The Trial of Gregoire Perra

Gregoire Perra is on trial for speaking freely about his experience with Waldorf and Anthroposophy.  Below is the Bing translation of a blog he posted and removed on advise of his attorney.  It describes the first day of the trial.   

 Enjoy!

A few moments anthology a trial

Moments anthology trial (Small skits quasi-fictional, or how Anthroposophy turns publicly Comedy) Any resemblance is purely coincidental specific facts: it does not seek to give an account of an event but is a work of fiction. The President of the Tribunal: Miss X, you are a former student SW, what you find defamatory testimony of Gregory Perra? Miss X. : It is a tissue of lies and vile errors on schools SW! The Chairman: Yes, but what exactly did you find passages defamatory? Miss X. : I do not know, I did not read, I have just been flying ... **** The President of the Tribunal: Miss X, you are a former student SW, how critical do you think of your school? Miss X. : Since I left school, I really took my distance from it all! The Chairman: And what do you do now? X. miss. Uh, I did my training at the Institute of Pedagogy SW and I am now working in a nursery parental SW ... ****

My lawyer: Miss X, you were the wife of Gregory Perra, how do you explain that he wrote this testimony SW schools? Miss X. : In my opinion this is a revenge due to the fact that he had to leave school P. At first he was angry at the school, then it was extended to all schools and schools in the Federation and any anthroposophy! My lawyer: But when you were together, you remember that Gregory Perra working with people like Mr. A., President of the A. Company, and Mrs. B, a director of the Federation? Miss X. Yes, I remember that he had worked with them to write reports. It took her a long time. My lawyer: And it does not seem strange that Gregory Perra has collaborated extensively with people and institutions that you claim he hated them at the time? Miss X. : Uh ...................................... (Prolonged silence of 30 seconds). Yes, but he's a very naughty, in fact it was he who pushed hard for me to do my training at the Institute! My lawyer: And it either, it does not seem contradictory to what you're saying? Miss X. : Uh ....... ****

Mrs. Y. I am a school teacher in SW South of France, in which we have developed an original and profoundly innovative apprenticeship training. We are at the heart of modernity! We work in partnership with over 200 businesses tips, including CNRS ! This is proof that our students SW fit perfectly with the company! My lawyer: But actually, what they do your students when they are learning for more than six months a year in business at the age of 15 years? Mrs. Y. Ben ... they do internships in garages or bakeries .... **** My lawyer Mr X, you Secretary General of the Federation of Schools SW, are you anthroposophy? M.X. : I am not a member of Company A. My lawyer was not my question! You can vote for a political party without necessarily being a member. M.X. : Uh yeah, I'm anthroposophical ... My lawyer: What is the role of anthroposophy in SW schools? M.X. : This is the source of inspiration for all our pedagogy. Without anthroposophy, there would be no teaching SW! My lawyer: It's funny, this is exactly what Grégoire Perra also said in his testimony, and you make him a trial! **** Intermission: A anthroposophical the emaciated figure, the angular face like a knife, tried several times to shoot me in the eye, but its firing repeatedly fall into the void. He raged and recharge immediately. At times, it may stop to relax in its absolute moral certainty, as one would refuel a petrol station. Sometimes only a slight doubt seems to attack: the terror of seeing a modern child's toy that had gone astray in open court (you never know with all the tourists!) Weakens internally. **** My lawyer: Madame X, you loved school principal SW, could you tell me if, in your school, we teach students in Anthroposophy Philosophy course, since you say that Anthroposophy is a philosophy as other? Madame X. : I do not know that I can not answer you, I have not learned by heart what to say here! **** My lawyer: Madame X, can you describe your activity in school SW? Madame X. Yes, I am a teacher in 6th grade, third and fourth, and Director of Middle and Upper School. My lawyer: You mean you teach three levels of different students and in addition to this you are Director of Middle and Upper School?? Madame X. : Uh, yes, but it is a small structure you know ... My lawyer: How many students? Madame X. 300, we are the most important school of SW France. **** Counsel for the plaintiff: Madame X, the testimony of Gregory Perra refers to the binding of a professor of physics and chemistry with one of his students. Did you know that? Madame X. : I have been informed that after the teacher in question had left school. If I had known at the time of the facts, no doubt he would have taken the door! My lawyer However, two testimonies of former students, the record, say that the whole school knew. Madame X. : Well I did not know! My lawyer: You do not seem to know much about what is happening in your school Madam Director! It's a little easier to come today that you were not aware! Especially since the only testimony did not mention if this teacher, but this teacher inviting students to "come home to sleep and enjoy the pool!" **** Counsel for the plaintiff (emphasis added): the text of Gregory Perra is a pamphlet, a firebrand, a cloth that any vindictive in pedagogy SW would be bad, corrupt and despicable! This is written without nuance, fed animosity incredible! My lawyer: Really? Yet Gregory Perra posted in this "pamphlet", "many students enjoy being enrolled in these schools. And many teachers flourish there - still - in their teaching practice. I would be lying if we did not recognize [...] "A little later:" [...] some pedagogical innovations effectively promote the free thinking students. I think this is partly due to the methods of learning to read and calculate, how to approach science through experience and not pure theory. " Or again: "[...] For my part, I know that much of my suitability analysis comes from some educational elements which I have received at the SW School where I did my schooling [... ]. " Or again: "[...] it is important to note that all of the practices that I have described does not lead to a massive indoctrination of students immersed in this teaching. Few of them will become, as in my case, a member of the Anthroposophical Society [...] " Not surprising as about, from someone who is supposed to see the absolute evil in this teaching, do not you think?! **** The President of the Tribunal: Mr. Perra, could you define what anthroposophy? Me: Yes, it is an esoteric doctrine, mystical and Gnostic summarizes a large number of beliefs. The Chairman: What beliefs? Me: There are many. But the main ones are the belief in reincarnation, the fact that Christ descended from the Sun, the Gnomes and the fact that Adam, the ancestor of all living beings, Medusa was floating in the albumin when the Earth was still in the liquid state. President:? Me: And also that the Earth is reborn. It has already reincarnated four times. As for Buddha, he was reincarnated on Mars. President:??????????? But what is the link with education S.W? Me: Steiner claimed to have discovered a method to become clairvoyant. He could see the Gods and communicate with them. Suddenly his pedagogy is a revelation which would have come from the gods. President:???????????????????????????? (Gros unease among anthroposophic in the room) **** Second Assessor: Mr. Perra, how did you feel when you learned that the Federation suing you for your testimony? Me: This is information that I have from 1 September 2011. In fact, yesterday, a friend who was a professor at the School of SW V. call me saying: "You know what Grégoire, you're in the agenda of the First Quorum of the season: The article by Gregory Perra, view of the Federation." I asked him to remember the next day to tell me what would be said. What she did: "Gregory was simply amazing: the President of the Federation defended your testimony to all teachers! She said that you were right on many points, that we should examine our practices and our relationship to anthroposophy, because we are not under it all clear on this subject, in particular we appeal to parents. Which has boosted the hardline anthroposophical teacher you know well, you know the one always dresses with skirts and odd mismatched. They almost got gut! President even said that we should not call your writing a pamphlet, because it was an honest reflection which reflected the depths of your mind . But it also said it would give you a trial and that everything must be done to stifle its distribution. She said today they adopted the opposite strategy than they had adopted in 2000, namely to make the least possible noise around this issue so that parents are not too familiar with. " I thanked him and is recommended especially not mention his relationship with me, if they could hurt him. A few days later, I received in my mailbox an anonymous envelope containing a letter from the Secretary General of the Federation, addressed to all teachers of SW France, in which I could read their intention to give me a trial, but also: "Perra Gregory raises important questions, it is not the first to do so. I suggest that we take the time to work without dramatizing, once mastered the unallocated public consequences of his act." What a contrast with the letter of the President of the Federation to UNADFI, who came to me the same day, calling my writing "pamphlet!" What I felt then, is simply the moral sadness for that person who was my teacher at school SW, and training at the Institute, which supported me in difficult times 2007, which I still have a warm greeting card for 2008 signed by his hand and kind word she sent me on this occasion, accompanied by the Director of the Institute. How can we be so internally divided as to defend my testimony internally but let me at the same time a public trial? ****

