More on Steiner schools (see last post), and how they might appear child-centred and cuddly, while hiding their true objectives. A comment has appeared on Alicia Hamburg’s blog from the parent of a child who attended the Leeds Steiner kindergarten. He or she wrote:

It is imperative now that the very highest education authorities intervene here, and under no uncertain terms ensure that all Steiner establishments publish full and precise disclosure of their beliefs and intentions. It is paramount that the uninformed and unsuspecting are given protection. Personally, we count ourselves among the lucky ones. The number of victims this cover-up has claimed over the past 90-odd years of Steiner schooling doesnt bear thinking about, but in these times of the nanny-state, litigation, think-tanks and watch-dogs, it is almost inconceivable that this problem can still exist.

You should read the whole post and all the comments. If you don’t know what anthroposophy is, click here to find out what Steiner Waldorf teachers learn at college.

The proposed Fullfledge Ecology School at Woodbridge, a “free school”, might not make a big thing about its Steiner principles, but they’re there. Steiner education is based on some very weird ideas. At least in a conventional faith school, you know what you’re dealing with. In Steiner schools, children are subjected to some highly unorthodox and questionable teaching methods. In many cases, they become thoroughly confused and in need of remedial education. According to Steiner education principles,

The child incarnates in 7 year cycles: the etheric body is born at 7, the astral body at 14 and the ego or the individuality that returns from past lives, at 21. Abstract reasoning is discouraged too early (before 14) because it interferes with the anthroposophical spiritual vision of human development.

For more on this, see DC’s Improbable Science – Prof. David Colquhoun of UCS’s blog.

Is this what state education funds should be used for?