Our Experience with a Waldorf School

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  • Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
  • at the end of the day; I believe that whatever works best for someone and whatever they decide is right for them. but I had to share our experience because I felt like it would be a disservice not to.
    LINKS:
    My Blog Post with References:
    www.saramichae...
    I'm just begging you to be INFORMED and AWARE.
    Do your OWN research as well.
    + + MORE LINKS + +
    "The Occult Significance of Blood" by Rudolf Steiner - the Founder
    • The Occult Significanc...
    FACTORY MEETINGS WITH RUDOLF STEINER PDF LINK:
    www.rsarchive....
    RUDOLF STEINER HOW TO KNOW HIGHER WORLDS
    • Rudolf Steiner - How t...
    WEIRD WALDORF
    sites.google.c...
    WALDORF LAWSUIT
    rense.com/poli...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 859

  • @nicolebennett3413
    @nicolebennett3413 4 роки тому +146

    This woman accidentally sent her child to Hogwarts and has the audacity to complain about it.

  • @jacintagorchs6420
    @jacintagorchs6420 Рік тому +29

    I went to a Waldorf school for 13 years. It was the best experience I could have ever had.

    • @getgoinng3878
      @getgoinng3878 Рік тому +1

      Hi,
      Can you please tell me which Waldorf School you went to?

    • @funkycoMedina
      @funkycoMedina Рік тому +5

      What do you do for a living now? Curious to hear the different or similar answers

    • @saintamerican6105
      @saintamerican6105 8 місяців тому

      And I guarantee you do Yoga and pray to one of the gods. But you definitely dont believe in Jesus and read the Bible. But you believe in fairytales and demonology gore.

  • @annii2300
    @annii2300 4 роки тому +68

    hey! I want to give you my opinion about it, as a Waldorf student I can say that this school was probably not really a Waldorf school ... the Waldorf schools have nothing to do with witchcraft ... and I feel very sad that you had this experience because the best thing that happened to me in life was to study in a waldorf school

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +10

      Hey Anna - first off - THANK YOU for sharing your opinion RESPECTFULLY. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this comment. I’m so happy you had a great experience!

    • @1236y
      @1236y Рік тому

      I was going to say the same. Perhaps it was a school with New Age overtones that wants to pass as a Waldorf School. I would report them to the North America Association for using the name. In any case, she is definitely not going back so it does not matter. I have four adult children who went through a Steiner school and none of this witchy stuff ever happened there. Too bad, as it gives Warldorf Schools a bad name.

    • @getgoinng3878
      @getgoinng3878 Рік тому +1

      @annapereyrapeiru
      Can you please tell us which school you went to? You are from which country?

    • @fafoosnick6839
      @fafoosnick6839 4 місяці тому

      That’s not true. Waldorf curriculum is based on teachings from Rudolph Steiner, a know spiritualist and expert in the occult. Many Waldorf schools participate in known Wiccan holidays such as Beltane, etc., which is all based on witchcraft.

  • @acedarose
    @acedarose 5 років тому +82

    I’m a Steiner / Waldorf student and this is NOT the average Waldorf education you’re talking about... my school is not anything like that, so please don’t target Waldorf, it’s that particular school in the wrong.
    Are you saying all Waldorf schools are haunted and witch craft like?????
    Please. Sorry but you sound out of your mind.
    Never touched a wand in my life so don’t make assumptions.

    • @deanne455
      @deanne455 6 місяців тому

      She’s very kind and clear about the way she approaches this video. You just sound mean. You can share this opinion and your experience without making comments about her “sounding out of her mind”. At this point since you can’t have an objective standpoint in this conversation you’re the last person I’d listen to🤷🏻‍♀️

    • @jen_sen8508
      @jen_sen8508 3 місяці тому

      ​@@deanne455 as someone who also went to a waldorf school i can tell you she definitely does sound out of her mind lol

  • @Emilysmith-ss2pk
    @Emilysmith-ss2pk 6 років тому +182

    my first school was steiner and i left in year five....we were never taught how to "cast spells with wands" we were taught to respect nature and yes the celebrations for winter and summer ect were alike to some wiccan celebrations thats as close as it got to witchcraft

    • @Emilysmith-ss2pk
      @Emilysmith-ss2pk 6 років тому +18

      (wicca is not witchcraft it is only a religion in where u respect nature )

    • @owentaylor7215
      @owentaylor7215 6 років тому +32

      I go to waldorf and agree it’s some cult shit

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  6 років тому +16

      Thanks for your feedback Emily - it may be something some people are comfortable with depending on their beliefs. I simply encourage my audience to do their research & be educated!

    • @gabriellameattray9778
      @gabriellameattray9778 3 роки тому +2

      @@owentaylor7215 I'm so sorry you went to a Waldorf school. Are you ok??

    • @owentaylor7215
      @owentaylor7215 3 роки тому +5

      @@gabriellameattray9778 i am now left after sophomore year and am suprised that a free public school is better than that expensive education

  • @GarethWareth
    @GarethWareth 6 років тому +145

    Sorry, what? This isn't Steiner/Waldorf education. My mum is a qualified teacher and I went through Steiner/Waldorf education my entire education.
    I'm not saying this didn't happen. Just that this isn't Steiner education. Rudolph Steiner's personal ideals are not pushed on students and that is not what teachers, who usually have to go through a specific teacher training. From my experience and knowledge, Steiner is supposed to teach about all religion as well as spiritual freedom.
    America is a weird place and these kinds of things are more common in the US. Not just Steiner schools but with religious schools, some public schools, some private schools and also some Montessori schools. A lot more shit is allowed to slide and education is much less regulated in the US than it is here in most of Europe.
    I will say, because Steiner attracts a lot of "hippy" people, some of them are very weird. I've been to three Steiner schools and my mum has taught at four. There are some teachers that shouldn't be teachers and some schools which are badly run - both of which occur in other education forms and are much more common in public schools (at least here in the UK). Some schools are just shit and Steiner schools are not prone to being run badly or in the hands of incompetent and sometimes strange people.
    I don't recognise that "clique-ness" you describe. There is a community, but the only reason it tends to be closer is because the schools are smaller. There's no weird witchcraft going on. That is not Steiner and if it's happening at a school, that sounds like exploitation.
    There is a lot of opposition to Steiner education that really comes from a place of ignorance. I recognise you open-mindedness to this and respect that. Your blog however is a little misinforming. You insinuate that all Steiner schools are the same and I can tell you, they are not. They don't bow down to a central body, most are pretty much independently run. More influence generally comes from the government than it does the "Steiner community". There are some bad schools out there, as with any type of school. Secrecy is not a thing, every Steiner school I've attended have been very open to the public, students go on to be successful and the education they go to after Steiner tend to love Steiner students. And I know for a fact this is the case for most Steiner schools.
    There are, however, some badly run schools. I know one in the UK was pretty bad for bullying. They simply didn't have the people capable of dealing with that. However, that is much more common in public education. And you can see the effects of public education in the US with the number of school shootings that happen.
    That said, some parents won't like Steiner.
    And I'm not going to discredit your experience. There are some bad schools out there. What you're saying (with the wands) sound suite unbelievable. But if whoever runs that school isn't being checked on, then who knows what could happen? I am also aware, that there's a lot of bullshit opposition and propaganda about Steiner schools. And also aware that there are a lot of people who have lied about stuff. Hope that isn't you, but you aren't fully informed. That much is clear from your blog and video. So thought I'd comment here.
    Finally, I'm sorry if you had that experience. But if it is true, name the school and report it to whoever is supposed to check on schools in the US. Because it sounds bullshit. I mainly wanted to comment so that if this is people's first time hearing about Steiner, they can understand that the vast majority are perfectly good schools.

    • @claudiafernandez2893
      @claudiafernandez2893 5 років тому +4

      Andy she explained very well read all what she wrote, is not all schools, is like in other type of schools you find good ones or found those that hit to kids, or put them in dark rooms to make them be “good kids” and are not Steiner schools, so generalized is bad whatever you choose for you kids you have to make your own research, how many years have been this school running, should i contact graduated people?, is an authorized school, is this the school for my kid? Etc ... how many illegal schools are out there !!!

    • @reidb6327
      @reidb6327 5 років тому +10

      Amazing how u can deny how bad these schools are .

    • @kalsumal2791
      @kalsumal2791 5 років тому +3

      Gareth Ford-Elliott, May I ask which Steiner school did you attend in the UK, I’m looking into sending my child. Thank you 😊

    • @lo-fi-meditation
      @lo-fi-meditation 5 років тому +3

      Right. I'll just leave these here, then.
      ua-cam.com/video/x8VHZM8RVL8/v-deo.html
      ua-cam.com/video/WpOXitdxzk4/v-deo.html

    • @charlottefitzpatrick2976
      @charlottefitzpatrick2976 5 років тому +1

      Kal Sumal I would highly highly reccomend you do not go to botton village school. It’s wack. That’s all I’m gonna say as I’d have to write multiple paragraphs of my experiences with bullying, restriction to information, etc. I’d recommend that you go to a city Steiner school if you insist on going to one as they are from my experience better and less “fishy”. As always, do your own research as the quality of the schools varies massively from school to school and always listen to your children when they tell you about school over what teachers allege telling you

  • @juliatokiohotellover
    @juliatokiohotellover 5 років тому +83

    I went to a Waldorf school and what you describe is not Waldorf education. I firmly believe that I would not be the person I am without the Waldorf school. I am so grateful for my Waldorf education and will be sending my children there. All I can say is what you describe is not a Waldorf school.

    • @thsu8
      @thsu8 5 років тому +3

      I totally agree, thank you for sharing

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому +8

      Then what you attended was not a TRUE Waldorf school founded in Rudolf Steiner’s original intentions. If it were, you would probably have experienced more of these things. I’m happy you had a positive experience; but if you haven’t researched into the true intentions of Waldorf schools, then you have no clue.
      There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between Waldorf-ish or Waldorf-inspired schools and TRUE Waldorf schools based on his original, intended curriculum.

    • @felixknoll4146
      @felixknoll4146 3 роки тому +9

      @@SaraMichaels apparently you know everything about Steiner and his approach, at least thats how you act. It might be diffrent in america but where I come from (Germany), the Waldorf education is by far the best. I absolutely agree with Julia M. And wihtout a doubt not every German citizen would agree with me. Nontheless a waldorfschool provides everything that a normal school provides, and the standards are obv much higher over here, but with the massive diffrence that the education goes beyond the simple things we learn and even If you dont realize it the Things you do in said schools, even If they seem off help you in many ways.

    • @felixknoll4146
      @felixknoll4146 3 роки тому +6

      And since you Always state that those good experiences are from a waldorf-ish school and we didnt Experience the true idea. Im pretty certain its the other way around and you might not be able to understand the depth of steiners ideas (which is obv no problem). Hence it isnt very wise to give a statement that might end Up being pretty short sighted (no doubt mine could be as well).

    • @XsigmaZ
      @XsigmaZ 3 роки тому +5

      @@SaraMichaels Hey Sara there is a swedish documentary about a Waldorf school in sweden called Solviks school, its a 3 part doc (1x3 hours). Where ppl describe how the went there for 12 years and got and educated without even being able to read and such. its very very controversial. The principal is livid cause he feel like the painted his school as a cult. Also the principal (i think) have gotten diagnosed with a psychopath label. what you describe is soo the same vibe as i got from that documentary. Thanks for sharing

  • @emmareverie1694
    @emmareverie1694 5 років тому +35

    I’m not saying what happens to you is not valid but I don’t know what school you went to but it is not a true waldorf school. I attend one right now actually and none of these things happen.Yes we do some spiritual things like say a small blessing before we eat to show gratitude and we say a morning verse which is just about trying our hardest at school and always striving to be a better person. Yes some people can be a little “hippy” but I’d say more people aren’t like that. We actually have classes where the teacher brings in a laptop. Basically the point of the class is not about “technology is evil” but more of technology in moderation is good and also learning to effectively be safe on the internet and use it efficiently for learning. But I mean we talk to our teachers about movies and shows and memes! The philosophy is like learning for the heart,brain and hands meaning ex. In public school you may learn about how plants grow and read from a textbook but here we’d grow the plants ourselves. You know putting yourself through the experience. They teach to always be kind to others and never compare yourself to others.The teachers especially our main teacher is incredibly close to us. We are like a family. It’s quite obvious the love the teacher has for their students and we love our teachers back. Our teacher says it was one of the hardest things to do to come to teach our class. She said she thought that she’d “fail us” but she says now she’d never take back that decision and never regretted it.Honestly my teacher has helped me through some of the toughest times of my life. I used to go to a public school but coming to this school in grade 4 saved my life honestly cuz I was bullied severely at my past school. All I want to say is that just do research but true waldorf schools are not like that. And the real ones out there I would strongly recommend. Thanks for reading 😂

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +3

      thanks so much for sharing, Emma! and I'm happy you found a school you like. Perhaps your school was different; or the one we were attending was a little different. I just wanted to encourage everyone to research and look truly at Steiner's principles (either via his books, the handbook & curriculum that Waldorf was founded after, or audiobooks on UA-cam).
      Or even pick up copies of the founding principles. Page 54 (thanks to a fellow community member who shared the literature link!) here is what the page says is the goal for Waldorf teachers "Most of that which contributes to our work as teachers preparation work, artistic work, even meditative work, is under the guardianship of Lucifer.We can become great teachers under his supervision, for he is responsible for much that has blossomed in the unfolding of civilization and culture in the past".
      and maybe some people are ok with that - again. to each their own. But there is definitely an underlying mission + foundation that even I think the best of experiences or teachers are possibly unaware of.
      Best of luck - thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts; I appreciate it! Wishing you happy holidays and thank you for being here!

