This is the only private school I have ever known
the inner workings of, but I am horrified at the dysfunction among the
faculty and the staff. I find that this inevitably influences the
children both in the classroom and outside of it. What is being
modelled for them is not healthy. These are immature and underdeveloped
adults who do not have a strong sense of themselves. Not only are
students here being insufficiently served academically, they are being
disserved because of a lack of healthy adult examples of mature social
interaction, honesty, cooperation or even receptivity to parental
concerns. Looking ahead, be sure to ask about the success rate of their
graduates who, time and again, are dropping out of college before even
the end of their first year. Ask what colleges are accepting these
students. You won't find any big names here--for Waldorf schools in
general, maybe, but for PWS specifically, it just isn't happening. I
would strongly advise looking elsewhere. I found the nearby Micha-el
school to have a far greater sense of integrity on the whole.
This school has the best of intentions; however, PWS lacks
considerable talent with their teachers. My child submitted her math
homework and got it wrong - as did one other boy. My daughter kept
reworking the problem again and again and still came up with the same
answer. The teacher began working with her and then realized that she
had been teaching the problem incorrectly all along. One might applaud
the teacher for honesty but the fact is she was teaching it wrong!
Only my child and the other little boy got it correct. I pay too much
money for this kind of ineptitude. Math is secondary in this school when
our country seriously is falling behind global education standards. I
fear that my child will have few opportunities and will not be able to
attend a quality university (one that's beyond the obscure liberal arts
colleges that typically result in few job opportunities). PWS doesnt
test and deadlines are merely guidelines which is counter to 'real world
standards. Education prepares children for life and this school does
nothing of the sort. I am sure there are good Waldorf schools but this
is definitely not one of them.
There are some wonderful things about the education but.... huge
problems in the administration and too many sub- standard teachers.
The social issues and bullying at the school are heart breaking.
Classroom management is more often than not outdated and ineffectual in
lower school. The culture in the high school often breeds disinterest
and lots of pot smoking. NOT a math and science school by any stretch.
Unfortunately "crony-ism" has set in and those in control think it's all
good when it is very stale, dysfunction and not a very inspiring place
for many. I would recommend the kindergarten program. If you are lucky
to get a well trained, professional grades teacher (few and far
between), it can be a good place for a while. I think one of the big
problems is there is really no apparent supervision of the teachers.
They can kind of do what they want. Thus, there is a huge lack of
professionalism both inside and outside of the classroom. If your high
school student is HIGHLY motivated they can do well. But if they need
more structure and a little push to do their best....they won't get it
here. They just leave them alone and dismiss it all to "developmental
appropriateness."
GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. Portland Waldorf School can no longer make decisions
based on what is best for its students. It has become a slave to its
mortgage and makes decisions not based on healthy Waldorf pedagogy, but
on the whims of the parents who pay its bills. I agree with one of the
reviews below. The brick fortress is quite impressive in pictures, but
behind closed doors, tired, unqualified, uneducated teachers use shame
and humiliation to "discipline" students. For years now, the school has
been running an anti-bullying, social inclusion campaign while its very
own teachers and administrators lead by the example of shame, blame, and
overt bullying. We were actually receiving free tuition and we opted
to take our children to a healthy environment. This is nothing but one,
big dysfunctional family unwilling to consider its weaknesses and
provide children a happy, healthy learning environment. If you consider
nothing else, just look around inside and ask yourself whether people
seem to be joyful there. It is an environment of the living dead--not a
place where children can be children and learn to like to learn.
