A.M. Winn Elementary Reviews by Parents

http://www.greatschools.org/california/sacramento/4743-A.-M.-Winn-Waldorf-Inspired-K-8/reviews/?s_cid=eml_mss_20150531

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Posted January 24, 2014
- a parent

With the new Waldorf program, parents have lost all rights. The teacher is compatible with the 
student with no issues, there are pros to the program, but if not, your child will be stuck with this 
teacher for EVERY SINGLE GRADE, & if you ask to change, you will be told that NO MATTER 
WHAT YOUR REASONS OR FEELINGS AS A PARENT, changing is not an option. The only 
reason given is that "it's not the "Waldorf way" or some philosophy about how the entire system 
will crumble if students change teachers. My child has been sent home with pee soaked pants 
because he wasn't allowed to use bathroom, is told to shut his mouth constantly, & is in time out 
everyday. Some reasons he's been disciplined are whispering while lining up, using edges of crayons, 
drawing a disco ball on his Snow White pic, & the list goes on. Many parents across the country are 
facing this nightmare as well. I suggest reading the horror stories on the PLANS website. There are 
nine lawsuits pending for schools who implement this program & not balancing it with parent/student 
rights.

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=4743&state=CA#from..HeaderLink

Posted August 18, 2011

I couldn't be more disappointed with this school. My son is an excellent student, but in no way was challenged at AM Winn. He was basically handed the honor roll just for showing up every day. He compeleted second grade 5 months before school ended for that year. When he began 3rd grade, we were informed that he had won an award. We went to the school to watch him accept the award, just to find out that they changed the times and we had missed him getting his award. They also sent home a letter stating that they were failing at the "No Child Left Behind" program. Because of that, they said that we could have him transfered to another school within the district. However, thry also told us that priority would be given to students with low test scores. My son was being forced to stay in a school where he was getting a below standard education, and no one at the school cared. My son in now in private school and getting a real education, free from bullying, staff who don't care about their students, and an administration who puts the children first.  —Submitted by a parent

Here's a teacher blaming parents:

Posted April 3, 2009

The school does what it can with the constant change of principals and the completely lack luster support of the district. Most parents are only 'involved' when their child is in trouble, and by 'involved' I mean filled with accusations and excuses. SImply put, education starts at home and it is not happening in most of these homes. —Submitted by a teacher

Posted February 2, 2007

My son has been attending A.M. Winn for 3 years. He has had excellent teachers. I've always had my phone calls returned or if I sent a letter, it was answered. The School is good, not great. I agree that obtaining information in advance about school activities is not always easy. They use a recorded message system that calls the parents' home to make school announcements - sometimes the day before the event. That doesn't work well for me. - I's like to see a better developed music and art program, but California has caused many of those progams to be cut due to budget crisis. If we want our kids to get music and art instructions, we'll be paying for it by way of private lessons, because few of the schools offer it at the elementary level.  —Submitted by Monica, a parent

Posted June 8, 2006

My kids have gone to A.M. Winn for the last 2 years and I have not been satisfies with the school academically or professionally. —Submitted by a parent

Posted March 8, 2006

My daughter has been attending A.M. Winn for 2 years and my son started attending kidergarten this year. I was extremely happy with the school last year. This year I am not. I feel that I try consistantly to comunicate with the teachers with minimal response. I never know whats going on until the last minute. The pricipal seems to avoid talking to parents. The teachers (this year) are not impressive. I've always thought that communication between parents and teachers is essential for the growth of children. Its not happening at A.M. Winn. —Submitted by a parent

Posted February 15, 2005

I went to visit the kindergarten class and found it to be adequate. The two teachers sharing a room were pleasant and pleasant with the kids as well. They really emphasized the fact that there was really no time for art or science or music with the Open Court System. They had a lot of years of experience and the kids seemed very well-behaved, but the room was kind of cramped and cluttered. Organized but cluttered. The outside appearance of the school was not the greatest in comparison. Walking around, I didn't get a real feeling of unity or warmth at the school. I don't believe there is a music program or other extracurricular programs. Didn't see or hear of much parent involvement. Test scores are low.  —Submitted by a parent