    • @alexanderpinchuk2866
      @alexanderpinchuk2866 5 років тому

      Hey! What country are you from? I just wonder if you go to a Waldorf high school or if it is only up to the 8th grade like most Waldorf Schools in America. I'm from Russia and here you go to the same school for all 11 or 12 years, whether it's Waldorf or not. That's why I wonder how waldorf schools with only 8 grades work

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 5 років тому +1

      Sara Michaels Do you have a link for the founding principles? I would love to research the info you are sharing. Thanks.

    • @reidb6327
      @reidb6327 5 років тому +1

      Bullshit

  • @BM-nm1gc
    @BM-nm1gc 5 років тому +29

    🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 you clearly need to looking to the whole philosophy of Waldorf. Not just go off of a website. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +3

      I understand this now - which is exactly what I did AFTER this experience. I addition to doing HOURS of research, pouring through old manuscripts and meeting notes, reading Steiner’s philosophies, I also received manuals from previous teachers. So - I’m quite convinced that there are other things going on in TRUE Waldorf-based schools (not Waldorf-INSPIRED schools - BIG difference) and it’s why I shared this video.

  • @angelanbayern5302
    @angelanbayern5302 5 років тому +70

    I am a Waldorf parent, but here in Germany. None of the things you describe happen at my daughter‘s school, and this is the home country of Rudolf Steiner‘s school and pedagogy. The curriculum changes through the years. First and second grades are about fairytales and saints, second grade the Old Testament, fourth grade covers Norse mythology, fifth grade on Ancient Greece, and eventually the kids learn about other religions and cultures. I believe it is because Steiner himself believed in spirituality over specific religions, although he did not denigrate the latter. For sure, I would find out if this school your son went to is affiliated with AWSNA. If not, please inform AWSNA, because they are keenly interested in ensuring no school passes itself off as a Waldorf school if it in fact, is not.
    To be sure, Steiner‘s pedagogy is not for parents of kids who believe in the traditional model, and at our school, great effort is made to educate the parents about Steiner’s philosophy and pedagogy. Also the parents‘ nights are unconventional but intellectually stimulating; there is a bit of school daily business discussed but there are guest lecturers on ecological topics, child development topics, and even subject matter review for the parents (e.g. Einstein’s theory of relativity for example).
    I understand how it might seem cliquish in that many of the parents do not want their kids going to the Waldorf school if the parents of other kids allow their own to have a lot of plastic toys, iPads, other electronic items, etc., because after all, part of the Waldorf environment is a focus on nature and emphasizes that artificial toys and electronics are not good for the child’s psyche, and surprise surprise, if you are paying private school tuition you do not want any influences in the school, be it from peers or parents of the peers, that reduce the impact of the ambience you pay for.
    Example- my kid got a present- a knitting kit- that had plastic knitting needles and my child made the mistake of bringing it to school. I got shade from other parents and my kid got shade from a few kids in the class. There we go. The message is, get on the bandwagon or leave, see.
    That said, I very much like the bandwagon because I think the norms and culture of the Waldorf schools are the way that we as humans should evolve in order to sustain our societies and sustain our environment.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +6

      thank you for sharing! I appreciate the feedback. there were certain aspects (such as sustainability) that I definitely would like to see in our society and environment; just perhaps with a more forthright and less underlying spiritual agenda. although i am happy to hear this doesn't sound like it is occurring in your particular school

    • @magyar5615
      @magyar5615 5 років тому +5

      In the US, in Illinois in particular, things are out of control and the kids are at risk, at the minimum left to roam unsupervised for most of the day, and the after school program is non-existent: the kids are literally running amok without anyone from the school anywhere to be seen. Very scary, and a lot of bullying goes on that clearly is not seen by anyone in charge.

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 5 років тому +3

      Lawrn West Have these “schools” been reported? What you are describing does not sound like any Waldorf school I have experienced. Unsupervised and endangered students is a serious thing.

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 Рік тому

      @@ilsa_xo My children attended Waldorf schools, when the children played independently outside, in nature not a schoolyard playground- woods, bogs, etc, the teacher was around and didn't interfere unless needed.
      Edit: What Lawrence West was describing is not the "unsupervised" nature playtime we all love about Waldorf education.

    • @michaelaandrews9767
      @michaelaandrews9767 Рік тому

      Americans grow up with an unnatural focus on evil.

  • @HowardEllisonUKVoice
    @HowardEllisonUKVoice 5 років тому +24

    i'm sorry Sara's boy had a bad time, and hope all is well now. Can only remark that my two children say they had a highly positive experience at their UK Waldorf School, going on to college and then out into the wide world as a pair of balanced, good natured, intelligent, peaceable, curious, musical, feeling people. They certainly were not indoctrinated. Their teachers were cheerful, approachable, very devoted to their vocation - never pushed the anthroposophy to the kids or us, though it did underpin their commitment.
    Agreed, some of Steiner's notions might look a bit antiquated, obscure even - but you can say the same of conventional curricula, too. And he did focus on the child as a person, developing their thinking and feeling. He recognised that many children don't have the basic motor skills to write until they are seven, let alone an appropriately developed cognition. When we ignore that we cause grave harm to some boys in particular - stuffing them with Ritalin when they squirm.
    No way would I recommend sending any child into the current state-backed (UK) 'tickbox' educational culture. It starts with testing four-year olds. In the junior years, it goes on to more or less ignore arts, truth about colonialism, the industrial revolution. And no time for human typologies, psychology, critical thinking skills... Kids are born with bright minds and we dumb them down in the earliest years.

  • @franpado9822
    @franpado9822 3 роки тому +29

    I understand what you're saying about feeling like an outsider. I think this happens a lot at any private school. Waldorf Schools are based on the teachings of Rudolph Steiner, a polymath who borrowed many of his ideas from his contemporaries without crediting them. He founded Anthroposophy, a Christian spin-off. Waldorf is not for everyone. But it does show a lot of compassion and respect for children, teaches art as a valid subject, and focuses on helping children develop into their true selves. I'm glad my daughter went to a Waldorf school.

    • @terrylaguardia6838
      @terrylaguardia6838 Рік тому

      Thanks for posting this; I’m wondering, could you be a little more specific? Like if you remember in which book or idea, or better still, could you please direct me to some of the thinkers he borrows from (without crediting)? I’d appreciate any help!

  • @mishahlamazda5812
    @mishahlamazda5812 Рік тому +8

    I was in a Waldorf school. Huge stress on my moms life - she a very particular person and doesn’t let people pressure her into anything she isn’t interested in, and they made her an outsider. One of the teachers, ms loveday, has taught all over North America up until grade 3 and then she moves schools. She caused a bunch of issues, then left after 3rd grade. That’s her MO, evil lady. Waldorf was okay for me, but I’d never send my kids and it’s a completely curly vibe. Also as a side note, there were absolutely no teachers of colour and maybe 5 students total that weren’t white.

  • @MsAlejandraaz
    @MsAlejandraaz 3 роки тому +5

    I am a Waldorf graduate and first off let me say that......this video is extremely upsetting. I didn’t eat organic food, I did watch tv these things have NOTHING to do with the Waldorf education. Also we definitely used a microwave in our Waldorf school kitchen.... everything you say in this video is insulting. Especially about black witches. Your ignorance of our school and it’s core values is disappointing.
    Please do not watch this video.
    You do not have to eat organic or have chickens to attend our school or “fit in” .
    This school encouraged my artistic abilities and each teacher was like family to us. Everything we were interested in they nurtured.

  • @funkycoMedina
    @funkycoMedina Рік тому +11

    My daughter and I went from Montessori to Waldorf. She had been going to Montessori school since she was 2.5 years old while I was a TA at the school. We left the country when she turned 4 for about eight months to be with family, came back and unfortunately lost our placement at the only Montessori school in our area (the school is small and in high demand). I was stuck on alternative education so I was naturally lead towards Waldorf and wanted to give it a try given the frequent comparisons people make about both pedagogies. So to share my experience.. after a couple of weeks into the academic school year she got some headaches, I started noticing red rashes on her temples and third eye after school. I realized it was because they were rubbing essential oils on her face before nap time, I think she told them she didn't want oil on her face because I stopped noticing the rashes. She would also have, a sort of traumatized look, on her face with a sense of confusion after picking her up from school. I think she once cried to me and said she didn't want to go to school anymore. I was concerned and emailed the teacher to ask her why she could be feeling this way. The teacher couldn't give me an explanation, so I was left to guess for myself. After a couple of months in October she was getting nightmares. She was telling me her friends were whispering gory things in ear at recess. There was a time my daughter started talking about blood, cutting off hands, and knives and told me about the conversations the kids would have. I thought whoa, wth, why are these kids talking about this and how aren't the teachers doing anything about it. I found out later on, coincidently, through watching some of Bella Luna's UA-cam videos that the teachers read from GRIMMS books! I thought NO EFFIN WONDER. I was very shocked to find out they were storytelling off of GRIMMS books! If you don't know about it look it up, in short they're very old dark children's stories. I think in Sarah's video she explains why they read from Grimm's stories but, I was sitting there thinking to myself, why isn't this being shared with us parents. Like what actually is being taught in her class, and why is there no transparency in regards to their curriculum. Though I think there is reasoning behind there being no transparency, especially in regards to curriculum (point made later on). The teachers also seem secretive (I definitely wouldn't feel safe with my child and the teacher alone). They're also weird/sketchy and not as friendly as you would think they would be given Waldorf's philosophy as it being coined "social education". So yes, I also see the exclusivity, and get a sense of "cultness" going on. Are our kids being brainwashed, oh without a doubt! Why? It's probably a belief system. I like to joke around with my husband when I'm on the phone with him before walking into the school, I say ok I have to get off the phone now or the tyrants will get upset. In all seriousness, yes Waldorf education is very strange. Waldorf education is the DEFINITION of holistic education, their duty is to foster the WHOLE child and protect that very very much. To them the nature of what makes a child, a child, is very sacred to them. Waldorf wants the kids to be set free of the worries of this world, in every possible sense. Even the pressures of academic competence. So yes, there is no complete transparency in regards to curriculum because they don't want the parents to "care". I think they see themselves as free spirits of the world. Do I think it's a cult, yes, in a way. My daughter is now 5 years of age finishing up the academic school year with Waldorf. I've debated and debated whether I want her to continue (I don't think were are). I can say though that I'm incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to experience Waldorf from a third person perspective as a Montessori teacher, because now I can say NO Montessori and Waldorf are NOT similar. In a sense that they actually both contradict each other in regards to some things that define the core of both. Waldorf is founded on the spirit (spirit based), Montessori is founded on a scientific approach to the whole child. Steiner was a philosopher, Montessori was a scientist. Waldorfians are like hippies out of touch with reality. Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate Waldorf education because it fills in the gaps with what Montessori falls short on and believe one should not exist without the other. Meaning, they both should coexist because when both pedagogies are practiced in a classroom a beautiful classroom environment is created!

    • @brendamiranda1040
      @brendamiranda1040 Рік тому +1

      I have been searching the whole internet for a comment like yours. People put “alternative education” in a basket as if they were all the same, and your comment made it extremely easy to understand the differences.

    • @rainydayjane8257
      @rainydayjane8257 Рік тому +1

      Loved your comment!!
      Thank you 🙏 😊

  • @Pimpjit85
    @Pimpjit85 3 роки тому +11

    Summary:
    1) experienced a haunted house in the past but didn't follow her intuition
    2) thought of the word witchcraft one day picking up her kid
    3) her kid had a nightmares about a black witch
    4) a teacher stared at her
    5) she cried
    6) took her kid out of the school
    Your welcome.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому

      Wow. 😂 You CLEARLY missed some key points. . .
      Maybe how Steiner schools were actually founded out of a CULT MENTALITY to INDOCTRINATE children into their belief system. . . yeah - they seemed to have missed that part on the parent pamphlet.
      Or how this school was in NO WAY transparent about their true intentions or beliefs.
      But - whatev.
      You want to be a troll and try to trivialize my experience with some smart aleck comment. . . congratulations 👏 👏 👏 mission accomplished.

  • @johnevans436
    @johnevans436 Рік тому +7

    I am a parent of 2 children. They went through 8 years of Waldorf School and experienced nothing of the sort that this person is talking about. Quite the opposite in fact. My children loved their experience and say that they will send their children to Waldorf schools. I will say much of any child's and families experience depends on the teachers they get. We happened to get 2 very good ones.
    They both entered public school in 9th grade and did very well academically and socially.
    I agree its not for everyone. They have a lot of ceremony honoring seasons, festivals, developmental stages etc and some of it may seem strange to those not used to ritual and ceremony. If you don't like ceremony, seasonal celebrations and the like and just want to get right to academics and sports then Waldorf schools are not for you. But that is no reason to speak ill of them. I would venture to say far more people love the experience than not.

    • @yanzi8543
      @yanzi8543 Рік тому +2

      The honoring seasons part is so great. Nowadays society is lacking that. Christianity is such a new religion. I really didn't like the normal school much. I'm highly sensitive and I could imagine at least from class five Waldorf would have been better for me.