The debate is now closed. Counsel for the plaintiff has completed his argument. I feel deep shame with respect to the strategy of demonizing and insulting my person was chosen to try to convict me. So that's where they are. That's what they are capable of. After that how will they be able to watch one day calmly in a mirror, unless you do not really see? And how can they avoid now be compared with those with whom they do not exactly want to be compared, since they use the same methods? When the lawyer, who has been relaying this tactic, he knows he has nothing to fear immunity gives him the right to say anything, to cover insults and indignities totally unjustified that he wants during a trial without any accountability to the law. His courage and the weight of his words here thus measure the risk it takes, that is to say no. Normally, this should be the turn of my lawyer speak. In this type of trial for cases involving defamation, it is indeed extremely rare Attorney General to speak. You can also call the prosecutor. It is by the French State. This day, however, coup de theater: he spoke on behalf of the French Justice. Argument of the Attorney General: The charge is based on a reading of the testimony of Gregory Perra to isolate certain words or certain passages out of the context. We can not do this! The Court will base its judgment on an exhaustive reading the text in question. When Jacques Guyard was released in 2000, his accusations against Anthroposophy Schools and SW were far more serious than Mr. Perra today. They presented themselves as the findings of a survey, while writing Mr. Perra is undoubtedly a testimony clearly identifiable as coming from an opinion and a point of view necessarily subjective. There is no trace of personal animosity. The testimony is signed, the author did not attempt to conceal. The indictment alleges that the UNADFI would also publish positive testimonials on these schools if satisfied alumni came to find, but this is a denial of the fundamental right to express an opinion newspaper! In addition, the publication of a right of reply, where the Federation had the opportunity to express themselves, it has not been denied. Probably SW schools, being dismissed of their complaint, and will begin to learn what the law of contradiction! **** He is 20h. The rays of the sun through the windows of the 17th Criminal Chamber of Paris and illuminate the woodwork this solemn place, in the center of the prestigious Palais de Justice in Paris, at the heart of the capital of freedom. With a voice that evokes the powerful roar of a lion, my lawyer begins his argument: "Ladies and gentlemen, today we had SCOOP! Pedagogy SW is linked to Anthroposophy!! Look everywhere you can, in all the laudatory articles published on these schools, on the site of the Federation of SW schools, you will never find this information! And today is Mr. X., Secretary General of the Federation, which teaches us, I quote: "Anthroposophy is the source which inspired the Waldorf pedagogy." Incredible! But why do you say never?! Why did not you write? Are you ashamed to say publicly that your education is based on a doctrine that Christ fell from the Sun?! All we ask is the right to publish such information. Because if a parent considering enrolling their children in such schools, where he found the information that this pedagogy is linked to a mystic can only be described as "smoky"? On the website of the Federation? No! In one of the many laudatory article published almost every week in Provence, still under the pen of the same journalist? No more. But now there's article Gregory Perra. It does not say it is wrong, do not go. It expresses an opinion that is not that of the Federation. After the parent is free to choose! That's the democratic debate! That is the right to information and contradiction! And if this question of education is not part of the public debate, then we just have to speak only of rain and the weather. Here at least we will all agree! Federation UNADFI criticized for not having done serious investigation ahead of the publication of this testimony. But what more serious investigation could we make than the Anthroposophical Society in France, which in its issue of the News of the SAF June-July 2010, has provided its members Perra Gregory's article entitled "The Anthroposophical environment: a animalisation the life of the mind" in which the author develops ideas on exactly the SW schools that will in his testimony published on the site UNADFI???! In fact, serious investigation, it is the plaintiff who herself made and validated publicly about Gregory Perra! How can we blame then come UNADFI publish statements that have been previously reported in the press officials Anhroposophie?! The Federation did not at the time, no complaint for defamation against the Anthroposophical Society as I know? So why does it when the same about Mr. Perra appear on the site UNADFI? I confess that I itched to seek condemnation of the Federation for abuse of process. But let's be fair play: you will be rejected, and we will stay there. **** The trial is now complete. Beyond the comic situations, I am seized with amazement and I wonder. Do not they realize that account every time they open their mouth and take a step into the light, their internal contradictions and infighting them explode in the face and obvious to all? It would be better for them to stay in the shadows! It would have been better for them not to initiate the lawsuit also borked immoral! They measure all the consequences of their actions? They imagine those looming? How could they be so misguided?! How could they be so blindly confident?! Are they aware that the image they gave of themselves is much worse than my article denounced? Know who were present that day in the audience? Now, some people will have to continue their way of life with the lies that they will may be required to produce at the helm, and / or to which they are satisfied themselves for the cause of these schools. And this weight will be heavy to carry! Do they not seriously the notion of karma, which is nevertheless the heart of their doctrine?

Original French:

Quelques moments d'anthologie d'un procès

(Petites scénettes quasi-fictives, ou comment l'Anthroposophie vire publiquement à la Comédie)

Toute ressemblance avec des faits précis serait purement fortuite : ce texte ne cherche pas à rendre compte d'un événement mais est une œuvre de fiction.

• Le Président du Tribunal : Mademoiselle X., vous êtes une ancienne élève S.W., qu'avez-vous trouvé de diffamatoire dans le témoignage de Grégoire Perra ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Tout, c'est un tissus de mensonges et d'erreurs ignobles sur les écoles S.W. !
• Le Président : Oui, mais quels passages précisément vous ont semblé diffamatoires ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Je ne sais pas, je ne l'ai pas lu, je n'ai fais que le survoler...

****

• Le Président du Tribunal : Mademoiselle X., vous êtes une ancienne élève S.W., quel regard critique portez-vous sur votre scolarité ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Depuis ma sortie de l'école, j'ai vraiment pris mes distances par rapport à tout ça !!!
• Le Président : Et que faites-vous maintenant ?
• Mademoiselle X.. : Euh, j'ai fait ma formation à l'Institut de Pédagogie S.W. et je travaille maintenant dans une crèche parentale S.W. …

****

• Mon avocat : Mademoiselle X., vous étiez la compagne de Grégoire Perra, comment expliquez-vous qu'il ait écris ce témoignage sur les écoles S.W. ?
• Mademoiselle X. : A mon avis c'est une vengeance due au fait qu'il a du partir de l'école P. Au début il en a voulu à cette école, puis cela s'est élargi à toutes les écoles, puis à la Fédération des écoles, puis à toute l'anthroposophie !
• Mon avocat : Mais quand vous étiez ensemble, vous vous souvenez que Grégoire Perra collaborait avec des gens comme Monsieur A., Président de la Société A., et Madame B, administratrice de la Fédération ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Oui, je me souviens qu'il avait travaillé avec eux pour rédiger des rapports. Cela lui prenait beaucoup de temps.
• Mon avocat : Et ça ne vous semble pas étrange que Grégoire Perra ait collaboré intensément avec des gens et des institutions dont vous affirmez qu'il les détestait à l'époque ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Euh...................................... (silence prolongé de 30 secondes). Oui mais c'est quelqu'un de très méchant, d'ailleurs c'est lui qui a beaucoup insisté pour que je fasse ma formation à l'Institut !!!
• Mon avocat : Et ça non plus, ça ne vous semble pas contradictoire avec ce que vous affirmez ?
• Mademoiselle X. : Euh.......

****

• Madame Y. : Je suis professeur dans une école S.W. du Sud de la France, dans laquelle nous avons développé une formule originale et profondément innovante de formation par apprentissage. Nous sommes au cœur de la modernité ! Nous travaillons en partenariat avec plus de 200 entreprises de pointes, dont le C.N.R.S. ! C'est bien la preuve que nos élèves S.W. s’intègrent parfaitement à la société !
• Mon avocat : Mais concrètement, qu'est-ce qu'ils font vos élèves quand ils sont en apprentissage pendant plus de six mois dans l'année dans une entreprise, à l'âge de 15 ans ?
• Madame Y. : Ben... ils font des stages dans des garages ou des boulangeries....

****

• Mon avocat : Monsieur X., vous êtes Secrétaire Général de la Fédération des Ecoles S.W., êtes-vous anthroposophe ?
• M.X. : Je ne suis pas membre de la Société A.
• Mon avocat : ce n'était pas ma question ! On peut voter pour un Parti politique sans nécessairement en être membre.
• M.X. : Euh oui, je suis anthroposophe...
• Mon avocat : Quel rôle joue l'anthroposophie dans les écoles S.W ?
• M.X. : C'est la source d'inspiration de toute notre pédagogie. Sans l'anthroposophie, il n'y aurait pas de pédagogie S.W. !
• Mon avocat : C'est drôle, c'est exactement ce que dit aussi Grégoire Perra dans son témoignage, et vous lui faites un procès !

