couldn't imagine not having cable. Now we have only one tv in the house, and it has only a roku, and it's in our bedroom, which is mostly off-limits to the kids. You should see the pride in my son's eyes when he brings me something he wove or finger knitted or tells me about the umpteenth new game they played outside that day. His joy in cooperation and in creating something is incredible, and it's training him not to be just a 9-5 monkey pounding at a keyboard, but to be a fully engaged human being - even if what he chooses to do has him sitting at a keyboard. Knitting? That develops hand strength and coordination for writing and typing and more delicate hand work. It also teaches him a respect for things and where they come from. Sweaters don't just magically appear - someone spends time knitting them, and there is a difference between the ones bought cheaply at the store and the ones someone knits with love. Late reading? It's not late - he's learned true comprehension first. Public schools push early reading too much. He can tell me all of snow white from memory, and not just rote (and not the Disney version). Since age 4, he can follow the complex story lines of chapter books that we read before bedtime, and he can remind me what happened to Laura and Mary last night. Like many others, I still don't get Eurythmy, but I think it might become clear at some later time. In any case, it has him moving, and that surely is more healthy for a young boy than sitting still. The current thing that I just love about the school is how it truly is run by the teachers - I now believe that all schools should be, and that more and more relevant training should be required of our teachers - we should raise our teachers up and let them decide how things should be run and make it the lofty position it should be, not a backup for people who failed at some other career. Is it involved upper-middle class parents? Yes, it is. But the other demographic is people who are struggling day to day just to make the tuition, but like me would put it before paying the mortgage if it came down to that. I do think parents across the board should be more involved - including myself - it is very hard to do too much to support your child. I would prefer more socio-economic diversity, but it's more important to me to have my kids in an environment that I would want to be in if I were the one that had to go to school, and one that prepares them for the ivy league if that's what they choose, or to be happy in a simpler life if they choose that instead. Are Waldorf kids "Weird"? I sure hope so. I've always said I would hate to be normal. I was "Weird" without a Waldorf education. I don't believe achieving "normal" or "average" to be a laudable goal. All in all, Waldo