  • @latetotheparty184
    @latetotheparty184 Рік тому +2

    I have experience with a Waldorf school . It was a very controlled place. I taught music there briefly and I had very strict rules about how I do that. I had to have every student down to the first grade always quiet and attentive. Every student had to learn the recorder for years. I had a 11 year old who hated it and I was not allowed to have him play a drum or something.I could see the seething resentment in his eyes. They payed me almost nothing but had expectations that were very ambitious. It would have taken a lot of domination on my part to produce those kind of results. WTF. I think music education for children should be fun. I was not allowed to do that.
    What got me the most was how all students were controlled even in the playground at lunch or breaks. Teachers were always present everywhere. No competitive games like basketball or soccer. No teasing or what I considered normal childhood taunting, was allowed. I considered that kind of childhood behavior a useful behavior that conditioned children to not be sensitive to slights and to prepare for adulthood. Waldorf was protective and controlling to a huge degree. It seemed like indoctrination to me. I saw lots of the quasi spiritual stuff but not casting of spells.

    • @latetotheparty184
      @latetotheparty184 Рік тому +1

      @@cwy6941 Confusing response. You are not buying recess,(?) apparently, although unclear why, and you think all students should have music lessons at home in addition to music classes in school as you did for your kids. I think you are over personalizing this. Your kids might have talent and been encouraged in that area in fact choosing music as a career.
      I was talking about ALL the kids being forced to play a certain musical instrument that they might not like and to have to do it for YEARS. And all the rules around that. Also very little flexibility about which music I could use. Of the two kids I know that went through it neither plays music today .
      No competitive sports at all ! No keeping score, etc.
      I do have some resentment for them making such a mess of the possibility of having a happy fun experience with music. Why do YOU have so much vitriol about it? It doesn't sound very Waldorf like. Maybe your room colors are off.

    • @cwy6941
      @cwy6941 Рік тому

      @@latetotheparty184 The Waldorf schools that I have experienced first-hand have recess through high school. In all weather. Being physically engaged in the world and not trapped behind technology is one of the tenets to Waldorf education.
      Forced to play an instrument? Interesting choice of words. Students are "forced" to learn math. How to read. Heaven forbid they are "forced" to engage in the arts!!!
      But then again, I don't see it that way. Playing a basic instrument like a recorder is no different than learning other basic skills. And there are mountains of research data that proves playing a musical instrument has incredible benefits for the brain as far as memory, fine motor skills, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
      Neither of my kids took lessons outside of school. We have instruments in the house and they are very comfortable just to play and entertain themselves. Music is not something for "others" or "musicians." It is available to all. Don't see public schools instilling that.
      As for "vitriol", the woman who posted the video projects from her own incredibly limited perspective that all Waldorf schools are bad. And then a gaggle of sycophants nod blithely along.
      PS. My room colors are just fine, thanks. They are a lovely shade of "No B.S. Blue" in watercolor.

    • @latetotheparty184
      @latetotheparty184 Рік тому +1

      @@cwy6941 I didn't say they didn't have recess. I said the breaks and lunches were very controlled and supervised . I didn't say they were for forced to play a musical instrument. They just had no choice over what instruments they could play and were limited to the recorder for more that 5 years. Pity as I thought that kind of stamped out musical interest in some.

  • @ladderman2255
    @ladderman2255 5 років тому +17

    -I go to a Steiner School it’s the parents choice how much techno stuff happens at home.
    -I have attended a Steiner school for 8 years and never had to “cast spells” or been told to recite poems that sounded like spells.
    -that sounds like some weird sh*t. If I, a Steiner kid was told to go there after learning that I would say hell no. It’s with noting that my Waldorf or Steiner school is in England. All the teachers and kids at my school are just like my body else.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +1

      THANK YOU for sharing YOUR experience! It’s so interesting to see the different experiences people have depending on the school and area. I appreciate your respectful response! 🙏

    • @ladderman2255
      @ladderman2255 3 роки тому

      @@andyo-southpawguitaruk5322 theres quite a few. google it. waldorf/steiner schools uk.

  • @princes_luna_bear
    @princes_luna_bear 3 роки тому +72

    I used to go to a Waldorf school and it was the best experience of my life

    • @solsticemeows
      @solsticemeows 2 роки тому +2

      @@ReaperGamZeShorts And a Witch. Lol she's been brainwashed.

    • @Quark_Proto
      @Quark_Proto 2 роки тому

      @@ReaperGamZeShorts the Waldorf cult if you leave you’ll never be heard from again

  • @RestorationAcresTN
    @RestorationAcresTN 4 роки тому +36

    You lost me as soon as you claimed to be faith-filled and complained about the school's supposed occult practices, but stated you'd been participating in a paranormal investigation. Hypocrisy.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +8

      YEP! I participated and never would again! Huge mistake. I’m not perfect - I’m human.

    • @user-rc5nn5hr7v
      @user-rc5nn5hr7v 3 роки тому +4

      If you ever read any book by Rudolph Steiner he openly talks about the occult practices of his religion. He was a prominent occult leader in the theosophy cult by Blovatskiy. Steiner's racial theories and writings are intertwined into the Waldorf curriculum. Rudolph Steiner was pretty much a Nazi and he belonged to a national socialist group. His rave theories put the Aryan race at the top and claims that as people ho through their karma they get reborn into higher level races of which Aryan germans are at the top. He also saw slavic and Jewish people as untermensch. Oh and he was also worked for the Nitsche foundation.

    • @danilaportal2113
      @danilaportal2113 3 роки тому

      Vadik, for your information all waldorf school were closed during SWW...Steiner wasn't racist at all!

    • @mrpoop123
      @mrpoop123 3 роки тому +1

      @@user-rc5nn5hr7v he wasn't a nazi at all...

    • @user-rc5nn5hr7v
      @user-rc5nn5hr7v 3 роки тому +2

      @@mrpoop123 he belonged to social nationalist youth organization and his theories included the Aryans as the pinnacle of human development which he thought Germans embodied. There were 5 stages of human development which people move through by reincarnation and karma. The top stage is the Aryan stage which he believed Germans were at. He also believed that all scientific progress was made by German people. He also believed that Slavic people are a threat to German purity as a race. So no he wasnt part of the Nazi party since he died before they became prominent but his occultist theories greatly contributed to the Nazi ideology. Rudolph Steiner was the head if the Nietzsche library which was Hitler''s favorite philosopher who proposed the theory of untermensche and how the strong should exploit the weak. He also ran in the same circles as Alister Crowley and at one time belonged to the same organization. The man embodied Nazi occultic believes and practices as well as witchcraft and cult mentality. Also he was completely anti-science with some of his views and practices on medicine.

  • @cwy6941
    @cwy6941 Рік тому +2

    Your experience is in no way indicative of a Waldorf education. At all. They don't do spells, they are not into witchcraft. My kids excelled and were challenged across all learning areas--reading, science, math, art, and music. Experience-based learning--phenomenological--gives a strong foundation to their understanding of all subjects. They are allowed to experience the subject matter physically first. They were not turned into rote-mumbling zombies like public school teaching. The Waldorf graduates I observed are empathetic, intelligent young adults and I cannot be happier for how my own kids have learned. Colleges like them too, with scholarships from every school to which they applied.
    But I will tell you, that I was educated in a cult-like system. We were told ridiculous, conflicting stories about a really mean sky god who killed people all the time. Later, we were forced to believe that a ghost got a girl pregnant and that baby was actually a god too! I mean, don't get me started on how we were forced to eat bread that was somehow magically turned into the body of this god and we also had to drink his blood.
    Talk about cults!!!
    I'm sure you would have loved it, since you believe in the paranormal. But to quote you: You go girl.

  • @josefinemills8710
    @josefinemills8710 5 років тому +75

    I go to walldorf and everything your saying we have never done

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +5

      - I'm happy to hear you haven't had this type of experience.

    • @ladderman2255
      @ladderman2255 5 років тому +10

      Josefine Mills me too. I’m at a London one and this is some weird shit

    • @kristinabryan3529
      @kristinabryan3529 4 роки тому +2

      I know this is an old comment of yours, but i would love to hear even a few bullets of your experience:) (I’m a third year education major)

    • @noabiskovitch5232
      @noabiskovitch5232 3 роки тому

      Sameee

    • @ReyhaofMidgard
      @ReyhaofMidgard 3 роки тому +2

      Waldorf helped my intelligence so much and My favorite teacher Mrs. pots is to this day the best teacher in my life. This lady just doesn’t have the same values and ideas. Everyone ive ever known from Waldorf is successful and I’m starting my own Daycare so. Yeah. They loved me more than my own parent. There is no clique. You just not the type of person who should sent your kid there if you dont respect or try to understand our school values. She is ridiculous. Homeschool if you cannot integrate into a new culture dont blame the other people.

  • @the_snailll
    @the_snailll 2 роки тому +2

    I was a Waldorf student for 10 years. Fucking hated it. It was nothing like this, just a normal Waldorf school, but still fucking hated it. But if it's for you, it's for you. The year I graduated they scammed 400 dollars from me and family and family friends. Kinda goes against their philosophy.

  • @NayRezendee
    @NayRezendee 6 років тому +23

    I can't speak about this particular school, but I've studied in a Waldorf school for almost my whole school period (from kindergarten to high school), and am currently working as a teacher assistant in a Waldorf kindergarten. The pedagogy is most definitely not unbiased, but it's not related to witchcraft. Waldorf pedagogy intends to nurture the child so they can develop freely as a whole -, that means mind, body and spirit. It's very much based of Anthroposothy, which is a philosophical doctrine also founded by Rudolf Steiner. It is defined as a "spiritual science". It's Christian based and very beautiful. I'm far from an expert but, speaking from my experience, everything we do is a form of ritual because life itself is viewed as very sacred. And when I say "rituals" is more about bringing a sense of harmony and sacrality into everything we do. Be it through prayer, song, fairytales. As I said, it's very much Christian based, but it embraces the idea that the truth comes in many forms, so no matter your truth, your faith, it is absolutely valid and doesn't undermine mine. At least, this is what I have learned as a Waldorf kid. Hope I was able to bring you a bit more clarity. I really think you should look more into anthroposophy, I am doing so myself and finding it to be a truly beautiful study on our world and ourselves as spiritual beings. I only say that because you defined yourself as faith-based spiritual person, and that's pretty much anthroposophy! I'm now discovering the Montessori method and am finding so many interesting things, and a lot coincide with Waldorf thinking. I am now starting to ramble hahah but just wanted to contribute to the conversation with a bit of my experience :)

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 5 років тому +2

      Nayara Rezende Thank you for sharing your experience. 😄

    • @sparrowsknow8491
      @sparrowsknow8491 4 роки тому +4

      As far as I can tell Anthroposophy is not a Christian based idea. Just a cursory read through google, it talks about reincarnation which is not a Christian belief. Far from it. Thank you for this video, I was very much considering this type of program and now I’ve done more research because of your video and I will be choosing a different method. Appreciate your honesty and bravery as you are getting all this flack for it

  • @elizabethstevens4978
    @elizabethstevens4978 5 років тому +26

    I had a very similar experience with my oldest however it was in a public school. She was first bullied endlessly. I had to make her go to school despite her crying and pleading. A small very open minded public school. The did a lot of "Harry Potter" types of things because it was popular and one was to make wands and caste spells. Then we went Waldorf and that all ended.

    • @eugeniamanolakos4356
      @eugeniamanolakos4356 5 років тому +6

      Elizabeth Stevens interesting, i had the exact same experience you’re describing but definitely at a Steiner school. No, Steiner doesn’t have schools, I mean at a Steiner cult center, because that’s exactly what those establishments are, a way to initiate and brainwash children, with some very disturbing theories.

    • @alaaddintimez1887
      @alaaddintimez1887 5 років тому +2

      @@eugeniamanolakos4356 you are talking outta your ass pal. Waldorf encourages imagination, name one aspect that depicts it as "brainwashing".

    • @gabicerva
      @gabicerva 4 роки тому +2

      It’s brainwashing because in many ways Waldorf children grow up with such “fond” memories of their laid back childhood that they must run back to anthroposophy for generations to come, therefore securing cult members to accept that Jesus Christ is not the messiah and that Lucifer and Ahriman are essentially “good” helpers of humanity. That’s why! Certainly is beautiful and I’ve met such wonderful people there.

  • @samb8650
    @samb8650 5 років тому +31

    I had bad experience with Waldorf in Detroit. However We are now in Maine and Waldorf here is much better. The community you are in matters.. it isn’t the school or philosophy, but the group of people who make up the school.

    • @dhuston521
      @dhuston521 5 років тому +4

      Sam B Hey Sam. We are considering Waldorf in Detroit. Can you contact me so we can talk more about your experience.

    • @tylergibson1494
      @tylergibson1494 4 роки тому +3

      My family was considering the Detroit Waldorf School as well. Can you describe what happened? I think parents should know.

    • @martynamaciejewska6289
      @martynamaciejewska6289 Рік тому +1

      “It isnt the school or philosophy but the people that make it up”

  • @followmeintofitness5578
    @followmeintofitness5578 5 років тому +36

    This sounds like a “Waldorf inspired” gone wrong school. Not discounting your experience and it would scare the crap out of me too, but there’s no way this was a real Waldorf school. With that being said, even at a true Waldorf school I get the feeling that it would not have been a good fit, just from the colors/patterns you’re wearing, the nails/hair/and make up none of how you’re presenting yourself is in line with Waldorf principles. In that way they can be cultish with technology bans and natural high quality fabrics/ neutral or muted colors.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +6

      I wanted Waldorf because we value holistic lifestyle + education and I thought this would match.
      Regardless on if this was more or less Waldorf than others; my main point here is . . .
      the research I did into Rudolf and Steiner uncovered what is REALLY GOING ON beneath the surface of Waldorf.
      Steiner believed in Luciferism and that Lucifer was actually an angel of light
      . . . a simple google search will uncover some of his books and principles.
      I guarantee; if you were to spend 30 minutes listening to any of his UA-cam videos or reading some of his theories and WHAT he believes his life mission was and HOW he planned to bring this out into the world under the guise of education; it would not only shock you - but you would never recommend Waldorf.
      I believe that IF there are "good" Waldorf schools out there:
      1.) They're only "Waldorf-Inspired" and NOT ACTUALLY OPERATING under the true agenda or principles
      2.) They're executing the agenda so well the public has NO IDEA WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON.
      ^ ^ those are the only 2 explanations.