****

Entracte : Un anthroposophe à la silhouette émaciée, le visage anguleux comme un couteau, tente à plusieurs reprises de me fusiller du regard, mais ses tirs à répétition tombent dans le vide. Il enrage et recharge aussitôt. Par moments, il s'interrompe pour se ressourcer dans ses certitudes morales absolues, comme on ferait le plein à une station d'essence. Parfois seulement, un léger doute semble l'assaillir : la terreur d'apercevoir un jouet pour enfant moderne, qui se serait égaré en plein tribunal (sait-on jamais avec tous ses touristes !), le fragilise intérieurement.

****

• Mon avocat : Madame X, vous êtres directrice d'une école S.W., pourriez-vous me dire si, dans votre établissement, on enseigne l'Anthroposophie aux élèves en cours de Philosophie, puisque vous dites que l'Anthroposophie est une philosophie comme les autres ?
• Madame X. : ça je ne sais pas, je ne peux pas vous répondre, je n'ai pas appris par cœur ce qu'il fallait dire là !

****

• Mon avocat : Madame X., pouvez-vous nous décrire votre activité au sein de l'école S.W. ?
• Madame X. : oui, je suis professeur en classe de 6ème, 4ème et 3ème, et directrice du Collège et du Lycée.
• Mon avocat : Vous voulez dire que vous enseignez à trois niveaux d'élèves différents et qu'en plus de cela vous êtes Directrice du Collège et du Lycée ??
• Madame X. : Euh oui, mais c'est une petite structure vous savez...
• Mon avocat : Combien d'élèves ?
• Madame X. : 300, nous sommes la plus importantes école S.W. de France.
  

****

• L'avocat de la partie civile : Madame X., le témoignage de Grégoire Perra fait mention de la liaison d'un professeur de Physique-Chimie avec l'une de ses élèves. Avez-vous eu connaissance de ce fait ?
• Madame X. : Je n'en ai eu connaissance qu'après que le professeur en question avait quitté l'école. Si je l'avais su à l'époque des faits, nul doute qu'il aurait du prendre la porte !
• Mon avocat : Pourtant, deux témoignages d'anciens élèves, versés au dossier, affirment que toute l'école était au courant.
• Madame X. : Eh bien moi je n'en savais rien !
• Mon avocat : Vous ne semblez pas savoir grand chose de ce qui se passe dans votre école Madame la Directrice ! C'est un peu facile de venir dire aujourd'hui que vous n'étiez pas au courant ! D'autant que les témoignages ne mentionnent pas seulement le cas de ce professeur, mais aussi de cette enseignante invitant ses élèves à "venir dormir chez elle et profiter de sa piscine" !

****

• L'avocat de la partie civile (avec emphase) : ce texte de Grégoire Perra est un pamphlet, un brûlot, un torchon vindicatif selon lequel tout dans la pédagogie S.W. serait mauvais, corrompu et abject !! C'est un écrit sans nuance, nourri d'une animosité inouïe !!
• Mon avocat : Ah bon ? Pourtant Grégoire Perra écrit dans ce "pamphlet" : « de nombreux élèves prennent plaisir à être scolarisés dans ces écoles. Et de nombreux enseignants s’y épanouissent – malgré tout – dans leur pratique enseignante. Ce serait mentir que de ne pas le reconnaître […] » Un peu plus loin : « […] certaines innovations pédagogiques favorisent effectivement le raisonnement libre des élèves. Je pense que cela est dû notamment aux méthodes d’apprentissage de la lecture et du calcul, à la manière d’aborder les sciences par le biais de l’expérience et non de la pure théorie ». Ou encore : « […] pour ma part, je sais bien qu’une grande partie de ma pertinence d’analyse provient de certains éléments pédagogiques dont j’ai pu bénéficier dans l’École S.W. où j’ai effectué ma scolarité […] ». Ou encore : « […] il est essentiel de souligner que l’ensemble des pratiques que je viens de décrire ne conduit nullement à un endoctrinement massif des élèves immergés dans cette pédagogie. Peu d’entre eux deviendront, comme ce fut mon cas, membre de la Société Anthroposophique […] »
  Étonnant non comme propos, de la part de quelqu'un qui est sensé voir le mal absolu dans cette pédagogie, vous ne trouvez pas ?!

 ****

• Le Président du Tribunal : M. Perra, pourriez-vous nous définir ce qu'est l'anthroposophie ?
• Moi : Oui, il s'agit d'une doctrine ésotérique, mystique et gnostique qui synthétise un grand nombres de croyances.
• Le Président : quelles croyances ?
• Moi : Il y en a un grand nombre. Mais les principales sont la croyance en la réincarnation, au fait que le Christ soit descendu du Soleil, aux Gnomes et au fait qu'Adam, l'ancêtre de tous les êtres vivants, était une Méduse qui flottait dans l'albumine quand la Terre était encore à l'état liquide.
• Le Président : ??
• Moi : Et aussi que la Terre également se réincarne. Elle s'est déjà réincarné quatre fois. Quant au Bouddha, il s'est réincarné sur Mars.
• Le Président : ???????????? Mais quel est le lien avec la pédagogie S.W ?
• Moi : Steiner prétendait avoir découvert une méthode pour devenir clairvoyant. Il pouvait voir les Dieux et communiquer avec eux. Du coup sa pédagogie est une Révélation qui lui serait venue des Dieux.
• Le Président : ?????????????????????????????   (Gros malaise chez les anthroposophes présents dans la salle)

 ****

• Le deuxième Assesseur : M. Perra, qu'avez-vous ressenti lorsque vous avez appris que la Fédération vous intentait un procès pour votre témoignage ?
• Moi : Il s'agit d'une information que je possède depuis le 1er septembre 2011. En effet, la veille, une amie qui était professeur à l'école S.W. de V. me téléphone en me disant : "Tu sais quoi Grégoire, tu es à l'ordre du jour du premier collège de la rentrée : L'article de Grégoire Perra, point de vue de la Fédération". Je lui ai demandé de me rappeler le lendemain pour me raconter ce qui se serait dit. Ce qu'elle fit : "Grégoire, c'était tout simplement incroyable : la Présidente de la Fédération a défendu ton témoignage devant tous les professeurs ! Elle a dit que tu avais raison sur de nombreux points, que nous devions nous interroger sur nos pratiques et sur notre rapport à l'anthroposophie, car nous ne sommes selon elle pas clairs du tout sur ce sujet, notamment nous nous adressons aux parents. Ce qui a fait bondir la pédagogue anthroposophe pure et dure que tu connais bien, tu sais celle qui s'habille toujours avec des jupes bizarres et mal assorties. Elles ont faillit s'étriper ! La Présidente a même dit qu'il ne fallait pas appeler ton écrit un pamphlet, car c'était une réflexion honnête qui traduisait le fond de ta pensée. Mais elle a aussi dit qu'il faudrait te faire un procès et que tout devait être mis en œuvre pour étouffer sa diffusion. Elle a précisé qu'ils adoptaient aujourd'hui la stratégie inverse de celle qu'ils avaient adopté en 2000, à savoir de faire le moins de bruit possible autour de cette affaire pour que les parents ne soient pas trop au courant." Je l'ai remercié et lui ait recommandé de ne surtout pas mentionner son lien avec moi, sinon ils pourraient lui faire du mal. Quelques jours plus tard, je recevais dans ma boîte aux lettres une enveloppe anonyme contenant une lettre du Secrétaire Général de la Fédération, adressée à tous les professeurs S.W. de France, dans lequel je pouvais lire leur intention de me faire un procès, mais aussi : "Grégoire Perra pose des questions importantes, il n'est pas le premier à le faire. Je suggère que nous prenions le temps d'y travailler sans dramatiser, une fois qu'auront été maîtrisées les conséquences publiques de son acte". Quel contraste avec la lettre de la Présidente de la Fédération à l'UNADFI, qui me parvenait le même jour, qualifiant mon écrit de "pamphlet" ! Ce que j'ai alors ressenti, c'est tout simplement de la tristesse morale pour cette personne qui avait été ma professeur à l'école S.W., puis à la formation à l'Institut, qui m'avait soutenu dans les moments difficiles de 2007 et dont je possède encore une chaleureuse carte de vœux de l'année 2008 signée de sa main et le petit mot gentil qu'elle m'envoya à cette occasion, accompagné de celui du directeur de l'Institut. Comment peut-on être à ce point divisée intérieurement au point de défendre mon témoignage en interne mais de me faire dans le même temps un procès public ?

