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Originally Posted by yosbert Can you elaborate a bit more on the waldorf method and how its different from the traditional methods of teaching followed in other schools. I guess I can find out more from google, but it always helps to hear a first hand perspective. |
Sure thing,we did a lot of looking around/asking around etc before we decided that Waldorf was the best method for our daughter.The Waldorf method was introduced by a person called Rudolph Steiner hence the method is also referred to as Steiner Education at times.
These schools follow their own curriculum till the 7th std after which they are integrated into the CBSE/ICSE curriculum.Some of the highlights are that the system is in no hurry to rush things into the child,things "happen" to the child at their own pace and are never forced onto them.Kids dont learn to write till the age of 6yrs.No books till the 6th and every subject is introduced so beautifully that the kids dont even realise that they are actually studying it.Music is an integral part of waldorf system,so any waldorf school is forever filled with music and songs,and lots of open spaces,greenery etc.If you look at it,the methods are not something new they are very much old ones that got lost in the mad rush of competitive schooling.A very pertinent point I have noticed across all waldorf schools is that kids simply love their schools and love going there and weekends make them sad since they cant go to school!
Also the same teacher carries the child all the way from class 1 to class 7 which makes the teacher-student bond very strong.since the method is such,the teachers are also excellent and teachers rarely leave in the middle.there is usually no concept of a headmaster/principal etc,all decisions are democratically taken by a large board of teachers.Yes initial days we very much had our apprehensions since we all came from the so called "conventional orthodox convent style" schools and when we saw kids who couldnt write till they were 6,it was a bit of an apprehension for us.But today seeing the way our child has been moulded,we firmly believe it was one of the best decisions we took.There are no monthly fancy dress competitions,no home works,no "project" work,no sticking of stickers on chart paper,absolutely no pressure on the parents or the kids.It is just a journey IMHO.
Most of us had our own set of doubts since the method is quite new in India,but what reinforced our belief was when a Waldorf child was among the 1st 5 ranks in the CBSE 10th last year,it was proof enough for us that this system worked.All teachers in Waldorf schools undergo a mandatory training program on the method and are so open and warm and ever ready to meet and discuss.There is no terror angle which is usually related to a parent-teacher meeting in any waldorf school,and the teachers are forever ready to work with kids if they find any special attention or need is required for a particular child.No mention of anything called as private tuition.
All things used in Waldorf schools are natural,colors come from natural sources and are made by the kids themselves,use of mud and clay is very huge.kids learn all kinds of creative things like music,carpentry,gardening,farming etc,They get their hands dirty right from a small age.Only evaluations happen till the age of 7(so the fear of exams is never there).We get these confused looks and questions from our friends when their kids struggle with project work,mugging up rhymes while our one is totally unaware of these concepts.Yes if you want to play the devil's advocate,one might ask how will these kids cope up with pressures in later life,but believe me they do,because waldorf is more of a holistic development.At times I really wish that this system was there when I was schooling
A point to note is that waldorf schools are very difficult to set up in the middle of cities as the stress is on large campus and space,hence almost all waldorf schools in India are on the outskirts.Our little one started to travel 20kms one way in the bus right from the time she was 3.5yrs and she used to love it.Lunch is usually at school itself and upto class 1,kids sleep in the school after lunch.Again this was a bone of apprehension for us as we did not know if it was right to send a small one to such a large distance and keep the little one away from home for such a large amount of time,but with time,the doubts got erased.Each class would not have a strength of more than 15 children.As per them a teacher would not be able to dedicate time and effort for more than 20kids in a class.
Overall IMO,this kind of education is definitely the way forward.I am not putting down the other methods of alternate education,for each child their own system works,but seeing the pros of waldorf,it forces me to think that this is definitely going to work.A perfect case in example is that when our daughter started school there was just one section of 9kids,today there are 2 sections of 15kids each.
Another notable thing is you would never ever find a Waldorf school advertising for admissions etc.All schools firmly believe in the word of mouth.No print media advertisements for them,their belief is that only the really passionate parents would come seeking,which I find to be a good thing.
Fees are very affordable and I havent heard of any waldorf school talking about anything like library fund,building fund etc.They all usually have three components-a tuition fee,a bus fee and a lunch fee.
At any given time, you would also find big kids from Waldorf schools from other countries coming/going to other Waldorf schools to teach their areas of expertise to the kids in those schools which is also quite exciting as it is quite a bit of knowledge sharing.
At the moment the following are the Waldorf schools in India afaik:
Hyderabad www.slokawaldorf.org www.abhayaschool.org Mumbai www.tridha.com Pune www.punesteinerschool.org Bangalore www.bangaloresteinerschool.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_education
If anybody is keen on knowing more on the system,I would be more than happy to share specifics.Feel free to either pm me or write here.
The easiest way to know more about waldorf school would be to call up the school and fix up an appointment,and the school's teacher would take the parent through the entire system of how its done.
Also another thing I missed mentioning is that I am yet to hear of a Waldorf school denying admission to any child on the basis of a child not being good enough.Admissions are open throughout the year,which is a huge relief as there is no waiting in lines for the form,sleeping on the footpaths to be the first to get the form etc.There is no such thing as testing a child,they just analyse the child so that they know how to work with him or her.