    • @petraclinger47
      @petraclinger47 4 роки тому +7

      Do you know how to tell if someone’s about to discount your experience? They’ll start off by saying “not discounting your experience.. but...”
      Sara, I’m so sorry that this lady is being unnecessarily judgmental towards your appearance. No one should be talked down to like that. You do you, ignore those who try and discount your experience based on your appearance.

  • @audreygibson8307
    @audreygibson8307 Рік тому +1

    Rudolf Steiner's viewpoints on magic have been highly debated in the Anthroposophical community. His thoughts on magic are rooted in his own spiritual beliefs, and many individuals have interpreted his words in several ways. Steiner recognized the existence of magical practices, but his ideas embody a clarification of the relationship between magic and spirituality, warns against their confusion, and posits spiritual development as a superior alternative to the practice of magic.
    Steiner's main objections, which were based on his understanding of spiritual science perspective, was that magical practices typically focus on manipulating, controlling, and influencing various spiritual or supernatural realms or forces to accomplish a specific outcome according to the desires or wants the practitioner holds. Steiner did not disapprove of magic completely, but he discouraged the pursuit of magic by linking it to an ethically and morally deficient view of spirituality.
    Steiner has discouraged the practice of magic. Instead, he stressed that the path of spiritual development should be based on the cultivation of individual inner spiritual growth through ethical behavior, personal discipline and meditation, self-discovery and service to others, and meditation.
    To Steiner, the pursuit of magical powers and abilities for unlawful gains or control over others is misguided, and with it comes a danger to oneself and others. Instead, he emphasized that spiritual growth and development should foster emotional harmony, intellectual clarity, and personal responsibility for one's actions, rooted in personal spiritual development, love, and compassion for others.

  • @madelinejofriends7364
    @madelinejofriends7364 5 років тому +26

    I just wanted to leave a comment for anyone whose first exposure to Waldorf if this video. All of that may be true about that school but not all Waldorf schools are like this. The one I went to was extremely open minded and valued nature and imagination and play. We learned about many different religions and I never once heard anything about “spells” or “witchcraft”

    • @f7m001
      @f7m001 3 роки тому +1

      Same that’s how my school is I don’t like verses and that stuff but other than that is a great environment!

    • @ncarreno87
      @ncarreno87 3 роки тому +2

      My niece goes to a Waldorf school in IL and we love it! She has been going there since she was 3. Such a wonderful way to learn and grow up.

    • @sorayakhan7495
      @sorayakhan7495 Рік тому +3

      Hi everybody, I just wanted to share my Waldorf experience too... My husband is a product of the Steiner system and is one of the most well-educated, well-rounded, compassionate human beings I know. My mother in law is a retired eurythmy teacher, my father in law is a retired minister in the Christian Community (which is the Anthroposophical Church) and my 2 kids go to our local Waldorf school in Norway, so it's safe to say we are a Waldorf Family! I am so sorry this lady had an awful experience (and it really does sound creepy!), but I don't think that what she experienced was a Waldorf school at all. It's such a shame that unscrupulous people are out there are using the recognised (and generally pretty well respected) name of Steiner to peddle their spells. The kids in our school make beautiful art, yes with watercolours, but also with clay, woodwork or hard lines when they're learning geometry. Zero wand waving, I promise! I really hope this lady finds a school for her little boy where he can thrive. It's heartbreaking to watch your child suffer.x

    • @getgoinng3878
      @getgoinng3878 Рік тому

      @@sorayakhan7495
      Can you please help me which Waldorf school in Norway your son kids goes to?

  • @dianew77
    @dianew77 5 років тому +33

    Imagination is heavily used in Waldorf and you took this to an end which is simply NOT Waldorf education. Sorry for you.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +8

      excuse me, what? I'm not understanding the comment. Perhaps any experience you've had with the school has been an a-typical interaction. Since the making of this video and interactions with not only parents of former students (from schools ALL OVER THE WORLD) as well as former staff + teachers; I know this is NOT just me, only in America, or contained to this unique instance at this one school.
      You don't have to agree with me; but you do NOT get to discredit my experience because you are neither me nor my child.

  • @story7088
    @story7088 3 роки тому +10

    Ask yourself, can a school really give a quality education when it’s founder denied that the earth orbits the sun and when the underpinning belief is that learning is damaging to the child’s soul lol

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому +1

      things I wish I would've known before I sent my child the first time 🤦‍♀️ I honestly researched what shoes to buy more than I researched into the founder of this school and what his beliefs are. *sigh* live and learn!

    • @cosi4683
      @cosi4683 3 роки тому +1

      Since the teachers actually teaching there do " believe" or rather know these things, yes, the school can give a quality education. And the numbers show it to proof. Kids who attended waldorf schools go on to university in record numbers. Also, waldorf students have better soft skills. That was our motivation and proof for the success of the school.

    • @stefencampbell
      @stefencampbell Рік тому

      Your statements are rubbish. He never said any such things.

    • @cwy6941
      @cwy6941 Рік тому

      You mean like Christianity did? LMFAO.

  • @bijoulille8816
    @bijoulille8816 4 роки тому +6

    You can disagree with someone without being a jerk.
    She’s relaying a personal experience that she found disturbing, and it’s clear from the video that she’s still distressed by it - dismissing her by saying “that doesn’t happen,” “you need to do more research,” and “you probably just found a bad school” is petty and mean.
    The complete absence of any sort of empathy from the Waldorf supporters on this thread is pretty telling - not a place I’d want my kid going to school, in any case.

  • @19stoy
    @19stoy 5 років тому +77

    I Would do more research about waldorf! I dont know What kind of Waldorf did you find, but here in Australia we have amazing Waldorf school! Wouldn’t put my kids anywhere else!

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +6

      I would advise YOU do more research into TRUE Waldorf. Perhaps there in Australia you have a Waldorf school that is, in fact, NOT based truly on Rudolf Steiners' philosophy or ideals (which is more likely the case). Since the making of this video, interacting with numerous teachers and staff who have come forward to AGREE with me and everything I've learned since the posting; I am even more convinced that any GOOD interactions with a Waldorf school are only those who are not TRUE Waldorf schools.
      Or either people who are seriously mis-informed or unaware of what is truly going on underneath.
      I am certainly happy to hear that none of the above has been your experience, though.

    • @noone-jw7nd
      @noone-jw7nd 5 років тому +8

      We are in Australia too and love Steiner too! ❤️❤️

    • @maimoonahsadien8238
      @maimoonahsadien8238 5 років тому +2

      ua-cam.com/video/btD3opz7O0E/v-deo.html check this inspiring video

    • @teamstorm5578
      @teamstorm5578 4 роки тому +8

      @@SaraMichaels I go to a waldof school in south Australia and I would recommend you to do some research on some in SA before you put something like this out to the internet. thanks!

    • @tylergibson1494
      @tylergibson1494 4 роки тому +6

      ​@@SaraMichaels "at the end of the day; I believe that whatever works best for someone and whatever they decide is right for them." Isn't this what you stated in the title of the video? What you put here in this sub-thread contradicts that. Waldorf schools are weird, there is no doubt about that. The "poems" are actually called verses and are pretty much Anthroposophical prayers... I don't really care one way or the other as long as it leaves gods out of it. For example, a verse that shows thanks to the Earth for food doesn't bother me. Definitely don't recommend Waldorf for school-aged children, but it serves well as a form of early childhood education, because they allow so much time outside in nature, celebrating the seasons, crafting, ample time for play, fairy tales, and practical life skills.

  • @aria4402
    @aria4402 2 роки тому +4

    Thank you for sharing this. As a Waldorf student, I have really loved every ounce of the education that this form of teaching provides, and I couldn’t imagine another education for myself. I do see what you mean though, in terms of the “spiritual” aspect. In my experience, this is more prominent in the earlier years. I also wanted to share that every Waldorf school is different in how they implement the universal Waldorf curriculum, and I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. But, I implore you to give the education another chance, maybe at a different school, because it is truly a very well- rounded and holistic environment. For me at least, it’s the best education I could have asked for and I couldn’t be more happier with what I’ve received so far, and I couldn’t feel more ready to take on the greater world after high school.

  • @jameslovesbutter2314
    @jameslovesbutter2314 2 роки тому +2

    A Rudolph Steiner school saved my life.

  • @bettinab1
    @bettinab1 4 роки тому +28

    Hi Sara, i want to thank you. I often read articles on Waldorf Watch (where I found the link to your video) and on a French website (the two authors know each other well, as they are both trying to tell the truth about these schools ). We signed our 3 year old up at a French public SW school near us as we lived in Canada (I’m from France) . I did not have a witchcraft experience or heard of the kids using wands (but who knows?! It might come up! ) but EVERYTHING ELSE you have the courage to say is entirely bang on. The delight I felt about him going there for the same reasons as yours, check! The creepy feeling on day one?! Yup! Absolutely! Not only did our blood ice over but our son , who’s been so excited about school completely changed. He felt thé spookiness too. Witches? Not in our case, I believe . But the “words”/prayers , the non existent curriculum , the very little amount of art produced (one water colour diluted over 2 weeks) , the zero facts about nature, plants, animals (odd for a nature based education...) , the cliquey atmosphere (Are you one of us? Why are you asking questions?) , ALL of what you’ve described was there. My kid became miserable, afraid, and wasn’t helped at all by the school after we’d discovered he was being bullied by a violent 6 year old kid with ADHD issues which weren’t addressed . This whole experience lasted just 3 months but it was entirely creepy and awful. I could go on and on. And I have a lot of evidence which I discreetly collected. I like how you haven’t told people what to do and just strongly advised, as I do now , to REALLY inform themselves before sending your kids there. Yes, the “innocent “ songs and poems are prayers to anthroposophy disguised as kiddie songs, and they will repeat them ad nauseam for years. There is great misleading going on, no honesty. But if you look it up seriously and adhere, by all means, go nuts and enjoy this “education”. It’s your choice.
    However , if you have the tiniest doubt or curiosity (which admittedly I didn’t, because it all looked so rosy) be sure to check the “spiral of light ceremony “ and their /Steiner’s beliefs on karma (if your kid gets beaten up, it’s his karma, it might improve in his next reincarnation)...
    Thank you Sara. You have guts and you are kind.

    • @morganreneebeadle9368
      @morganreneebeadle9368 3 роки тому

      Look into oak meadow. They adapted Waldorf principles but they removed religion and grimm nurseries and stuff like that!

  • @lorenaalina8887
    @lorenaalina8887 5 років тому +10

    Hi there,
    Thank you for your video and for your voice. I am in England and soon to move to the continent and I am looking into Waldorf Schools for our child. Your opinions are very valuable and I can relate it to what one Waldorf Teacher told me once : you have "hardcore" Waldorf teachers and you have "modern" Waldorf Teachers. For better or worse I came across these "hardcore" Waldorf Teachers who are secular and follow the Rudolf Steiner teachings to a T and the pedagogy even further; they seem to turn the blind eye that they are effectively on the 21st century and society has evolved somehow and although the pedagogy - and I say this as an early years educator - is more than relevant (I mean pedagogy as the way to teach and to deliver learning to children) and the way the learning and knowledge is given is great, this "secularist" way to pursue and deliver clashes with reality and leaves many parents - including myself! baffled for the lack of room for understanding , comprehension and empathy. In short, for the secularists is "this is what it is, our way is the right way and if you dont get it you are not in it".
    On the other hand you have more "Modern" teachers which thoroughly understand that they are in the 21st century and they comply with the national curriculum for education - for example in Spain - and the children are educated in the same subjects as any other child in any other school but in a different way, using the Waldorf pedagogy and this modern Waldorf teachers do respect the fact that parents may work, that sometimes parents cannot afford the super bio organic product and not all parents are up to go on walks with lanterns. Then again these Modern teachers do take their time to explain how Waldorf work and what is required from the parents so it is crystal clear what is involved in this journey and then it is up to the parent to make an educated decision. These are the ones who welcome you, sit you down and tell you all about the education and end the conversation with "this is what we do, this is what we believe , now is up to you to take it or leave it".

    • @salesmatter4222
      @salesmatter4222 Рік тому

      @@ilsa_xoI’m considering a Waldorf school for our children. Would you be willing to chat with me? You sound really knowledgeable.

  • @shagreene3284
    @shagreene3284 3 роки тому +11

    After speaking with someone very close to me about there experience there and watching your video I can not get the chills out my spine please spread the awareness I applaud your bravery girl don’t never go against the feelings when you that secure in your spirituality stay strong 🙏🏾💪🏾💯

  • @nicolebennett3413
    @nicolebennett3413 4 роки тому +5

    "she very rarely wore a bra" ...... Waldorf was CLEARLY not for you.

  • @crystalmethshrimp
    @crystalmethshrimp 4 роки тому +11

    My IQ just dropped by 50 points after watching this.