 ****

Les débats sont à présent clos. L'avocat de la partie civile a terminé sa plaidoirie. Je ressens une profonde honte à l'égard de la stratégie d'insulte et de diabolisation de ma personne qui a été choisie pour tenter de me faire condamner. Voilà donc où ils en sont. Voilà ce dont ils sont capables. Comment après cela pourront-ils se regarder un jour sereinement dans une glace, à moins de ne pas vraiment se voir ? Et comment pourront-ils éviter maintenant d'être comparés à ceux avec qui précisément ils ne veulent pas être comparés, puisqu'ils emploient les mêmes méthodes qu'eux ? Quand à l'avocat, qui s'est fait le relais de cette tactique, il sait qu'il n'a rien à craindre : son immunité lui donne le droit de tout dire, de couvrir d'insultes et d'ignominies totalement injustifiées qui il veut au cours d'un procès sans avoir aucun compte à rendre à la loi. Son courage et le poids de ses paroles se mesurent donc ici au risque qu'il prend, c'est-à-dire aucun. Normalement, ce devrait être au tour de mon avocat de prendre la parole. Dans ce genre de procès, pour des affaires liées à la diffamation, il est en effet extrêmement rare que l'Avocat Général prenne la parole. On peut aussi l'appeler le Procureur de la République. Il représente ici l’État Français. Ce jour-là pourtant, coup de théâtre : il prend la parole au nom de la Justice française.

Plaidoirie de l'Avocat Général :

L'accusation se fonde sur une lecture du témoignage de Grégoire Perra visant à en isoler certains mots ou certains passages en les sortant de leur contexte. On ne saurait procéder ainsi ! Le Tribunal devra fonder son jugement sur une lecture exhaustive du texte incriminé.

Lorsque Jacques Guyard a été relaxé en 2000, ses accusations à l'égard de l'Anthroposophie et des Écoles S.W. étaient autrement plus graves que ceux de M. Perra aujourd'hui. Elles se présentaient comme des conclusions d'une enquête, tandis que l'écrit de M. Perra est incontestablement un témoignage, clairement identifiable comme émanant d'une opinion et d'un point de vue nécessairement subjectifs. On n'y trouve aucune trace d'animosité personnelle. Le témoignage étant signé, l'auteur n'a pas cherché à se dissimuler. L'accusation prétend que l'UNADFI aurait du publier également les témoignages positifs sur ces écoles si des anciens élèves satisfaits étaient venus les trouver : mais c'est là un déni du droit fondamental de tout journal à exprimer une opinion ! De plus, la publication d'un droit de réponse, où la Fédération avait le loisir de s'exprimer, ne lui a pas été refusé.

Sans doute les écoles S.W., en étant déboutées de leur plainte, pourront ainsi commencer à apprendre ce qu'est le droit à la contradiction !

 ****

Il est 20h. Les rayons du soleil couchant traversent les vitres de la 17ème chambre correctionnelle de Paris et illuminent les boiseries de ce lieu solennel, au centre du prestigieux Palais de Justice de Paris, au cœur de la capitale du pays des libertés. D'une voix puissante qui évoque le rugissement d'un lion, mon avocat commence sa plaidoirie :

"Mesdames et Messieurs, nous avons eu aujourd’hui un SCOOP ! La Pédagogie S.W. est liée à l'Anthroposophie !!!!! Vous pourrez chercher partout, dans tous les articles élogieux publiés sur ces écoles, sur le site de la Fédération des Écoles S.W., vous ne trouverez jamais cette indication !!! Et aujourd’hui c'est Monsieur X., Secrétaire Général de la Fédération, qui nous l'apprend ! Je le cite :

"L'anthroposophie est la source dont s'inspire la pédagogie Steiner-Waldorf."

Incroyable ! Mais pourquoi ne le dites vous jamais ?! Pourquoi ne l'écrivez-vous pas ? Avez-vous honte de dire publiquement que votre pédagogie s'inspire d'une doctrine selon laquelle le Christ est tombé du Soleil ?! Tout ce qu'on demande, c'est le droit de pouvoir publier ce genre d'information. Parce que si un parent d'élève songe à scolariser ses enfants dans ce genre d'école, où trouvera-t-il l'information selon laquelle cette pédagogie est liée à une mystique qu'il faut bien qualifier de "fumeuse" ? Sur le site de la Fédération ? Non ! Dans un des nombreux article élogieux publié presque chaque semaine dans La Provence, toujours sous la plume du même journaliste ? Non plus. Mais maintenant il y a l'article de Grégoire Perra. On ne dit pas : c'est mal, il ne faut pas y aller. On émet une opinion qui n'est pas celui de la Fédération. Après, le parent est libre de son choix ! C'est ça le débat démocratique ! C'est ça le droit à l'information et à la contradiction ! Et si cette question d'éducation n'est pas un élément du débat public, alors nous n'avons plus qu'à ne plus parler que de la pluie et du beau temps. Là au moins on sera tous d'accord !

La Fédération reproche à l'UNADFI de ne pas avoir réalisé d'enquête sérieuse en amont de la publication de ce témoignage. Mais quelle enquête plus sérieuse pouvions-nous effectuer que celle de la Société Anthroposophique en France qui, dans son numéro des Nouvelles de la S.A.F. de juin-juillet 2010, a mis à disposition de ses membres l'article de Grégoire Perra intitulé "Le milieu anthroposophique : une animalisation de la vie de la pensée", dans lequel l'auteur développe exactement les idées sur les écoles S.W. qui seront les siennes dans son témoignage paru sur le site de l'UNADFI ???!! En réalité, l'enquête sérieuse, c'est la partie civile qui l'a elle-même effectuée et qui a validé publiquement les propos de Grégoire Perra ! Comment peut-on venir reprocher ensuite à l'UNADFI de publier des affirmations qui ont été auparavant présentées dans des organes de presse officiels de l'Anhroposophie ?! La Fédération n'a, à l'époque, pas porté plainte en diffamation contre la Société Anthroposophique que je sache ? Alors pourquoi le fait-elle lorsque les mêmes propos de M. Perra paraissent sur le site de l'UNADFI ?

J'avoue que cela m'a démangé de demander une condamnation de la Fédération pour procédure abusive. Mais soyons fair-play : vous allez être déboutés, et nous en resterons là.

 ****

Le procès est à présent terminé. Au-delà du comique de certaines situations, je suis saisi de stupéfaction et je m'interroge. Ne se rendent-ils pas compte qu'à chaque fois qu'ils ouvrent la bouche ou qu'ils font un pas dans la lumière, leurs contradictions internes et leurs querelles intestines leur explosent à la figure et sautent aux yeux de tous ? Qu'il aurait mieux valu pour eux rester tapis dans l'ombre ! Qu'il aurait été préférable pour eux de ne pas engager cette poursuite judiciaire aussi foireuse qu'immorale ! Mesurent-ils toutes les conséquences de leur acte ? Imaginent-ils celles qui se profilent ? Comment ont-ils pu être aussi mal conseillés ?! Comment ont-ils pu être aussi aveuglément confiants ?! Se rendent-ils compte que l'image qu'ils ont donné d'eux-mêmes est bien pire que ce que mon article dénonçait ? Savent-ils qui étaient présents ce jour-là dans l'assistance ?

Maintenant, certaines personnes vont devoir poursuivre leur chemin de vie avec les mensonges qu'on leur aura peut-être demandé de produire à la barre, et/ou dont elles se seront convaincues elles-mêmes pour servir la cause de ces écoles. Et ce poids sera lourd à porter ! Ne prennent-ils donc pas au sérieux la notion de karma, qui est pourtant le cœur de leur doctrine ?

A Parent's Story

Here's a wonderful response in the comments of this thread:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/my-waldorf-student-son-believes-in-gnomes-and-thats-fine-with-me/274521/

feathered_head 

Dear Mr. Berlatsky,

We started our daughter in a parent toddler program at our local Waldorf school at the age of one. She remained in Waldorf until age 9. She is going on 15 now and we are still trying to help her overcome the damage that was inflicted. Her best friend at the school is now 16 and still CANNOT READ.

