Montessori or Steiner/Waldorf Education

how old is the child?

if i understand correctly, children of a wide age range, something like 3years to 13years are allowed to play and learn together at Montesori nursery schools.

my wife runs a private day nursery, aimed at birth to 5. if i was you, i would be wanting to view all different teaching methods and see how the teachers or workers, play, interact and talk to the children and use these observations to base your decision on.

sounds like you've been reading too many glossy brochures?
 
LateX'Dog said:
Me and my wife are both state educated and I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, just the method of rote teaching is something we believe is not an effective way to learn. We also want to encourage our son to learn for himself, to be enthusiastic about learning and to foster imagination and creativity - things we feel state education does not provide as well as the above mentioned schools.
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A fair point of view, but I would argue that private education is not a substitute for good parenting.

To elaborate, that is not meant as a snipe at your parenting (of which I cannot possibly pass any judgement, I hasten to add!). But my point is that I attribute more of my personal successes to the way I was raised rather than my education. An education is just that, what maketh the man is far more complex than where they were institutionalised.

Creativity, a drive to learn, enthusiasm - these are not things that can be learned in a classroom. I hold the learning experience sacred because it was how I was raised, not because of the school I went to.
 
original.wood said:
sounds like you've been reading too many glossy brochures?
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Heh, we haven't read any yet.

Just through our interactions and own believes.

My partner is in her 2nd year of her PhD and works with children all the time, she sees a lot of state schools and she just feels it doesn't provide what we both want.
 
LateX'Dog said:
Me and my wife are both state educated and I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, just the method of rote teaching is something we believe is not an effective way to learn. We also want to encourage our son to learn for himself, to be enthusiastic about learning and to foster imagination and creativity - things we feel state education does not provide as well as the above mentioned schools.
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Well if you want to believe in that sort of thing then that's your choice... I'm not sure I'd want to risk my child's education on some subjective beliefs about state schools. Perhpas you'd be better off simply comparing the schools within a reasonable commute from where you are (including the 'alternative' ones and private ones) and simply choose the best one rather than starting from the perspective that state school = bad.
 
Theophany said:
A fair point of view, but I would argue that private education is not a substitute for good parenting.

To elaborate, that is not meant as a snipe at your parenting (of which I cannot possibly pass any judgement, I hasten to add!). But my point is that I attribute more of my personal successes to the way I was raised rather than my education. An education is just that, what maketh the man is far more complex than where they were institutionalised.

Creativity, a drive to learn, enthusiasm - these are not things that can be learned in a classroom. I hold the learning experience sacred because it was how I was raised, not because of the school I went to.
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That's a fair point.

But if you can offer an environment at school that encourages those values, as well as at home, surely that would be the best option?
 
dowie said:
Well if you want to believe in that sort of thing then that's your choice... I'm not sure I'd want to risk my child's education on some subjective beliefs about state schools. Perhpas you'd be better off simply comparing the schools within a reasonable commute from where you are (including the 'alternative' ones and private ones) and simply choose the best one rather than starting from the perspective that state school = bad.
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We are not saying state schools are bad, we are just saying they do not provide the learning environment that we would like our child to learn in.

Rote learning, which is what most if not all state schools do, doesn't encourage the principles we would like to provide.
 
LateX'Dog said:
That's a fair point.

But if you can offer an environment at school that encourages those values, as well as at home, surely that would be the best option?
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Persuasive, for sure. :p

Honestly, I'll be an ardent defender of the state education system purely because of my bias toward it. That being said, my godparents' children had a private education and they both sailed into far more prestigious universities than I did, doing similar subjects.

I certainly wouldn't detract from the value that can be added by a private education as it would be disingenuous, but my personal belief is that with the right attitude and self-determination/efficacy, it isn't necessarily better than a state education. :)

All just my opinion, however.
 
regarding the glossy brochures statement, your comments sounded like they come off the pages of one, thats all i meant :D

i assume this would be a primary school your looking at your son attending?

if state schools dont feel appropriate for your son, then i guess all you can do is research in to more how their curriculum is based and see which you prefer the sound of.

either learning method, such as Montessori follow different curriculums, which basically outline how your child will be taught and what the reasons behind this are.

middle america has more Montessori schools than the UK, but are becoming more popular, i know you live in York, but the only one i know of is in Bury, not too far from me.

unlike state schools, private day nurserys and childminders, Montessori schools are not governed by OFSTED, who review the settings, so i dont know who if anyone you can turn to, to enquire regarding the qualitity of the setting provided by your local Montessori/Steiner schools.
 
LateX'Dog said:
We are not saying state schools are bad, we are just saying they do not provide the learning environment that we would like our child to learn in.

Rote learning, which is what most if not all state schools do, doesn't encourage the principles we would like to provide.
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Hhmm some things you really have to learn by rote. My state education was excellent if not helped but my pathetic attitude. Some of my teachers were inspirational and taught me how to think rather than how to pass tests.

My problem was never having the support and inspiration at home. I think this is key.

There are only two things which need to be taught - facts about the world and how to question facts about the world. The important stuff we learn as we live.
 
OP, what is it that you want here? I'm confused.

It sounds like you want to moan about State Schools but have no understanding of the alternatives because you post on a computer forum about your child's education rather than getting out there and seeing what is what.
 
Oh, I remember now - you were going to move to Australia on the merit of your wife being an educational psychologist..and I mentioned that unless it was a recognised course then that wouldn't be the case!

If she works in education then she should know the ins and outs of all these alternatives.
 
Skeptic said:
Oh, I remember now - you were going to move to Australia on the merit of your wife being an educational psychologist..and I mentioned that unless it was a recognised course then that wouldn't be the case!

If she works in education then she should know the ins and outs of all these alternatives.
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I wasn't going to bring up the OP's previous posting history but it is there.
 
The whole thing smells of some weird middle-class alternative-education cult

"Yes, Pandora's reached her third stage and her astral body has entered the physical sphere of her corporal being. Of course, as you know, that has triggered her pubic phase..."

Just no...
 
[FnG]magnolia;23963782 said:
OP, what is it that you want here? I'm confused.
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What I'm currently getting, peoples opinions. Stop trying to derail.

Skeptic said:
Oh, I remember now - you were going to move to Australia on the merit of your wife being an educational psychologist..and I mentioned that unless it was a recognised course then that wouldn't be the case!

If she works in education then she should know the ins and outs of all these alternatives.
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[FnG]magnolia;23963818 said:
I wasn't going to bring up the OP's previous posting history but it is there.
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She has been head hunted by Maquarie University, Sydney. Been told that if she passes her Viva next year, she'll be offered a lectureship.

But what has this got to do with anything? You're just trying to be an idiot.

Look if you 2 have nothing to contribute, just leave this thread alone.
 
I think you will find that I've contributed a significant amount, which you haven't read or acknowledged. Mags is right re: post history. Last post from me, good luck.
 
Whenever I hear the term VIVA I automatically think of the old Vauxhall Viva my grandad used to own....when it is time to do my own this is not going to very helpful.
 
LateX'Dog said:
We are not saying state schools are bad, we are just saying they do not provide the learning environment that we would like our child to learn in.

Rote learning, which is what most if not all state schools do, doesn't encourage the principles we would like to provide.
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You're making a blanket statement about state schools whilst placing your hopes on a couple of 'alternative' education methods... I'd explore all schools in your area rather than eliminating a whole bunch of them out of hand as a result of some personal bias. Its your kids education at stake - you should probably give all the available schools some consideration.
 
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