    • @stefencampbell
      @stefencampbell Рік тому +1

      Nah, that's the usual effect of watching youtube

  • @sylviaashton3562
    @sylviaashton3562 6 років тому +22

    Thanks for posting this. My children went to a Waldorf school. Our 2 boys were happy although they still feel the education was strange. Our daughter had a horrendous time with bullying.
    The place was definitely cliquey. I had an experience similar to yours when I thought perhaps witchcraft was going on.At the time my daughter had started being afraid to go to school though she was not able to explain why.She had also become very nervous and wouldn't sleep alone. I had read something about a child with similar symptoms who had become involved with witchcraft and it just struck a chord. Then my daughter started telling me about the children dancing around her in a circle in the playground and it just sounded weird. Later she told me she wouldn't sleep in her room because there was a witch in her wardrobe. I did talk about my thoughts to a few people (not people from the school), and they all thought I was being silly and that my daughter had simply had a bad dream. I'm afraid I let others convince me. After hearing your story I'm wondering again. The school also had a woman's circle that met monthly that felt a bit weird too.

    • @brynhildk
      @brynhildk 5 років тому

      Im not an english speaker so im not sure. Are your kids still at that school?

    • @angelazappa685
      @angelazappa685 5 років тому +7

      Get your girl out of that school!!! They WILL change her and not for the better........😵😱😖😨😠🤢😧

    • @mariahwg
      @mariahwg 5 років тому +9

      Trust your instincts! If your daughter is having such a strong reaction, at the very least, it's clearly not a good fit for her.

    • @johnebyrde9834
      @johnebyrde9834 5 років тому +3

      Please do go and speak about this with the teacher or someone you trust in the school. Or is this history now? Waldorf schools do tend to attract weirdies and it has to be dealt with by the school.

    • @rovalq1
      @rovalq1 5 років тому +1

      Do you think strange dancing in circles and your daughter having nightmares?

  • @amandahenley7298
    @amandahenley7298 6 років тому +8

    Thank you so much for this video. I homeschool my kids and was just asked by someone from another town that i've never met or heard of to come and check out their school. As a Christian family I am so thankful I watched this video before responding back to the invite! I truly believe those gut feelings you were having was the Holy Spirit.!

    • @motherwolf1529
      @motherwolf1529 5 років тому

      Others have said though that every school is different. Maybe just check it out and see how you feel. I've been looking at these schools and I get different feelings from different schools.

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 5 років тому +1

      If said person knows you choose to homeschool your children, why did this person ask you to check out their school? 😂That doesn’t seem like a marketing ploy with many returns.
      I also homeschool.

  • @dianamcvey9763
    @dianamcvey9763 5 років тому +16

    This is very narrow -minded view, based on subjective understanding!
    But sure-freedom of speech!
    But what about responsibility to plant a negative seed forwards to ALL people who created something special, who cared enough to spend life time to serve humanity. And children are our future, aren't they?
    The person likes to generalize by saying ALL Waldorf Schools (It means all in the whole world, really ? How does she know? Why so many good things we hear about this education? How many students who graduated Waldorf schools has been arrested or have taken guns to shoot someone or have used drugs? Do a research compeer with a regular, tradition schools, where the main thing is how much you make money and how I look).
    School/education is about who you become when you graduate it.....how much they care ABOUT OTHERS!
    For second if she would study Rudolf Steiner, then she would know what Anthroposophy is about and how much good it brings to people...there is no doubt that in this time of period Waldorf education is very much healing and rewarding for children as whole development. Where else teachers care so much about children, their personalities, their needs... based on what?
    Watch something more enjoyable...
    ua-cam.com/video/tZmAX5adCl0/v-deo.html
    ua-cam.com/video/3-9gOl62xDw/v-deo.html
    It is a great deal to know better Waldorf education and also Rudolf Steiner, if you want to create better environment for your children and see the world a better place!

    • @magyar5615
      @magyar5615 5 років тому

      Here is a 3 part not narrow minded view of what is actually going on with this cult based group, as the article indicates they have tried to scrub Wikipedia and that is part of the entire bait and switch that the school engages in - I truly feel badly for those who are or who have been brainwashed or use whatever word you want to describe being pulled into a situation where vulnerable people are given disinformation I do feel sorry for the parents who do not understand what is actually going on at these schools or are ignoring it because it would mean they made a bad choice for their child's education, sad to say these schools are bad news here is the link www.dcscience.net/2010/10/06/the-true-nature-of-steiner-waldorf-education-mystical-barmpottery-at-taxpayers-expense-part-1/
      and
      another reading in which the former teachers have spoken out against the Waldorf Steiner schools (it is translated by Google and has other links for concerned parents and community members:
      www.detdeikkefortelleross.no

    • @autumnspring6624
      @autumnspring6624 5 років тому +4

      Diana McVey #1 She said this was going to be about HER feelings. #2 She also warned that this would get personal and you may not care to hear the rest of the video. Meaning you may be offended and you can stop watching if you prefer.3# She wants her viewers to do research for themselves and decide for themselves on Waldorf. She never said she wasn't biased.
      3# You are also biased, narrow-minded and like to make generalizations. Which makes YOU incredibly hypocritical. 4# Most people want whats best for their families and humanity and their communities in general. Including this woman on the video believe it or not. I give the benefit of doubt to people even if I disagree with their biases and world-views.

  • @autumnspring6624
    @autumnspring6624 5 років тому +4

    I think the take-home message should boil-down to KNOW what school you are enrolling your child in. This includes ANY school. Waldorf, Montessori, Private school,Public School. Parents need to know what their kids are being taught. Thank you for sharing your experience. Don't let others negative and ignorant comments change this video. This is your experience and don't allow them undemine your communication about it! I am not saying to censor them because I'm against censorship, but don't mind their narrow-mindedness to the point where you are self-censoring. Speak the truth! People will always find something to be offended about. Nobody is perfect! Specially not the one's insulting you!

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +1

      😭 I have no idea who you are. . . But I have tears in my eyes and you have touched my heart. THANK YOU. This video is YEARS old and I created it NEVER HAVING A CLUE the reach (or blowback) it would receive. I simply recorded it because a few of my dear friends had asked WHY we no longer attended the school. I expected MAYBE it would reach 50 people. . . 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’ve been tempted SO MANY TIMES to remove it - but comments like yours are enough for me to keep it up.

  • @bluecat169
    @bluecat169 4 роки тому +11

    I went to a Steiner school even though I wasn’t really Steiner I don’t think it’s a great school but we never did anything like spells and witchcraft

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому

      Many “Waldorf” schools are only Waldorf-inspired. That’s where the big difference lies. . . in schools that are basing their curriculum off of his theories and those that are actually following all of his beliefs and practices to the letter.

  • @story7088
    @story7088 3 роки тому +6

    I don’t know about the witchcraft aspect specifically, but what you describe is completely accurate. The clique-y-ness 100% The mysterious occult beliefs which are hidden from the parents and even students. The school was founded on beliefs of reincarnation of the soul, seed races from other planets (and humanity’s past life on Atlantis and future destiny to relocate to the planet Vulcan). I’m not surprised so many people claim that this “isn’t Waldorf”. One of the founding principles of steiner’s first school was to avoid discussion of anthroposophy, his occult religion that all Waldorf practices are based upon, with parents and children.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому +3

      YES!!!!!!!! ONE OF THE MAIN TENETS OF THIS SCHOOL is to NOT TALK ABOUT IT and to keep it's beliefs essentially HIDDEN and "innocuous"!!!! It's unbelievable how many people don't realize it.
      Anyways. I always cringe at reading the comments for this video (and for some reason still leave them up) . . . but once in awhile - I get a comment here like yours from someone else who actually researched and gets it. 👍

    • @1236y
      @1236y Рік тому

      @@SaraMichaels I am a previous parent and not only were we not encouraged to talk about it, we had open house often so that people from the community could come and ask all their questions. Maybe the school you went to was not a true Waldorf School. Having said that, not every school is for every family, including your local public school. I am glad you discovered it was not for you.

  • @c.h.2392
    @c.h.2392 Рік тому +2

    So funny to hear someone with a YT channel say "as a family we value limited technology"

    • @estasiulewicz6188
      @estasiulewicz6188 4 місяці тому

      Limited technology means you limit it in some way. Having a UA-cam channel doesn't mean you don't downplay technology in other aspects.

  • @Pannolino
    @Pannolino 5 років тому +8

    You either weren't at a Waldorf/Steiner School or you were inventing in your mind a picture or paradigm of what you were experience. We have been at Waldorf for 8 years with 2 kids and it is nothing as you describe and it is awesome. I find your views a little hard to reconcile since you claim to be Christian but you say you were involved in Paranormal experiences. These two things don't fit. I wanted to see what you had to say because the video came up, but It is so hard to believe you are faith based and that you even understood or knew what you were seeing. I'm really trying hard to say something that would help people see that this information is so false to Waldorf and there is so much Steiner information out there and a lot of our parents are dedicated Christians. You have really said nothing about anything except your thoughts and feelings. I really hope people don't believe this and truly investigate Waldorf. Your ideas seem unfounded and sadden me.

    • @Pannolino
      @Pannolino 5 років тому +2

      Lawrn West I’m sorry that your facts aren’t all there. The school was started in Germany on site of a tobacco company for the workers children to get a good education as the workers were working class. The Waldorf-Astoria hotels that were formed later by John Jacob Astor after coming to the US and becoming very wealthy were kit where the schools were. The original Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory was started by Johann Jakob Astor born in Walldorf Germany which is now Baden-Württemberg. Since the school
      Was started there they became known as Waldorf. Regardless of Steiners personal beliefs the education was superb and ahead of its time and were actually shut down for a time by the Nazi’s. After the war they recovered and flourished. I actually am very involved in ours. Our teachers definitely supervise children and don’t allow bullying and we are not prejudiced but very integrated in race, religion and economic standards. We have no wands and no witch craft. I’m
      Not sure who has given you your information but it just isn’t true about Waldorf schools or education. Regardless of your thoughts about Steiner and his personal view points, his education system and understanding of children’s mental and emotional development was spot on and very advanced.

    • @stefencampbell
      @stefencampbell Рік тому

      @@magyar5615 So the Jewish Rudolf Steiner was Anti-Semitic! Really? "disturbing belief system" Well if YOU find it disturbing it MUST be wrong.

  • @adoragirlxo9363
    @adoragirlxo9363 5 років тому +48

    LOL that's awesome. I would love for my kid to be able to go to Hogwarts.

    • @yolandavega4330
      @yolandavega4330 5 років тому +1

      AdoraGirlxo Really? Witchcraft? That can’t be good.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +2

      Yeah I'm all for Harry Potter 😂 . . .but this wasn't exactly a cute experience. 😉 💕

    • @colleencrews9739
      @colleencrews9739 4 роки тому +3

      @@SaraMichaels my friend broke her leg and a kid broke my nose at Waldorf because the staff didn't watch us. It's not cute and it's not fun, it's dangerous.

    • @noabiskovitch5232
      @noabiskovitch5232 3 роки тому +2

      I am in a stiener/waldorf school and my school is nothing like this 😂😂

  • @ginajimenez8078
    @ginajimenez8078 5 років тому +5

    I respect your experience and I am not discounting it. I think your family would probably be better served by a Private Christian School. My kids go to the school you are talking about, and I feel like there is some misinformation I’d like to clear up. I have never seen the wands you are talking about. I’m not saying that’s not true. Maybe Harry Potter wands, but no spell casting wands. My children are not learning how to cast spells or do witchcraft. I absolutely love seeing my children spend so much time outdoors. They know how to grow things and they are learning where our food comes from. They are learning to respect nature and treat the earth with respect. They are learning through experiences rather than being stuck in a desk all day with a worksheet or a textbook. Much of the teaching continues at home and we 100% make sure that our children know that 1) we do not worship nature. We worship the one and only God who created nature and we treat the earth well out of worship for God. And 2) not everyone believes what we believe and that is completely ok. We respect them. We love them. But we know that there is one God who is higher than any other God and that is the God we worship.
    I feel that they are learning a much more well rounded view of the world than if they grow up not knowing anything except a small Christian culture worldview. Someday they will be faced with the decision on what they will believe and I would rather them know the full picture now than be completely blindsided when they are out of the shelter we have created for them.
    I respect that this school is not for you. But I would also say that some of the impressions you have of the school are not the whole picture. And I still respect you, Sara. No hard feelings about this. I just wanted to share my point of view as well!

    • @stefencampbell
      @stefencampbell Рік тому

      She probably saw copper rods used for balance and hand/eye coordination and thought they were "wands"

  • @katdarling
    @katdarling 3 роки тому +3

    Can someone tell what’s wrong with watercolors

  • @janetsadeghi1501
    @janetsadeghi1501 4 роки тому +14

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I thought I was the only one with a similar experience. I got those vibes just during orientation. You are a great mom for listening to your child and to what your spiritual discernment (God) was telling you. As you said, for people that are not "faith-based", what you are saying does not matter. But I appreciate your message that is directed for those of us that do care about such things.

  • @evilynn333
    @evilynn333 5 років тому +5

    This video is incredibly biased and based on emotions rather than rational thought. I agree, you should do your research before you send your kids to Waldorf, plenty of info available, including about 200 books by Steiner himself. No excuses.

    • @beekeeper2036
      @beekeeper2036 5 років тому

      evilynn333 I concur.