Our daughter is a natural artist -- which doesn't quite fit into the Waldorf scheme. You think your child is learning to draw? Well, only if they COPY exactly what the teacher draws. Your child brings home a beautiful painting and I know how you feel -- so proud and gratified that you've made such a good decision for her, that is, until you visit the classroom and see 30 identical paintings. They actively suppress individuality until the age they determine it appropriate -- MIDDLE SCHOOL.

We abided by the no TV, no computer ban for years. I don't disagree with it -- but it doesn't end there. These people are religious fundamentalists who will attempt to dominate just about every aspect of your parenting decisions. When my daughter was 9, she asked to read Harry Potter, so we got if for her. It was her first long book and she dug into it with joy. She brought it to school with her and the teacher confiscated it. When I picked up my tearful child, the teacher screamed at me for giving the book to her -- hysterical like I'd sent the kid to school with a loaded gun. This occurred in front of my daughter and other students and their parents. My daughter was traumatized by seeing her mother yelled at and the other children taunted her that her parents were "bad."

I relate this story (there are so many more) to illustrate that in reality, only a narrow range of passive children (and their parents) will truly thrive in the Waldorf system. The teachers use the parents, but they are actually taught that the parents are an obstacle to their task, not partners.

Are you aware that Waldorf teachers still utilize PRENOLOGY to assess the intelligence of a child based on the size and shape of their SKULL and that they also categorize your child based on the medievil notion of the "four temperaments" -- Choleric, Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Melancholic? They use this categorization to direct them away from their natural tendencies and towards becoming what they value -- a well-rounded person. Maybe this sounds reasonable -- but in practice, it means active suppression. So if your child is an intellectual -- early reader for instance, they instruct you NOT TO LET THEM READ. In first grade, my daughter drew faces on the people in her drawings and her teacher scolded her for it and insisted she draw with a chunky rectangular block crayon to ensure that no further detail would be attempted! NO FACES until they say its OK. If your child is LEFT-HANDED, they will force them to use their RIGHT HAND. Bullying is rampant and ignored by the adults in Waldorf schools because they believe that conflicts are due to "past lives" and the children need to work it out themselves.

Look -- I get why parents are drawn to Waldorf. We desire a beautiful, loving environment for our children -- but that is an illusion. Like you, I am jewish also, and I did my best to ignore all the heavy duty Christian stuff -- thinking it quaint, and let myself be seduced by the aesthetics. Problem is -- they are serious about it ALL -- the dark side of Christianity as well as the Gnomes. The fairy stories and aesthetics are not separate from the underlying insane philosophy, and the longer you and your child are exposed to it, the more you will see the damage it does. To those of you who are ethnic minorities and considering sending your child to a Waldorf school, just Google Steiner, anti-semitism and racism -- and think twice.

The people teaching in Waldorf school are not always qualified teachers -- they are more likely, just true believers of Steiner -- their religion is anthroposophy -- and they only need to be trained in the Waldorf system to teach your child. And in their system, the same teacher will be teaching your child for up to 8 years without so much as a college degree. They aren't trained in modern methods of assessing learning disabilities. And they delay teaching reading until age 7 -- so what happens if your kid has dyslexia or other learning disability? They will send you to an anthroposophic "Doctor" who will prescribe homeopathics and silk caps. Like my daughter's friend, they will be illiterate -- maybe for life -- because their problem was treated as some sort of spiritual failing instead of an organic disorder.

And think about what happens when your kid's teacher doesn't like your kid and they are stuck with that negative feedback for YEARS. Think this can't happen? Your kid may be able to endure the treatment for a year, but several years? By third grade, it got to be so bad that my daughter threw tantrums every morning pleading with me not to go there. We found out later that her teacher was regularly punishing her -- putting her outside alone in the winter rain and forced to jump rope. We found out that what appeared to the teacher as lack of attention was really that the poor child was going deaf and she couldn't follow the lesson! The teacher had no training to discern what was happening -- and we only figured it out when we saw red flags noted not by her main teacher, but by her eurythmy (dance) teacher in her end of the year report. She noted that my daughter couldn't follow in dance, looked confused etc. Even when we showed the teacher the shocking audiogram and doctors report, her cold and ignorant response was "She can hear me just fine!" Several years later this teacher was fired for cursing and violently toppling of desks in the classroom -- but only after a full blown parent revolt! My daughter was the first to leave that class -- the most vulnerable -- the canary in the coal mine. I should have believed her when she told me the teacher was terrible and I will live with the guilt of subjecting her to this treatment for so many years -- but like you, I was in love with the IDEA of Waldorf and bought into it completely.

IT IS A CULT, whether you choose to recognize it or not. We built our lives around the place. I loved the parents and children -- and the administration adored me for my volunteerism and donations to the place. But in the end, they did not show any love for my child. I will agree with you that Waldorf for pre-school and kindergarten is magical -- and that is when they hook you. But please take my warnings seriously. Waldorf should be avoided. Its fortunate you are transitioning your child out at 4th grade. You may find out that you waited too long. I predict the transition for your kid will be very difficult -- both culturally and academically. Thanks for your patience with this long screed, but every time I stumble upon another journalist naively enlisting new recruits to this nightmare, I just have to speak up!

And in response to another poster...

You are most fortunate that your daughter had a good experience, but from your description, I think she is academically gifted and would have thrived anywhere she went. As for taking the crazy stuff in stride -- I naively assumed that these were modern people, politically liberal, artistic and therefore open-minded. I really thought that they were talking metaphorically and that they were just trying to create a magical place for the children. Unfortunately, after we left, I recalled many of the nutty things that happened, things that were said, and edicts handed down that in hindsight clearly were directives of Steiner's "truths." The teachers actually did their best to never let parents know what the underpinnings of their actions were -- but sometimes things slipped out. Once, I asked a teacher about how seriously they took the PASSION story because my daughter came home from school and told me the jews killed God. She was upset and so was I. I never did get a satisfactory explanation -- just a weird story about how there were really two Christs. HUH?

...

When we were deeply immersed in Waldorf, I would read stories on-line from people who'd had bad experiences and I thought something must be wrong with them and/or their kid. When a family would leave the school in a huff, we thought of them as troublemakers and good riddance. Now those that are still there probably say the same of us!

I hope you understand just how sad I felt writing all of this to you -- but I want people to understand that it is not just cute Gnomes and all. Waldorf is the educational branch of a religious organization and the teachers are true believers. What they teach is not innocuous -- and the proof is that they hide the questionable stuff from the parents. I think your kid is doing fine there -- you are lucky. But as a journalist, perhaps you might do a bit of research on your subject and follow up.

Insane private schools you won't believe actually exist

http://www.cracked.com/article_20312_5-insane-private-schools-you-wont-believe-actually-exist.html

Waldorf made #1 on the list.

Comments seem to be mostly from Waldorf students and former Waldorf students.  I have left off the comments by several Waldorf apologists who are babysitting the comments section.

mogwairadio 03/26/13 11:01 PM
Actually, the "phlegmatic," "sanguine," "choleric," or "melancholic" mode of classification (or very similar versions of it) was the original basis for racial classification. Waldorf, taking us back to the days when Linnaeus thought humans were different species.

.munchies.  03/26/13 09:07 PM
Yeah, I went to one for 3rd - 6th grade, was just hippy pinecone crap like he mentioned, we did lots of arts and crafts, long recesses, they gave us balls and stuff to play with, not as bad as he made it sound, as far as I remember at least. And definitely not as much math/science as when I transferred to a normal school. I just remember it being extremely boring, tbh (what the f**k kind of kid was I to be bored with less math, right). I don't believe I turned out *too* bad from that though. There was none of the stranger stuff it talked about in this when I was there though, no idea

brefots 03/26/13 02:40 AM
I've worked at a Waldorf School. It was a weird experience. But thankfully the curriculum did not include any outright cult indoctrination. They have these little verses they recite as "prayers" in the beginning an end of class. They teach a strange dance-like subject called "eurythmia" and also have the recital of poems in slow-motion, overpronouncing every letter, wether it's a spelling convention or an actual sound of the word. These practices, strange as they are, still fail to indoctrinate anyone into any kind of spiritual outlook.

jwhat 03/26/13 05:10 AM
The spirituality underlies everything about Waldorf methods. Most students and their families aren't aware of this. The problem is that it's not OUTRIGHT indoctrination--it's VEILED indoctrination. At the very least, being honest and open about the spirituality that underlies Waldorf would help some parents decide not to send their children to these schools. But this openness is often missing. It's deceptive.

the_dinks 03/26/13 01:32 AM
I have friends who go to Waldorf schools and they're really not like that.

jwhat 03/26/13 05:03 AM
How much about Anthroposophy has your friend studied? If he/she doesn't know much about Anthroposophy, it'd be harder to know how it's part of the Waldorf methods.

jwhat 03/25/13 09:26 PM
It's not uncommon for people who attended Waldorf to not understand what underlies their education. Try reading a book or two of Steiner's or any of his lectures, especially the ones he gave to teachers on the subject of education. Pretty far out ideas. Waldorf rarely advertises Steiner's teachings, except in vague terms, to prospective parents. It's unfair and deceptive.
It doesn't surprise me that someone commented here that the article sounded like propaganda pulled straight from a Tabloid. That person has probably never studied Anthroposophy to know that, even though the tone of the article is somewhat humorous, the article contents about Waldorf aren't phony. Bullying is still allowed to continue in some Waldorf schools based on notions of a person needing to work out their past-life karma with the perpetrator in this life. Batshit crazy.