El Rio Waldorf Charter Reviews

Be sure to check out: el Rio's head Administrator - Ed Eadon 

and a discussion that was removed from el Rio's blog

http://www.ratemyteachers.com/ed-eden/1577744-t

06/26/06 He is a terrible teacher. I have not learned a single thing since he started teaching math. He should go back to his office and stay there. I hate his teaching. And he is VERY unclear. I never know what the homework is.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

El Rio Charter School - Removes Dishonest Blog

 This dishonest blog entry was posted on the El Rio Charter Waldorf School for over 2-1/2 years.  It was misrepresenting the status of the California court trial that may indeed close all California charter schools.  In May, 2012, the 9th District Court again convened and I posted the audio of the tape to this blog.  They finally removed it after it became obvious they were lying to parents.

Here's what the blog said - I highlighted in red the obvious lie: 

el Rio Charter School will not advocate or promote any form of
religious or political ideology to the children. Our aim is to teach
children how to think, not what to think.
Posted: August 11th, 2009 | Author: Joan Jaeckel | Filed under:
Uncategorized | Tags: anthroposophy not a religion, Establishment
clause, First Amendment, non-religious, religion and public Waldorf
education, Rudolf Steiner, U.S. Constitution, Waldorf education is
secular, Waldorf litigation | No Comments»

Q: Will el Rio Charter School, offering a public Waldorf-like
education, be secular?
A: Yes, public, Waldorf-like charter schools are 100% secular. Its
core anthroposophical concepts are not religious. This has been
upheld in courts in California and worldwide for the following
reasons:
Anthroposophy is the name giving by Rudolf Steiner, the designer of
Waldorf education, to designate a cognitive research method using
focused concentration and learned compassion as a way of knowing or
method of inquiry. Anthroposophy, essentially, means"inquiry into
the nature of being human". The purpose of anthroposophy is to
humanize human life on earth through learned openmindedness,
openheartedness, objectivity, positivity and intentionality.
Unlike a religion or a church, anthroposophy has no creed or any other
form of doctrinal statement to which members must or are expected to
subscribe.
Anthroposophy has no clergy or form of clergy and membership in the
anthroposophical society does not qualify persons to perform marriage
ceremony.
Anthroposophy does not have sacraments like communion or babtism.
Unlike a religion, anthroposophy does not claim to have sacred
scripture and it does not have or administer a system of canon law.
Anthroposophy holds no formal worship services and makes no efforts to
propagate or missionize.
Anthroposophy is a way of knowing and inquiry into the mysteries of
human life. Its aim is not answers to be believed, but questions and
more questions into the nature of life on earth.
An atheist may become a member or interested in the anthroposophical
society and remain an atheist; an agnostic may become a member and
remain an agnostic; a member of any traditional religious sect or
denomination Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc may become a
member of the anthroposophical society and remain a member of their
sect or denomination.
The trial court's final judgment in favor of the Sacramento City
Unified School District and the Twin Ridges Elementary School
District, states in part: “Plaintiff failed to carry its evidentiary
burden of establishing that anthroposophy is a religion for purposes
of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United
States Constitution or the other California constitutuinal provisions
involved in this case, as stated in the Court's pretrial order dated
April 20, 2005 Waldorf Methods Litigation Update, January 21,
2006, by Christian M. Keiner: Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard.
ckeiner@...

Courts in California and worldwide have found that anthroposophy,

the philosophical foundation of the Waldorf-like curriculum and

methods in public charter schools, is a philosophy and not a religion.