    • @autumnspring6624
      @autumnspring6624 5 років тому

      evilynn333 Your comment is incredibly biased and full of emotion as well. Glad you agree with the lady in the video.😂👍

  • @ameliahallin414
    @ameliahallin414 6 років тому +12

    maybe it was just that school. Im 15 and Ive gone to Waldorf school my whole life. we've never worked with wands or spells. also I don't understand why making "pretend" spells is such a bad thing. I would never ever leave my school, it is true however that we all have a very closed circle. it takes a little while to invite someone in because we don't know how they are. once you get into the vibe we will love you forever. I was okay for the first half of the video but once the end came, I couldn't look at you without making a face. its called a morning verse, and we say it because we want to be in contact with ourselves and with nature. theres nothing wrong with that. our graduation ceremony is pretty normal if you ask me, and I don't believe I'm brainwashed. I think that the Waldorf school definitely isn't for everybody and its definitely not for you, but I strongly believe that it is a great school and gives a great education

    • @msachs7259
      @msachs7259 6 років тому +5

      The problem with going to the same school your whole life is that you cannot really know if it "gives a great education." Parents and teachers can tell you you're getting a great education, that it's better than other schools, and so forth, but the real test is when you go on to university or a job. If you want an independent education about Waldorf schools, I strongly recommend you check out the following website of a former Waldorf student: sites.google.com/site/waldorfwatch/table-of-contents. It is one of many websites that expose the truth about Waldorf. I'm not knocking you. I, myself, was a deceived parents who bought into all the hype about the superiority of Waldorf education and my children paid the price for it.

    • @NayRezendee
      @NayRezendee 6 років тому +3

      @@msachs7259 I've found Waldorf education through kindergarten and middle school to be really good! I did part of my high school in a "normal" and adapted just fine. Currently, I'm enrolled in one of the best colleges in my country (Brazil). Maybe it depends on the school... but Waldorf education really does prepare children to go to the world as kind, creative, resourceful and open-minded human beings.

    • @msachs7259
      @msachs7259 5 років тому +2

      Nayara, because it has been drummed into them, many Waldorf students parrot the Waldorf PR about the schools preparing children to be people who are socially well-adjusted, creative, open-minded, etc. Waldorf PR is not just for recruiting new students. It is used within schools to influence parents and students, who have already fallen under the spell of an aesthetically beguiling environment with appealing community activities.
      I know lots of people with the qualities you describe who did not go to Waldorf schools. I also know adults who attended Waldorf schools who do not share these qualities. Some former Waldorf students I know attended good colleges, some went to college but dropped out, others had difficulties finding their way.
      The problem for most parents and students is that they know nothing about the occultist Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy other than what the school has told them. "Steiner was a scientist." He was not. "Anthroposophy is not in the classroom." It is. Unless one is extremely well-informed about Steiner and anthroposophy, one cannot recognize how anthroposophy is woven into the curriculum and almost all classroom activities. Just to give one tiny example: In the first four grades children recite daily what the teachers call a morning "verse." The lines of the "verse" are ordered in a way that make it not easy to fully understand its meaning. The so-called "verse" is actually a prayer to the sun god of anthroposophy. Why do Waldorf teachers call it a "verse"? Because Steiner instructed Waldorf teachers never to be caught calling a prayer a prayer. He specifically instructed them to call a prayer a verse. In fact, he was very clear about instructing them to deceive parents and government school inspectors about anthroposophy's role in Waldorf education. Read his book Faculty Meetings with Rudolf Steiner if you don't believe me.
      Why does it matter whether Anthroposophy is in the classroom? It matters because occult rituals like eurythmy, teaching methods based on supernatural developmental theories, history lessons that are mostly about mythology that plays an important part in anthroposophy, pseudoscience being passed off as science, and other ways in which anthroposophy is promoted during school hours -- all these things fill up a child's school years leaving little room for the kind of education most of the parents believe their children are getting. Don't take my word for it. Go to the online Steiner Archives and read his lectures. Or take an easier route and go either to the WaldorfWatch website I linked to above (in particular, you should read the articles by former anthroposophist/waldorf teacher Gregoire Perra) or to waldorfcritics.org/.
      Then, of course, there is the racism inherent in Steiner's anthroposophy. But don't get me started on that!
      I'm not trying to throw a wet blanket on your happy memories of your time at your Waldorf school. It's a tricky thing, I know. One of my children, while recognizing the serious failings, still has some happy memories that don't need to be forgotten. Congratulations on getting into one of the best colleges in Brazil. My sincere best wishes to you for your future.

    • @louisemasters6518
      @louisemasters6518 3 роки тому +1

      It’s just strange that your not just taught to be nice to people no matter what, and that you have to invite them in? Because in this sense it’s sitting yourself higher than others as you believe you are an adequate judge of other humans. That’s whack!
      Making pretend spells is bad because it’s spiritually diving into witchcraft even if it’s fake it’s coming into agreement with what it stands for which isn’t good.

    • @stefencampbell
      @stefencampbell Рік тому

      @@msachs7259 "he was very clear about instructing them to deceive parents and government school inspectors about anthroposophy's role in Waldorf education. Read his book Faculty Meetings with Rudolf Steiner if you don't believe me. " I have. You really have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

  • @michielw.8101
    @michielw.8101 3 роки тому +5

    In Belgium we leaned spells aswell, but more as a mental "tool", it was the best 5 years I had, but i eventually left as the school blamed me for a trauma I had with a teacher (the teacher was clearly wrong)
    You have to be careful, if you believe your child is not very happy there just try changing, you could always come back if need be.

  • @auntielobster2325
    @auntielobster2325 5 років тому +15

    When I saw you without even starting watching, I thought "You so not look like the Waldorf type". However, It was well worth listening to you. Your intuition is spot on. Waldorf appeals to many - there are many things that they introduce that is worth observing, but there are also alarm bells ringing and they are definitely not open to discuss it. Maybe it is time to get an alternative to Waldorf, where the things that make sense are implemented, but where some of the weird ideas are omitted. Thanks very much for sharing. I got more than I expected.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +4

      wow - thank you so much for your honesty and kind feedback! I genuinely appreciated it and am happy you found value in it! AGREED -- a TRUE Waldorf Alternative (without any underlying biases) would be a wonderful educational addition!!!

  • @silviaaa
    @silviaaa 8 місяців тому +1

    Necessary video. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

  • @SHx589
    @SHx589 2 роки тому +3

    I hate that feeling you get when you want to be a team player but the team won’t accept you. Hits the feels. Sorry you had this experience.
    Personally, I enjoy occult teachings and enjoy Rudolf Steiner’s work. Which is one of the draws for me. But I totally respect and understand your situation and perspective. It’s not for everyone and that’s ok. Thanks for posting this. ❤️

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  Рік тому

      🤔 Interesting analogy. Not sure I'm connecting the reference here. This wasn't exactly that the team didn't accept me - it was more that I realized the team was playing a sport I didn't event want to play. 🤷‍♀️ But thank you for being able to see my perspective, know we see it differently and NOT come here spewing hate

  • @chihuahua5039
    @chihuahua5039 3 роки тому +6

    Anyone looking to go to a Waldorf school just be warned that we celebrate michealmas, Santa Lucia, advent, and a lot of other holidays I had never heard of before Waldorf

    • @mery5989
      @mery5989 3 роки тому +1

      those are like a holiday they always have in Jane Austen and one they always have in Sweden! I wonder why. all christian holidays though, maybe it would be better to add something more neutral

  • @Trailmixed
    @Trailmixed Рік тому +1

    Im not a parent, I’m doing research currently so my husband and I have a plan of action when we do start having children. My understanding of the Waldorf method is that it is extremely rooted in fantasy and folklore. It seems to me, and I could be wrong, but it seems as though your faith and the way you were raising your children before Waldorf may have instilled in them some fears of witchcraft. I again, from what I’ve learned about Waldorf, this is not from experience, but witches are in fairytales and folklore, and the types of stories they read in Waldorf aren’t watered down to what you might see in Disney. It’s great that you recognize Waldorf isn’t a good fit for you and your family, but it seems like you are putting too much emphasis on the witches and “witchcraft” in stories that have other characters like mermaids and faries and trolls.

    • @Trailmixed
      @Trailmixed Рік тому +1

      As a woman with dreadlocks, that often doesn’t wear bras, and is spiritual in the weird “tarot reading crystal ball way” as you put it, I can see why you felt out of place! It’s great that you are so holistic with your hot pink lipstick and acrylic nails, you even had chickens once, wow! Look at you! It seems like you tried to hop on the wrong trend this time,I’m just flabbergasted that you claim to be open minded and then post a video like this. Asking people to be open minded doesn’t mean you don’t deserve criticism, the subtle threat to turn comments off if they turned against you was a nice touch. Next time do your research! The rest of us are!

  • @shandishandi2735
    @shandishandi2735 5 років тому +4

    I am so incredibly thankful for your video, the information in it, your honestly, your courage to share, and everything about this. Thank you so much. I thought I wanted to be a Waldorf teacher, and my kids get in one of the schools. I had rituals done on me as a child and lived with someone doing witchcraft. No way in the world am I letting my kids be subjected to that. See I was looking for an alternative to public schools since we are faith based as well, we are Christians who follow Jesus, I don't care about denominational differences or whatever... I just know I was subjected to that stuff once in my life and never again want to be part of it. And want my kids to be raised to have good character. So I will continue looking at options. Again thank you so much for your honesty!

    • @shandishandi2735
      @shandishandi2735 5 років тому +1

      I'm so glad you have great discernment, and you are giving information and letting people decide what to do with it. There are definitely certain things I "opt out" of due to spiritual reasons. Like, you all can do that stuff, but imma sit this one out. 😂 Example: yoga can get real spiritual real fast and if you're copying the instructor like you "should" be you could be consenting to it, and some people just don't know... for real. That's a no from me. 😂 but anyway!!

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +1

      YES! Yes to both of these comments 😭 🙏 THANK YOU so much for sharing this reply. Honestly - it’s comments like yours and the private messages that I receive that are the ONLY REASON I leave this video up . . . Which - to be honest - is quite difficult when sorting through all the hate comments, messages, and just. . . Yeah. THANK YOU. I dont’ know if you have or are ever on instagram - but if you’d like to connect mine is: instagram.com/xosaramichaels 💕 THANK YOU AGAIN for this comment and I’m wishing you the best in finding a better-fitting school. May I suggest looking into Montessori?

  • @SameShirtDifferentDay
    @SameShirtDifferentDay 5 років тому +8

    The most important part is that your son was uncomfortable and very upset. I don't believe in fairytales and witches or ghosts, but I do believe in the power of the imagination.

  • @Cholez_
    @Cholez_ 5 років тому +22

    I'm weirded out I go to Steiner school and we DO NOT do witch craft and never have I have been in the Steiner school I go to since it opened and it's pretty normal it's just a different way of learning and slightly different cariculum when we were very young we did sing songs and get told fairytails but we still learnt stuff. I went to a "normal" school before going to a Steiner school and I hated it and I really enjoy Steiner and they didn't put a spell on me so I enjoy it or anything. We do have other paints not just water coulor. I feel like when I went to this school first it had a Steiner vibe and that has got less over the years. I think our school is like the odd one out of the Steiner schools maybe other Steiner schools are like that (I highly doubt it tho) we do have I.T and projectors like other schools but only in the middle school onwards but I think that's fine but yes we do also have chalk boards but at the front of the class we do our work in books and yes I'm not going to lie we do say a morning verse every morning but we don't do like chanting and stuff. When i new person comes we don't do i ritual literally the day before our teacher says a new person is coming then when they come they just walk in and sit down and we get on like normal. Again our school might be really different because we are a government funded school and have different standards but we have a reputation of being tree hugger and fire gnome praisers but we are pretty normal.
    Here is a list of our lessons:
    Maths
    English
    Spanish
    Manderin
    Eurythmy
    P.E
    I.T
    Belifes and values
    Hand work
    Art
    Main lesson (our main subject).
    If u are still reading thanks for listening I'm not saying the lady is liying in fact I would love to know which Steiner school she is talking about but I would personally recommend a Steiner school.
    Thanks 😁

    • @ameliesteele4329
      @ameliesteele4329 5 років тому +2

      Well said Chlo

    • @Cholez_
      @Cholez_ 5 років тому +1

      @@ameliesteele4329 ayyyyy

    • @TimesNewCanaanite
      @TimesNewCanaanite 4 роки тому +3

      The one I attended in Australia taught witchcraft as a main lesson. We even had to sing and dance in circles around statues of deities. That "school" is a spiritual cult in every single sense of the word.

    • @Cholez_
      @Cholez_ 4 роки тому +1

      @@TimesNewCanaanite Oh...

    • @ashleyenglishteacher
      @ashleyenglishteacher 4 роки тому +1

      M. Milhem woah what’s the name of the school?

  • @thinkinoutloud.1
    @thinkinoutloud.1 5 років тому +4

    ok. I decided to delete my harsh words. We will leave it at that.

  • @forbearancemp5283
    @forbearancemp5283 5 років тому +12

    Morning Circle is to help the children speak using poems and songs and to help the rhythm of their breathing. Morning and Finishing verse marks the start and end to a school day, like the bell, but better. There's reasons for things and most schools would welcome your interest with questions why. Did you ask?

    • @belleatrix6274
      @belleatrix6274 4 роки тому +1

      Wow - do they teach your victim-blaming dismissiveness at Waldorf, too?
      Help with breathing and pronunciation, huh? No sale. You know just as well as anyone that guided breathing is to reach a state of calm, and leaves subjects in a heightened state of suggestibility. But doing that to kids, and tossing in some weirdo incantations on top of it - you’re right, no biggie.
      Ugh. If you’re going to be rude about it and defend the cult of Waldorf, at least come up with something believable.