ZenWolfDances  03/25/13 11:42 PM
Has Anthroposophy been "officially" modified at all since Steiner's day?

boocat  03/25/13 01:39 PM
We had our child in a Waldorf school for almost a decade. We believed in so much of the pedagogy. We still believe in limiting media and see the positive effects of that daily. We also subscribe to lots of outdoor free play time. Our schools lack in this very basic activity that actually has powerful effects on the ability of our children to learn and to develop fully. Sadly, however, like so many Waldorf schools, the institution was run with secrecy, lies, deception and cruelty. There are NO CHECKS AND BALANCES in most (all?) Waldorf schools! When our family began to question this, we were targeted--our child was targeted. We were made to partake in secretive ritual circles, our child's name was secretly chanted by the faculty without consent of the parents, other parents were approached by the administration to pass rumors about our family, and our child's teacher was asked to lie (this was admitted to us by the teacher when the teacher had a moment of moral clarity). We were thrown out of the community without any chance to speak on our behalf. We were devastated and our child was harmed. Since this happened, we have heard from many other families who have experienced the same treatment! In urban settings, in rural settings, in our country (US) and in other countries. This is a systemic problem in Waldorf schools. When parents investigate this form of education, they are not told the truth. They are not told that the school believes the teachers have karmic relationships with the students. The parents are not told that only the teachers can help to incarnate the children's souls into their bodies. The parents cannot do this and therefor the teachers play a more important role than the parents. They are not told that they believe humans come from Atlantis (first from star dust). This is an Occult group, and the very nature of it is hidden from view. For many, once you are in, it is very difficult to imagine leaving. I say this from experience, and I am a highly educated mom who has done a lot of personal work, and consider myself to be a pretty emotionally healthy person. But even so, it was very hard for me to imagine leaving. They subscribe to the belief of an, "US and THEM," and without knowing it, that became something I believed too. But once I was out, I could see with more clarity the harm such a judgmental and secretive place wages upon its community. There are a million things the parents don't know--and the children don't know it either. The children are being indoctrinated and they have no idea that they are. The verses they memorize, the colors they use, the stories they are told, the festivals they celebrate...Everything is beautifully packaged, and everything looks gentle and kind. But if you dare to scratch the surface, you will find something very different indeed. If Waldorf is proud of their curriculum, then they need to be honest and open about the meaning of it all so parents can make an informed choice about where they want to educate their children. Parents, do your research! Investigate Anthroposophy and see if it feels right to you.

pinkfizzy 03/25/13 10:36 AM
Most of the kids at my Waldorf school didn't believed all that stuff, although the teachers did. I agree that they should be more upfront about their beliefs, and also that there should be some sort of governing agency. It's very difficult to get a Waldorf teacher fired, and when the kids have one teacher for every class that gets unpleasant.

Shm330  3/25/13 06:11 AM
I went to a Steiner school, which are based on the Steiner guy's teachings (as the name might suggest). It's not as bad as the article suggests -it's a fuckload worse. Not only do they teach you entirely random garbage, they also teach you that said random garbage is your only protection against the modern world's energy-field confusing evil ways, We had little mishaps, such as a teacher whose mental health collapsed completely but kept teaching anyway (holy hell that was scary), bullying to such extent that students were beaten up while teachers watched -but telling our parents, or anyone, what was going on, would have caused something indefinable but horrible to happen. It was a complete cult, and while I did transfer to normal school as soon as I could, I only started talking about what went on there years later. The kids who did finish the whole 13 years are some doing okay (in stuff like making really expensive handmade furniture -nobody's in academia or science, of course -you don't have the ability), but will blow a fuse at the mildest suggestion that Steiner isn't the ultimate fountain of wisdom, or that maybe the notion that a child has three souls descending upon him/ her at various ages is a bit silly. It's a s**t school, but also resembles a cult in a lot of ways -you'll get more comments from furious alumni.

VirginBro  03/25/13 09:22 AM
Wouldn't a mental health collapse be sort of a requirement for teaching there?

madisun  03/24/13 08:19 PM
With Steiner, they don’t teach children to learn to read until their adult teeth have come through.
This is because the vital energy which goes into creating them takes so much energy away from the child that they are incapable of learning to read until the teeth are done growing… or something…
No one can tell me why they’ve pick nine years old though. Most kids won’t get their 12 year old molars until they’re 12 (funnily enough). So why not wait til 12?
Or what about the Wisdom teeth? They tormented me more than any other teeth, surely more vital energy went towards them??
…This is why my sister banned me from going to my nephew’s Steiner school’s open day.

spaghetti  03/24/13 08:27 PM
Any school that delays reading should be ashamed to call itself such.

RachelSmith  03/24/13 08:17 PM
I went to a waldorf school for preschool. I don't really remember anything but a schoolmate that went there does. They would not teach you how to read until you lost your first tooth and you wouldn't learn how to read a clock, only a sundial. Honestly though they were not as batty as the article makes out. They were mostly just really nice people that only played with wood and cloth (only partially sarcastic).
For a preschooler/kindergarten kid it was a lot of fun and they would teach you everything you needed to know, they just did it a little differently. We would do stuff like bake bread and make candles. Nothing too serious, just a little unconventional. It was when you got into grade school and higher did you start to lag behind and not learn the stuff other kids in normal schools did. (I was only there for preschool)
There was one instance I clearly remember though. They owned a playground across the street (the school was only twenty steps from my house) and one year they built a metal playground, by themselves, it wasn't pre-fabricated or anything (read: not safety tested). It had these dangerously tall rods sticking from it that you could climb (they must have been thirty feet tall, give or take). Even when I was ten I could tell that was a huge retarded mistake and well, a few days after they put it up my neighbor fell from the very top of it and broke a few ribs.
Basically, imagine if a bunch of really rural hippies decided to run a school. It was like that. Mostly harmless but sometimes you have to just step back and say 'wut'.

jeffamundo  03/24/13 06:00 PM
Did anybody catch the statement that "Waldorf education is the largest-growing alternative education movement in the world today". and tie it in with another article about BS statistics? In this case, that might mean that they doubled from 8 to 16. If I convince 3 dipshits to follow whatever education movement I feel like proposing right now, it will will be "growing" even faster in terms of rate. Let's try it. I propose
Jeffamundoism, where you must take a shot after each lesson. Who is with me?

Amwebb  03/24/13 06:14 PM
I am fuckin' with you!

Kerblaney  03/24/13 06:24 PM
Wow, followers of Jeffamundoism have doubled in number already! Must be something to it.

mcc1789  03/24/13 05:53 PM
Glad to see my alumnus, Waldorf, got a mention :) Believe me, the weirdness only continues, but most is not openly disclosed to parents from the beginning (they are slowly brought in along with their children).

oobooglunk  03/24/13 05:21 PM
I went to a Waldorf school when I was a kid, and I should tell you firsthand: it's not that bad. I feel like there is a lot of hyperbole surrounding the nature of this school, and it was much better than other schools in many different ways (e.g. encouragement of creativity over systematic thinking, no bullies, no grades, etc.). I didn't get any homework until fourth grade, and I still learned just fine. In fact, I was one of the smartest kids in my class. There is one flaw in its system, however: subjects like math and science are taught sparingly, and I personally consider them to be the bare minimum of sufficient. If you want your kid to learn and like school, this place is the right one for you. Just don't expect him to become a scientist or mathematician when he grows up.

