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Sunday, April 29, 2012

New York Rudolf Steiner School - Reviews by Parents

Here's the Rudolf Steiner School in New York...

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=5071&state=NY#from..Hea\
derLink


Posted April 9, 2010
We enjoyed our years at this school, but not without reservations. Because there
is no principal, the administrative aspects of the school are entirely
disorganized. Should you experience a real problem, it is very difficult to know
just whom to address. The parent community is great, though. Very warm and
intelligent. Looking forward, however, the college acceptances list in the upper
school is pretty darn awful.
—Submitted by a parent

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/attraction/rudolf-steiner-15-e-79th-street-\
new-york-ny-10021-us#


I found the school to be very friendly but was surprised to find that they did
not offer, nor seem to believe in providing support services to students with
different learning styles/needs. My child was able to work with an outside
specialist to make up for this, but note that the emphasis on educating the
"whole child", and learning as "an artistic process" is NOT a euphemism for "we
work with kids with learning issues." Very warm faculty though, and I truly
enjoyed getting to know the families in this school--very community oriented. -
satisfied parent

Steiner looks good much better than it is, and although it may have something to
offer to completely art-oriented students, whose parents are not particularly
unconcerned about their intellectual development. Although some parents are
quite active in the school, it seemed to me that they won their positions by
being very conformist. A frequent comment made to me by parents was that they
were surprised that Steiner did not foster or support much intergenerational
activity with the class and parents. Parents were welcomed of course in the
minimum of spectator-type activities--viewing a science fair or a play, also in
lending their talents to making these productions look better through working on
costumes or scenery. "Class representatives" to the Parents Association ....are
picked by the respective class teachers. Kind of like having union leaders
picked by the employers! Being with the same small group of kids year after year
could be good for some kids, but it produces a tight bond that becomes a bit
dysfunctional. For some robust, politically-oriented, artistic, or busy families
who don't want to be involved at all, it may be appropriate. Since you will have
the same teacher for more than one year, rapport is absolutely critical. -
Veleda