    • @cwy6941
      @cwy6941 Рік тому

      @@belleatrix6274 Yeah, good thing religious schools don't do THE EXACT SAME thing with prayers. And stories. And ghosts. And gods.

  • @megangredesky5728
    @megangredesky5728 3 роки тому +3

    Your video popped up on my UA-cam - probably because I’m a Waldorf parent. Also I noticed you were quoting text about Lucifer (in the comments below) so I wanted to address them first because that might be supporting your misunderstanding that Waldorf teaches Witchcraft. I’m just concerned that you are giving people the wrong idea about Waldorf.
    Steiner believed “good” is found between the dark and light (so to speak). Actually he talks about Lucifer and his counterpart Ahriman. Lucifer is the light spirit. “He” plays on human pride and also motivates the creative and spiritual part of humanity. Ahriman is the “dark” spirit that tempts humans to live more on the material plane. But it also allows for technology and intellectual development. Neither of these is “bad” or “good.” It’s more about the balance within these “forces” so to speak. His belief is there is some spiritual being that helps to balance these so they aren’t extreme and he happens to call it “Christ” but he actually diverges a lot from Christianity. IT’s actually more Buddhist in nature. (I don’t think about things this way but I hope you can see that it’s not the devil or witchcraft)
    But this is his philosophy called Anthroposophy. I think it’s important to be careful not to take words about Lucifer in his writings out of this context. It’s a very a deep philosophy and would require a lot of study to fully understand its intention. But it certainly isn’t trying to teach witchcraft.
    Is the school you brought your child to an accrediated Waldorf school? Anything “inspired” is not Waldorf . It’s like stealing a name because you serve organic food, play outside, or have wooden toys. Those are some things you might see on the surface of a Waldorf school but that inspiration could be called anything and not make it Waldorf. IF your school was not accredited I think that’s very important to share with people as well. Waldorf is very pure in that it’s not mixed with any other pedogogies. They are trying to address issues like lack of inclusivity and diversity in the curriculum, stories, etc. which tend to be more Norse and Greek mythology. There is a movement within Waldorf to increase equity in this way. This is actually the piece about Waldorf that I would be most concerned about. I would encourage parents to ask if there is an Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity committee at the school they are looking at.
    All in all, my daughter attends Berkeley Rose Waldorf School and there is no witchcraft happening. There is a strong reverence for Mother Earth and for each other. There is a lot of singing but it’s not casting spells. They learn perspective drawing, learn to play the violin, and to speak Mandarin and Spanish. There are rituals for the changing of the seasons but they are in reverence for nature. They don’t worship anything.
    I think it’s a superficial understanding to think Waldorf is witchcrafty.
    It is very spiritual and deep - about having reverence and holding onto what’s good in the world. I just hate to see you lead people astray about Waldorf education. It’s not for everyone but it’s not witchcraft. But if your school was “Waldorf inspired” it’s not actually Waldorf. So what you are saying could be misleading. Teachers who teach in a Waldorf school go through a lot of training. Everything they do is very intentional. I’m sorry you had that experience.
    It sounds very stressful for your child. It would be great for you to share if your school was an accredited Waldorf school or just claiming to be “Waldorf Inspired.” If it’s really Waldorf, I’d be so concerned and I’m sure the teachers of any other Waldorf school would be too.

  • @sebe7657
    @sebe7657 3 роки тому +5

    I cant tell if this is a joke or not. Its crazy to blame a school for witch craft when your son is getting nightmares and headaches 🤦🏽‍♂️. Come on, it's not the middle ages. Ive never been to a Waldorf school that uses wands, but i think it's just to encourage the use of imagination. Calling teachers witches is just blatantly disrespectful. Your only complaints are that you have a "weird feeling" and someone is staring at you. I'm glad you left this school because it saves the teachers from dealing with your weak accusations that you make up.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому +1

      If you didn't understand that my MAIN COMPLAINT OF THE VIDEO was that this school is NOT TRANSPARENT WITH WHAT IT IS TEACHING - then you clearly didn't understand the video. 🙄
      My experience is secondary to the fact that after I pulled him, I researched into Waldorf and what it was actually founded on - which is Occult and some seriously "out there" beliefs by Rudolf Steiner - in which he wanted to use these schools to indoctrinate people.
      Apparently - for some - it's working. Because they wanted to make a school and a belief system where people wouldn't realize what they were doing and could basically hide in "plain sight". ✌️ I know what I know. You don't see it? Then you either don't want to or you haven't ACTUALLY done any research into it.

  • @sarah-edge
    @sarah-edge 2 місяці тому +1

    I was supposed to have an interview with a Waldorf school today. i’ve had a bad feeling about it all weekend and decided to look around to see if it had a base.
    i’m glad you posted this. i’ve seen a lot of stuff about waldorf being woowoo hippie but not a lot of fairy/witch stuff. sooooo not a fan of it as a catholic.

  • @WhoTheDevv
    @WhoTheDevv Рік тому +4

    I went to a waldorf school for all my life. They are such a supportive school and I dont believe in any of the festivals and crap they throw, but it was fun to mess around with friends at them. It is in no way witchcraft, or religious, no opinions or ideas are pushed upon you. The education is slower but it didnt hold me back and I am now studying a double degree in mechatronics engineering (honours) and computer science. The school supported my mental health issues and let me take home school work, I would never be in the position I am today without such a supportive school. Obviously everyone has their own opinion but its not based on witchcraft or anything, Im not sure if you still run this youtube channel but it could be fun to have a video where you chat to someone who went all the way through, I would love to! Have a great day

  • @athinawest8749
    @athinawest8749 5 років тому +15

    Thank you for sharing about your experience. I’ve also heard of several people have the same experience. And your gift, it’s the spiritual gift of discernment. You have been given it for a reason and that’s to protect you and your family 🙏🏼❤️

  • @ivanos_95
    @ivanos_95 4 роки тому +3

    Obviously, the Waldorf-education system differs from the mainstream one in the US, as it wasn't founded by the Washington-bureaucrats in order to create robots for the state/corporate interests, but Rudolf Steiner in particular, who established it as an alternative education method, based on the Anthroposophical understanding of human being, which is definitely closer to the Christian values than paganism, but if that's not a healthy alternative for you, then you should home-teach your child according to your own unbiased standards, or simply send it to the public school, which strictly follows the recent academic trends.

  • @mimiwest3256
    @mimiwest3256 4 роки тому +7

    Thank you for this video! I've been researching Waldorf schools lately. One of my daughters friends from high school is soooo into everything Waldorf, and recently became an early childhood teacher there. Even though I had heard of Waldorf Schools, I didn't know much about them until I started following her on Instagram, and becoming more curious about the schools. Very, very disturbing. I absolutely believe every word you have said, and understand the "feelings" that you get. Same here.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому +1

      Thank you for sharing Mimi! 💞 I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day. Thanks for stopping by - Sara

    • @louisegreer4790
      @louisegreer4790 3 роки тому +1

      Disturbing? What specifically?

  • @minarose3193
    @minarose3193 4 роки тому +5

    I bet she's a Harry Potter fan though :)
    I watched your entire video and you sounded paranoid and crazy. No explanation what so ever of exactly what they did wrong to your son. It was all about you and your insecurities and what was going on inside your mind. Such a mess

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  4 роки тому

      Yep - I am a Harry Potter fan 🤷‍♀️ and I get it - I FELT paranoid and crazy. And I can’t explain what happened that was “wrong” - because everything that happened was exactly what I said. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And this was the entirety of our experience

    • @autumn2845
      @autumn2845 3 роки тому +1

      @Minarose This feels a bit of a cruel way to offer feedback. If something within urges a passive aggressive comment, try to take a moment to breathe and ask yourself what it will actually add to the discussion. Feeling the need add hasty insults to a video created from a good place in someones heart can very well be the perfect opportunity to self reflect.
      @@SaraMichaels Thank you for the video, in it's entirety. I am not a parent yet, but very dearly hope to be one soon. I was looking around at schools for the future, and was very much interested in locating a private school without it also being a Catholic based education. (which is what I received grades 1-8) I found Waldorf, and was blown away in the same way you were. For a while, I had been looking all around the website and eventually moved to youtube. Your video was the first one I came to. After seeing the cost of tuition, I then felt justified in my late night hours of daydreaming and planning ahead haha. I digress.. Thank you again for the information, and your family's experience is valid. I hope you are all doing well now, seeing that this video is from a little while back.
      Much appreciation, and gratitude from this little corner of the world.
      -Autumn

    • @minarose3193
      @minarose3193 2 роки тому +1

      @@autumn2845 it’s all in your own head you are projecting your own fears and insecurities

  • @kellycook8122
    @kellycook8122 Рік тому +1

    We go to a Waldorf school and I wish it was witchy to be honest. Lots of Christianity in the verses and festivals. Everyone wants something different from their education.

  • @emmalee6032
    @emmalee6032 3 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much for sharing this. We are Christians and will not be sending our kids to a Waldorf school. We have heard many stories similar to this. You are just brave enough to share.

  • @mezza2920
    @mezza2920 5 років тому +18

    Thank you for sharing! I'm an empath also and looked into steiner schools for my little girl and recently got the sick gut feeling randomly about it ( before experiencing this i thought it was the best thing since sliced bread) . It was enough to make me look further. I don't like that it masquerades as humanist but is heavily religious based on Rudolf Steiner's belief system. My little girl will now be attending private school as I did.

    • @antigonarosaura7845
      @antigonarosaura7845 3 роки тому

      Of course it is religious.

    • @morganreneebeadle9368
      @morganreneebeadle9368 3 роки тому

      Look into oak meadow. A homeschool. They adapted Waldorf principles but they removed religion and grimm nurseries and stuff like that!

  • @Awakenthemasses2016_thetruth
    @Awakenthemasses2016_thetruth Рік тому +2

    I pray you see this comment even after all these years. I'm Christian and looking for a school for my son, your video couldn't have come at a better time. God bless you and I truly appreciate your bravery and honesty.

  • @kristinesmith1665
    @kristinesmith1665 2 роки тому

    My only concern with her commentary is that she is not warning about the specific school her son attended, but makes generalized statements aligning to ALL Waldorf Schools. Red flags go up for me when I hear this, only because I have experienced my child going to a racist public school in the South - very biased in their thinking from Principal down to many teachers simply because of lack of exposure of teaching styles of different cultures, no experience with inclusion and microaggressions. Transferred my son to a more progressive public school and later charter school and no problem. It sounds like there was only one Waldorf school in her area to compare to other nonWaldorf schools. The point - not all private, charter, public, digital or homeschools are the same. There are really good ones and really bad ones.
    As a parent, it is our job to remove our child from a school that doesn't serve them well. Ex: a laxed school on bullying or passing D/F students from grade to grade without support, or a school heavily emphasizing one area of STEM. These could be considered bad schools.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  Рік тому +1

      The reason I have not shared the specific school is for personal safety first of all. and also - because the issue is *NOT* just this school - it is the problem that ALL WALDORF SCHOOLS (if they are true waldorf schools) are following his philosophy which is founded on occult practices.
      And all I simply am doing is drawing this awareness so that OTHER PARENTS can literally go to google or youtube and see that everything I'm talking about is 100% truth.
      Waldorf Steiner created his "schools" to indoctrinate children into his cult / following in a way that would not raise "red flags" 🚩 for the public. and if a Waldorf school is a TRUE school and not just "Waldorf-Inspired" . . . then yes; they're following his philosophies

  • @squeezebug23
    @squeezebug23 6 років тому +2

    I appreciate your video. I’m a homeschooling momma and came across basic Waldorf thinking in another vloger post. It got me thinking about some of the plastic toys vs fixable toys made with natural material, how to navigate screen time. We have noticed the addictive behavior with them using screens and I was just in the beginning research stages because I heard “Waldorf/Charlotte Mason”...just like that, like they were interchangeable. Now that I’ve watched a video on what Waldorf students might say, plus yours I know this isn’t something I’m pursuing. Of course there are some parts of it that I’d like but we are very careful about spiritual things because they are real. Very real. We are believers and I’ve felt some inexplicable stuff but I’ve learned over the years to trust His leading. It’s too bad you’re getting flack, just know that you are also being helpful which was the purpose of this video. You would’ve been doing a disservice if felt you needed to and didn’t. Now you can wash your hands of the responsibility. 👍🏼

  • @choobylipper
    @choobylipper 5 років тому +2

    Anybody considering sending their child to Waldorf needs to actually dig around the internet and read Rudolph Steiner's writings, which range from nonsensical to racist to bigoted against children with disabilities (and many other troubling beliefs). EVERY Waldorf teacher is required to be certified in his particular teaching philosophy/pedagogy. Waldorf teaches a religious philosophy and practice disguised as an educational system. STAY AWAY. Everything this woman says is true, plus much more.