Raider_Sam  03/24/13 06:00 PM
Well that takes care of about half of what kids need to learn.

Therion110  3/24/13 06:34 PM
What has science or math ever done to advance society? What we need are more roman history graduates.

oobooglunk  03/24/13 07:19 PM
"What has science or math done to advance our society"? How about create a new way of life that does not involve people living in caves? You're reading this on a computer (or a smartphone...or an iPad...you get my point), sitting in your house which, presumably, has power, water, and good plumbing. You have food, clothes, and appliances that all came from a store (unless you got them as a gift or stole them...again, you get my point). All of those things are provided to people on a daily basis, and nobody had access to them in the olden days when math and science had not been fully realized. As for Roman history, that's a dead empire. Sure, it's interesting, but it's dead. And it died for a reason. I think I have made my point.

Wolfesblut  03/24/13 07:53 PM
@Therion11: If there were only science and math, you would have no music, your clothes would look ridiculous and your games would be boring because nobody knows how to tell a story ;)

Raider_Sam  03/24/13 08:15 PM
I guess they didnt teach you how to read sarcasm at Waldorf.

oobooglunk  03/24/13 08:48 PM
I didn't say that math and science were the only thing that's important. I just said they ARE. That's all. As for the sarcasm bit, I do feel stupid for not understanding that. It's just that I've met a lot of people who actually do think that way.

kateatsmice  03/24/13 01:42 PM
I went to two Waldorf schools, each for a year. The first one I went to didn't put any of the spiritual stuff into practice, and it was alright. Not too crazy. The second one...well I was in 8th grade and they told me the trees were telling me their was no evolution. The article doesn't even get into "eurythmy..."

fail_zombie
03/24/13 10:55 AM
I honestly don't get how, after reading the "temperaments" link in the Waldorf schools, someone would let their kids go there. I mean, who looks at something like that and thinks, "Yes, I would like to send my child to a school where their ability to learn will be judged by how they look."
I've seen other things before where looks are somehow supposed to determine personality, or your Zodiac sign is somehow related to looks. Has no one ever met someone with a completely different personality that looks like you? Or was born under the same sign? It really seems like it would be near impossible to /not/ disprove these things.

SpecialSnowflake  03/24/13 10:47 AM
Waldorf schools are truly bizarre and I'm amazed that so many parents I otherwise consider sane adhere to the philosophy. One of the strangest beliefs is that young children are angels or something and for whatever reason angels shouldn't learn to read. When the baby teeth fall out that's your cue that your child is no longer an angel and can learn to read. Young children are actively discouraged from reading. I work in public schools and there have been a few children who have transferred in from Waldorf schools. They are always far behind the other children who have been receiving an "inferior" public education.

Into-Oblivion  03/24/13 08:43 AM
Dude, I think I actually used to go to one of those Waldorf schools! They called it a Rudolph Steiner school (it was the mention of the name that led me to make the conncetion). I remember how I was constantly thinking "what the f**k is this hippie shit" for all the three years I went there. See, the people in my kindergarden said I would be better off in a private school with not so many people, because I had trouble fitting in at regular institutions. we weren't allowed to bring our own pencils. Instead we were made to write down and draw the things we were told with ecological beewax crayons. We also did not have any books, and they found it very necesary to teach us roman letters in first grade (rather than, you know, basic math). The school celebrated things like harvest and Lantern Day, and they had a VERY unorthodox approach to christianity. I was told that Jesus walked over a rainbow bridge to deliver the children to their mothers. And every time it was a kid's birthday, they'd give the birthday boy or girl a crystal or stone of some sort. We were made to stand with crossed arms and sing at the start of every lesson, and all the different classes had their own song. we had "eurythmics" which consisted of a lady with a heavy german accent instructing us to be completely silent and showing us how to move our bodies to symbolize a certain letter. As we advanced, we were made to spell out entire words with only movements of our legs and arms. The room was decorated in such a way as to make you feel like you'd stepped into a New Age healer shop. If someone talked, she'd say "Now it iz only ze arms and ze legs that talk". Needless to say, a bunch of 8 year olds found it utterly impossible to take this seriously. And we really DID have only faceless wooden dolls to play with. The people working there were absolutely s****y at their job, too. A number of our teachers had serious anger management issues, and when I started in third grade at the public school, I had no idea how to do basic calculation, nor how to write on a line with a pencil. I wrote well enough, but the letters were all over the place, because I had simply never seen such a thing as paper with lines before. I was completely fascinated with the idea of schoolbooks. I was also relieved that I wasn't forced to play the violin anymore (because honestly, I sucked at it). Funily enough, today I wish I could play it because it's such beautiful music. But I digress: Guys, please be careful what sort of school you put your kids in, because they could end up being really, really good at eurythmics and terrible at pretty much everything else.

flapper  03/24/13 08:16 AM
I went to a Waldorf school for junior high, and apparently it was Waldorf-lite because there were none of those things. We did however have to draw pretty borders on all of our schoolwork and recite a hippie verse at the start of each day. We got pretty good at fancy chalk drawings and drapery. They definitely advised NO TV for elementary school kids (well, at all, but by junior high they gave up) and "introduced" us to computers in grade 9. Some of my classmates had been there since junior kindergarden (there's like three years of kindergarden, and yes, plently of pinecones and faceless dolls. And capes) and they were actually pretty normal, no one didn't watch TV or use computers and certainly they could read before being 9. Though it was just as important to learn knitting and crochet.
It was definitely a weird school (we always called it a cult, though tongue in cheek) but it wasn't at all like the ones described. It was insane in its own special ways.

Alderbridge School

http://www.thetimenow.com/united_kingdom/reading/nurseries_and_creches-1215/alderbridge_school-1191441

Gill P.

14 March 2013

Not a good or positive experience

Alder Bridge is a Steiner Waldorf school which claims to offer an alternative and creative style to education. What parents are not told is that a religion called 'anthroposophy' (invented by Rudolph Steiner over 100 years ago) underpins everything that is said and done here. Some people may not be comfortable with his beliefs or approaches to education.

It's my suggestion prospective parents MUST research this subject thoroughly, by looking at websites, such as Waldorf Watch, Waldorfcritics and Quackometer, written and contributed to by people with first-hand knowledge of these schools.

I wish I had found this out before sending my child to this school as it was not a good or positive experience. Having realised this, it cost over £1,500 to pay for intensive private tutoring to get my child up to a reasonable educational standard in order to return her to a mainstream school - even though she is naturally very bright she was placed a year below her peers because she was so far behind academically.

Overall my child hated the experience of going there and was frustrated by the slow pace of learning and style of teaching, I also had concerns over some of the festivals, including St John's fire jumping!!

However, this style of school may suit some children.

In my opinion, this school is not in a good state of repair, most of the maintenance to the buildings and grounds is funded and carried out by parents in their spare time

Waldorf Mocks Bullying

In this mockery of the serious problem of bullying, something Waldorf schools are famous for, master Waldorf teacher, Eugene Schwartz, explains how children bullying each other are like kittens playing.  Children need not be protected from bullying - according to Waldorf.  Do you find this attitude comforting?

http://player.vimeo.com/video/56109384

Highland Hall tops Anti-Vaccine list

AP/ September 10, 2012, 5:35 AM

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57509260/private-school-parents-less-apt-to-have-kids-vaccinated-than-public-school-counterparts-ap-analysis-indicates/

Private school parents less apt to have kids vaccinated than public school counterparts, AP analysis indicates

(AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Parents who send their children to private schools in California are much more likely to opt out of immunizations than their public school counterparts, an Associated Press analysis has found, and not even the recent re-emergence of whooping cough has halted the downward trajectory of vaccinations among these students.
The state surveys all schools with at least 10 kindergartners to determine how many have all the recommended immunizations. The AP analyzed that data and found the percentage of children in private schools who forego some or all vaccinations is more than two times greater than in public schools.
More troubling to public health officials is that the rate of children entering private schools without all of their shots jumped by 10 percent last year, while the opt-out figures held steady in public schools for the first time since 2004.
Public health officials believe that an immunization rate of at least 90 percent in all communities, including schools, is critical to minimizing the potential for a disease outbreak. About 15 percent of the 1,650 private schools surveyed by the state failed to reach that threshold, compared with 5 percent of public schools.
There were 110 private schools statewide where more than half the kindergartners skipped some or all of their shots, according to AP's analysis, with Highland Hall Waldorf School in Northridge — where 84 percent opted out — topping the list.
Parents cite a variety of reasons for not immunizing their children, among them: religious values, concerns the shots themselves could cause illness and a belief that allowing children to get sick helps them to build a stronger immune system. Likewise, there's no single explanation that accounts for why so many more parents who send their children to private schools apparently share a suspicion of immunizations.
Saad Omer, a professor of global health at Emory University in Atlanta who has studied vaccine refusal in private schools, surmised more private school parents are wealthy and have the time to spread five shots over a series of years and stay home should their child get an illness like chickenpox. Neal Halsey, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins University, said parents who choose private schools are likely to be more skeptical of state requirements and recommendations.
Bibi Reber, whose children attend the Waldorf-inspired Greenwood School in Mill Valley, had her children vaccinated only for what she sees as the deadliest diseases. Greenwood has a 79 percent opt-out rate among its kindergartners.
"I don't think dirt or getting sick makes you a weak person; your immune system needs to work with things," said Reber, whose children attend the Greenwood School in the San Francisco Bay area town of Mill Valley. "We certainly don't want to go back to having polio, but on the other hand, I don't think we need to eradicate all the childhood diseases
Public health officials say that, regardless of why parents choose not to vaccinate their children, the result is the same: an increased risk of an outbreak of whooping cough or other communicable diseases.
"We're very concerned that those schools are places where disease can spread quite rapidly through the school and into the community, should it get introduced," said Dr. Robert Schechter, medical officer with the Immunization Branch of the California Department of Public Health.
That's what prompted the Legislature to approve a bill requiring parents to discuss vaccinations with a pediatricians or a school nurse before they can opt-out. Gov. Jerry Brown has until the end of September to sign or veto it.
State Assemblyman Richard Pan, a pediatrician, who sponsored the bill, said he believes private school parents are more apt to mistakenly believe that the vaccinations themselves could be more dangerous than the diseases.
"In private school, these are people who have money, who are upper middle-class, and they are going on the Internet and seeing information and misinformation," said Pan, D-Sacramento.
Increasing immunization rates for this population is critical to controlling the outbreak of diseases, he said. "Have you ever seen a child cough themselves to death? It's not pleasant," he said.
Those who choose not to vaccinate their children see the legislation as meddlesome and unnecessary.
"It's making an extra appointment and paying extra money to go in there and essentially get permission to do what I feel is right for my family," said Dawn Kelly, who sends her unvaccinated 5-year-old son and partially vaccinated 9-year-old son to Monarch Christian School in the Los Angeles area.
Like many parents who refuse some or all immunization shots, Kelly worries her children's immune system could be overwhelmed by getting too many vaccines at once.
Melani Gold Friedman, president of the parent association at Highland Hall Waldorf School, is concerned with what the legislation means for families who normally consult with acupuncturists, holistic healers or other alternative practitioners.
"The bill has an assumption that everyone's seeing one particular kind of doctor, but the people who are opting out, chances are they're not seeing that kind of doctor," she said.
Vaccination opt-out rates nationwide have been creeping up since the mid-2000s, spurred in part by the belief the battery of vaccinations routinely given to infants could lead to autism. Several major studies have discredited that idea.
Parents are allowed to forego vaccines for philosophical reasons in California and 19 other states. Of those, only Washington requires parents to consult with a physician. And, in California, there's no difference between private and public schools when it comes to what's required for parents to opt out — they simply sign a document. The state recommends that kindergarteners receive five vaccine progressions, including protections against Polio, Hepatitis B and Measles
Politicians and public health experts across the nation are focusing more attention on childhood immunizations, driven by a re-emergence of diseases like whooping cough. The U.S. is in the midst of what could be its worst year for that disease in more than five decades, with nearly 25,000 cases and 13 deaths.
After whooping cough reached epidemic levels in California in 2010, the state took action, embarking on a public information campaign and increasing the availability of vaccines. A law was passed requiring booster shots for older students.
Yet the opt-out rate continued climbing in private schools. It's more than doubled since 2004, to 2,228 kindergartners in last year's state survey. While the overall rate of full immunization among kindergarteners hovers around 91 percent, places where the opt-out rate is greater could pose a risk for outbreak.
In 2008, East Bay Waldorf School in El Sobrante closed temporarily after whooping cough sickened more than a dozen students, eight of them kindergartners. The San Francisco Bay Area school had a vaccination rate of less than 50 percent.
State health officials are tracking the divergence of opt-out rates in private and public schools, but are not planning any studies or outreach efforts targeting this pupil population. The state is conducting a general education campaign to boost vaccinate rates.
The AP analysis found 20 of the 25 California private schools with the highest opt-out rates are "Waldorf schools," a loose association of institutions founded on the teachings of 19th-century philosopher Rudolf Steiner. He favored a holistic approach to education and medicine and thought childhood illnesses could be beneficial.
Officials at these schools would not comment about Pan's bill but say they trust parents to make the best decisions for their children's health.
"Parents who are brave enough to say, `No, that's not the right thing,' should be supported," said Patrice Maynard, spokeswoman for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America.  

10 Comments:

1notrub11 says:

I live in CA and I agree that attendance in public school requires vaccinations. However, I must say that two nearby private schools I am aware of also require the standard vaccinations for attendees. Makes one wonder what the actual requirements and enforcement are, if some do not.

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gjc1n1 says:

If I had a child who was too young to be vaccinated and that child caught a preventable illness from your unvaccinated child, I would sue you for gross negligence. You don't have the right to place all of society at risk because of your dumb opinions on vaccinations.

reply

Rod_Smith replies:

I'm guessing by the way you worded your response that you don't have children. That's probably a good thing.

lillyhorton says:

The reason public school children are vaccinated is because they can't attend if they aren't.

PeteKaraiskos says:

""Parents who are brave enough to say, `No, that's not the right thing,' should be supported," said Patrice Maynard, spokeswoman for the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America. "

AWSNA spokeswoman, Patrice Maynard, is mentioned in this article http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=1364683&nav=0RZFGxHZ
where she excuses a teacher who duct-taped children to their chairs. She currently teaches at the teacher training center at Highland Hall (the school that tops the list for unvaccinated children). http://www.waldorfteaching.org/waldorf_institute_faculty.shtml

Rod_Smith replies:

Kids have been subjected to far worse things than duct tape in the public schools.

PeteKaraiskos replies:

"Kids have been subjected to far worse things than duct tape in the public schools."

AND in Waldorf schools... but at least it's frowned upon in public schools... in fact teachers can get fired over that sort of thing. NOT in Waldorf schools... it's all part of the program - and has the approval of AWSNA.

PeteKaraiskos says:

 

Waldorf schools are extremely problematic and their lack of concern for the safety of children is legendary. Parents who have seen the problems in Waldorf *up close* have expressed their concerns here: http://thewaldorfreview.blogspot.com/ Waldorf representatives seem to feel no obligation to provide truthful responses to questions raised by parents and reporters.

Rod_Smith replies:

Parents who have problems with the Waldorf schools are under no obligation to take their kids there, and nobody is obligated to to respond to reporters. I love how anyone who doesn't toe the government line and get every vaccine that's recommended gets tagged as having a "lack of concern for the safety of children". Some vaccines are beneficial (like the DTAP), some are unnecessary for kids (like Hep A, etc. which are primarily STDs), and some are worse than the disease, like the chicken pox vaccine, which they found out the hard way needs at least one booster and carries an increased risk of shingles vs. just getting the chicken pox. My son and many others got a milder, but longer-lasting (he had symptoms for over 2 months) form of chicken pox after getting the vaccine as an infant.

     PeteKaraiskos replies:

"Parents who have problems with the Waldorf schools are under no obligation to take their kids there, and nobody is obligated to to respond to reporters."
Ah but they DO respond to parents and reporters... just not TRUTHFULLY. Of course parents aren't obligated to take their kids there, but many do based on what the schools falsely claim to promote (or not promote). Schools ARE obligated to be honest... otherwise they're committing fraud (this is what Waldorf does regularly). Don't blame parents (or even reporters) for believing what the school tells them. People generally tend to trust people in authority... speaking of which... this is one reason why SO MANY families in Waldorf environments aren't vaccinated... When young families are sucked into the cult-like environment of Waldorf, they feel obligated to trust that the teachers know best. Since Waldorf teachers are typically less educated than their public-school counterparts, I have found no reason for this blind trust in Waldorf environments.