  • @nicolekoz8976
    @nicolekoz8976 6 місяців тому +1

    I had to comment to let you know that as I’m watching you, my 3 year old is next to me and said, “is that Barbie?” 🥰

  • @nerissasimon411
    @nerissasimon411 5 років тому +4

    Thanks for your perspective. Choosing a school is surprisingly challenging and personal. I'm doing research on local Waldorf, Montessori, public, etc options now, and they vary so much! We're secular and want something that's religion-free, and factual about history, climate change, etc. Their Wiccan teachings are not desirable even to someone without a faith base. I will do more research about it thanks to your input, and I did find that there's a lot of litigation going on due to many of their schools covertly crossing church and state lines. This is sometimes the case with charter schools in general - they're crafty.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Nerissa! and LOVE that you're putting time into researching . . . YOU ARE WISE!!!!
      Montessori is something we're loving & considering . . . now we're fulltime traveling but going to be looking for the right location + school system to put a home base down on! Anyways -- long story short if you're considering Montessori there are many Montessori public options out there! (as private options can range anywhere from $1000 to $5000 a month) -- here's a resource I found to be helpful!
      perhaps there would be one in your area or state: www.public-montessori.org/
      wishing you the best of luck as you find the right school for you and also a happy holiday season! - Sara

    • @nerissasimon411
      @nerissasimon411 5 років тому

      @@SaraMichaels thank you for the additional resource! Good luck with your travel and next move!

    • @sophiecameron1480
      @sophiecameron1480 5 років тому +4

      LOL No Waldorf school has Wiccan teachings, or it is absolutely NOT a Waldorf school

    • @juliatokiohotellover
      @juliatokiohotellover 5 років тому

      LOL--I can tell you as someone who went to a Waldorf school, there are no Wiccan teachings. Maybe your "research" should be more fact-based and less reading mommy blogs.

  • @newconservative7357
    @newconservative7357 5 місяців тому +1

    Thank you so much for sharing!!! I’ve been looking in to Waldorf curriculum to homeschool my son, and I’ve been getting a really bad vibe about it from my research thus far. We are also Christian, I think we are getting these negative vibes for a reason.

  • @novascotia6407
    @novascotia6407 5 років тому +5

    I don't know you, but I believe you. I used to have a baby sitting gig with a couple Waldorf kids. Everything was really pretty, but nothing ever made sense. I don't have a microwave either, but if you are paying $20k/year and your 10yo doesn't know how to get anything done or read or self advocate and they still have a giant sense of specialism, no amount organic food is going make up for that.

    • @novascotia6407
      @novascotia6407 5 років тому +1

      And oh yes... No adult supervision on the playground. In fact, they smile and giggle to themselves when kids get into a fist fight. My kid almost hit another kid with a wooden plank and no one said a thing. I caught a toddler who nearly fell off of a five foot tall platform.
      Also, one of my kids had a learning disorder. Because of their methods, he wasn't diagnosed until he was almost a teenager. Both the academic and emotional fall out were awful.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому

      WOW. 😲 unfortunately this is not the first time I'm hearing of educational / developmental delays coming out of some of these systems. I understand it can happen anywhere in any type of school; but often the frequency seems to be higher in these schools. Thank you for sharing

    • @novascotia6407
      @novascotia6407 4 роки тому +2

      @@Vale-dh1tn you are asking for scientific validity out of a Waldorf School? This is a school system that doesn't believe in any kind of direct phonics or whole word reading instruction until all of a child's baby teeth have fallen out. They don't test for speech disorders which have a 40% comorbidity with reading disorders. The kids I watched did not know the alphabet at the age of ten and nobody seemed to think this was a problem. Instead of getting some sort of multisensory phonics program, my one kid who was later diagnosed with dyslexia was told to practice walking on a balance beam and given a series of dance moves to perform. Scientific data does not live here.

    • @novascotia6407
      @novascotia6407 4 роки тому

      @@Vale-dh1tn Chicago

    • @novascotia6407
      @novascotia6407 4 роки тому

      @@Vale-dh1tn here's the accreditation page. www.chicagowaldorf.org/accreditations

  • @directorsnap
    @directorsnap 5 років тому +12

    i disagree with almost everything said. i went to chicago waldorf school, and it was the best years of my life. they taught me so much and helped me through hard times. there the reason i got to into physics and science. sure it was wierd when they did a morning chant/prayer thingy. but overall i think it was a great experiance

  • @renebarrow.virtualreality
    @renebarrow.virtualreality 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm currently researching into Waldorf, Montessori etc. and the rest of the school options for my own child. Every option so far seems to be a hit or miss experience. Some parents, current students and ex-students love their experience and others hate their experience with Montessori, Waldorf, faith-based schools, state schools, and independents schools. It seems from all the comments, that the most important thing is that parents and teachers have similar beliefs, perspectives and expectations, and these can differ based on country, urban vs rural and even schools in the same area. Now if only I could find a technology-focused school to teach coding to my 4 year old, combined with a 'Forest' school that makes them enjoy the outdoors, while being a non-religious school to avoid indoctrination, while teaching about different religions to make sure they're agnostically open-minded, that would be ideal for me...although hard to find.

  • @Freedom4Realz
    @Freedom4Realz 4 роки тому +7

    I believe you! How chilling. Any research into Steiner will lead to occultism. I’m very happy you shared this.

  • @tiffanyweber3028
    @tiffanyweber3028 3 роки тому +14

    I am a feely person too and stumbling across this school and looking at one in my area, I was excited like you were. It’s charming and full of life when compared to public schools, but looking through it and through some of their philosophies I got this feeling of. New Age/ witch craft. With that feeling I was lead to UA-cam and found your review.
    Clarification! Thank you for your honesty!
    There is a difference in spirituality. One of this world and one of the Kingdom of Christ.

  • @TheMCPEpro333
    @TheMCPEpro333 6 років тому +29

    Maybe it was just that particular Waldorf school, which disguises as a Waldorf school? But is really run by witches..

    • @TheMCPEpro333
      @TheMCPEpro333 6 років тому +7

      Bec my son goes to Waldorf school in Manila. I am faith based and i dont get those feelings, the teachers' example helps me become a better parent, theyre neither creepy nor manipulative. And i am sensitive too..and faith based. It is not a perfect school, neither are the teachers perfect but i can see my son and his classmates are loved and cared for in a genuine way. Im sorry about ur horrible experience. I would have done the same. Those nightmares ur son had were a bad sign..especially that old woman who seemed to be uttering creepy orations as u left the school premises. Glad u left as soon as possible.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  6 років тому +3

      Hi Stephanie! Thank you for your comment!
      I am happy to hear you are aware + educated and not having any of those feelings. Perhaps it was just this school (and perhaps I was overly sensitive!) all I can say is this was our experience. I can't speak on any other Waldorf schools.

    • @chiara779
      @chiara779 6 років тому +6

      No they are all the same

    • @prague7706
      @prague7706 5 років тому +2

      Stephanie Christine - no, Rudolph Steiner was a luciferian freak. Waldorf schools are evil.

    • @johannesbekker1970
      @johannesbekker1970 5 років тому +1

      @@chiara779 BS!

  • @movieclipsforthevibes
    @movieclipsforthevibes 2 роки тому +2

    Do they teach him about gnomes? A friend of mine mentioned his Waldorf School was very heavy on gnome teachings

  • @gingerleyen
    @gingerleyen 5 років тому +1

    Here in the netherlands, waldorf schools are public schools as well, not private, since we do’nt have private schools. I do not recognize this experience at all and went there for 12 years and my son goes there as well. I am at least 10 years younger than other parents of kids in his class but that’s just the current landscape here, people don’t marry and have kids late, so I am kind of an outsider as well. But the ritualistic and almost archaïc part you’re talking about in the beginning is something people don’t realize, but this actually IS an integral part of this education, not just the hipster non tech stuff... yoga is NOT actually a part of waldorf, wands aren’t part of waldorf, whitchcraft is’nt a part of waldorf, but a form of religion and ritual is.. with a christian basis I might add, that’s why most of my peers are kind of put off as adults by our apparently Christian ( we did’nt notice as kids ) education that formed us to also critically think for ourselves and explore all relgions with no bias 😂 Christianity is’nt really big in Holland. The morning talks are not bad, just thanking the earth and ‘god’ for your food and your ability to learn, anyway, you’re totally right in a way, a lot of people are drawn to waldorf for something that it just is’nt.. it can appear AND act very culty I guess in some curcomstances ( a f*d up private education system for example ) Montesossori is great as well and a great choice, if your child has an appetite for and has no problem with independent learning. Same goes for waldorf schools, they’re both founded on a kind of ‘self-teaching’ approach. It does not really work for those of us that need ‘forcefull’ assistance with our education in my experience. Good on you for making the right decisions for your kids though, always follow your gut.

  • @madisonpowell804
    @madisonpowell804 3 роки тому +1

    Is every waldorf school like this? I chose waldorf as the philosophy to go by for my school project.

  • @christianstuebi754
    @christianstuebi754 3 роки тому +1

    What an utterly weird post! Most sentences you say how you "can't explain", that "you don't know" that Waldorf is "witchcraft" and then you turn around and you admit that you had been to a "confirmed" hunted house. Also, you admit that you had (and obviously still have) no clue about Waldorf. It's a shame that despite your obvious ignorance on the matter, you still feel like you should announce your opinion to the world.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  3 роки тому

      I was previously and obviously ignorant. It's embarassing to admit and to even make this video as I was sure I'd get judged etc. But it is what it is. I did my research AFTER I took my child out and I read manuals, books, etc. I stand by what I say because I know it's true. Rudolf Steiner's TRUE Waldorf schools are founded on Occult principles and the schools are just methods of indoctrination.
      My comparisons in the video were merely to correlate and compare previous experiences but apparently this seems to have detracted from the point.

  • @yankee2666
    @yankee2666 4 роки тому +1

    None of the comments seem to address anything about Waldorf graduates navigating the system; Do they go on to College - graduate school? What professionals do they pursue? Are they properly equipped for life beyond this experience, particularly with respect to he culture that they live in.?

  • @louderthanwordsInclusivity
    @louderthanwordsInclusivity 2 роки тому +1

    There are some crap schools of every kind, Waldorf can be amazing or it can be awful-I find problem with Waldorf not being accomidating of special needs however they do have some very good principles so I pull a couple things from Waldorf like the story and art based introduction to teaching (only topics my kids are interested in which differs from Waldorf), imagination and play being allowed to thrive but I use mostly a Reggio based approach and incorporate Montessori, and my son with level 3 Autism doesn’t use any of the waldorf techniques beyond maybe the play.
    Waldorf has a lot of negative history just as catholic and Christian schools, Waldorf does come from a spiritual belief from the original creator, and this was rooted in racism, just as every other originator of a type of schooling was including the ones used in majority of the world today, the public school standard we all know.
    I personally take problem with all of it. I am able to homeschool and personally curate the appropriate heuristic approach for my individual children, take the good parts and effective parts that benefit my children and create our own approach, different for each child based on need and interest and learning style.
    However if I were to choose a school privately, it would likely be either Reggio or Montessori for my son with severe disabilities, and either Reggio Montessori or a well researched Waldorf school for my older son, as he is a very creative soul. Problem with Reggio is few schools go to 5th grade, and none go past that.
    Now I do take issue with the idea that witchcraft is a bad thing lol, should a school ever hide certain things? nah, and I have heard about CERTAIN Waldorf schools, and Montessori, and catholic, doing this, (catholic and Waldorf do this much more so though lol) but let’s not make the idea of witchcraft or teaching kids witchcraft evil because many families incorporate this into their religious beliefs and that’s ok too.

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  Рік тому

      It really depends on the person and what school you're looking for and are comfortable with.
      As I have said - to each their own!
      HOWEVER, the BIG THING I am NOT ok with is that their philosophy is UNDERLYING. and they are not OPEN with it. If you they want to be a school that teaches these things and operates in this way, GREAT! But they should do it OPENLY and not hide it. 🤫

  • @SophieMayLove
    @SophieMayLove 3 роки тому +2

    Which school is this? What state?

  • @mackgdr
    @mackgdr 5 років тому +11

    Montessori school was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had severe dyslexia and still got a great education. Went on to AP classes in high school and now have a Bachelor's in biology. What Montessori does that regular classrooms don't, is create a wonder of the world and a passion for learning. Even today, I learn just to learn outside of my job by reading books on many subjects, multiple newspapers per day, and I'm working on re-learning Spanish. I'm sorry you had such an awful experience. I hope you can find a school that works for your family!

    • @SaraMichaels
      @SaraMichaels  5 років тому +1

      Hey Mackenzie! So happy you found one that works for you! This video was about a Waldorf school (a little different from Montessori) . While we didn't jive with this Waldorf school; Montessori schools are what we're looking for and we love their methods. Taking this next year to travel and find a location + school system we love and want to put a homebase at! Thank you for stopping by the channel, sharing your thoughts, and wishing you a Merry Christmas! - Sara

    • @mackgdr
      @mackgdr 5 років тому +2

      Ah, yes, I should have worded my answer better. I knew you were speaking about a Waldorf school and was just suggesting Montessori as an alternative to Waldorf.

    • @mariahwg
      @mariahwg 5 років тому +1

      Just wanted to say, as a former Montessori kid myself who sent my own kids to Montessori, I think you may find a lot to like about it. One of the things I dislike about Waldorf is that the child follows the curriculum. With Montessori, more than almost any other education system, the curriculum follows the child. Plus, I loved the respect Montessori classrooms have for focus.
      Good luck!

  • @bbsara0146
    @bbsara0146 Рік тому

    Waldorf schools seem to focus WAY too much on arts and crafts. They are fun to do, but you don't learn so much from them. You need to be taught about how the world currently is. Art is like a leisure activity of the rich basically.

  • @Ballzo916
    @Ballzo916 5 років тому +2

    You're video is very interesting. I looked for some of those first blogs you said you did to compare to what you've said here and couldn't find them. Any chance you could share those too? Also that poem or spell you said your son did, can you recall any of it?