The curriculum and methods of the Waldorf-like education at el Rio
Charter School will be 100% non-religious. Although our teachers will
be trained at institutions like Rudolf Steiner College to observe,
relate to and teach children based on the anthroposophical philosophy,

we can make this assertion because the non-religiosity of Waldorf

education has been upheld in courts in California and worldwide for
the following reasons:

1. "Anthroposophy", the name of the philosophy behind Waldorf
education's curriculum and methods, designates a cognitive research
method using focused concentration, learned compassion and sensory
cultivation as a way of knowing or method of inquiry. “Anthroposophy”,
essentially, means “inquiry into the nature of being human”. The
purpose of anthroposophy is to humanize life on earth through learned
openmindedness, openheartedness, objectivity, positivity and
intentionality.
2. Unlike a religion or a church, anthroposophy has no creed or any
other form of doctrinal statement to which members must or are
expected to subscribe.
3. Anthroposophy has no clergy or form of clergy and membership in
the anthroposophical society does not qualify persons to perform
marriage ceremony.
4. Anthroposophy does not have sacraments like communion or
babtism. Unlike a religion, anthroposophy does not claim to have
sacred scripture and it does not have or administer a system of canon
law.
5. Anthroposophy holds no formal worship services and makes no
efforts to propagate or missionize.
6. Anthroposophy is a way of knowing and inquiry into the mysteries
of human life. Its aim is not answers to be believed, but questions
and more questions into the nature of life on earth.
7. An atheist may become a member or interested in the
anthroposophical society and remain an atheist; an agnostic may become
a member and remain an agnostic; a member of any traditional religious
sect or denomination – Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, etc. – may
become a member of the anthroposophical society and remain a member of
their sect or denomination.

The trial court's final judgment in favor of the Sacramento City

Unified School District and the Twin Ridges Elementary School

District, states in part: "Plaintiff failed to carry its evidentiary

burden of establishing that anthroposophy is a religion for purposes

of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United

States Constitution or the other California constitutuinal provisions

involved in this case, as stated in the Court's pretrial order dated

April 20, 2005". Waldorf Methods Litigation Update, January 21,
2006, by Christian M. Keiner: Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard.
ckeiner@...

You may be surprised to hear that, in Los Angeles public schools,
organizations like the Kabbalah Center, Scientology and Transcendatal
Meditation offer (with parental permission) students scripted lessons,
like"Rules of the Game of Life". Kids bring home marketing materials
inviting students and their parents to find out about or join these
organizations. El Rio Charter School will never do this. No
pamphlets, invitations or lesson plans promoting any religious,
spiritual or political organization will ever be distributed to
parents or given to students either by word, deed or implication.
***********

Waldorf Valley City School Reviews by Parents

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=15330&state=CA&sortBy=&page=2#revPagination

Posted May 11, 2011

As a parent at this school over many years time, I can attest to the disgraceful behavior demonstrated by the administration and majority of teachers at this school. It is not a Waldorf school. It is a shameful imitation using the Waldorf name (in fact giving Waldorf a bad name). I was lucky enough to pull my child out before too much damage was done (but he got his fair share - some of it requiring therapy to recover from), but it is a sad sight to see so many families swindled into believing they are bringing their children to a loving institution. The 70- some percent of families that have left can attest otherwise, not to mention the tremendous amount of good teachers that have been bullied and harassed out, or have down right quit. If this is not enough to prevent you from bringing your innocent child to this place, perhaps the fact that the school is on the verge of bankruptcy and total shut down, will.
—Submitted by a parent

Posted March 29, 2011

I loved this school for so long. But the more and more time we spent at this school, the more the dysfunctions of how it operates became exposed. Waldorf education is so wonderful and Valley Waldorf seems to embody the best of Waldorf, but that was just a facade and unfortunately, very few families have stayed throughout the years because of how poorly run it is. The school is over ten years old and continues to barely make it year after year, as attrition is so high. And if you ask why that is the case, you will probably be given many excuses, but at a certain point, you have to wonder "what keeps going on when there are only 30+ students over ten years after it was founded. I gave two stars for teachers because some are wonderful, but over the years, many have come and gone (and some still there) that have been terribly inconsistent. And parent involvement also two stars because many parents become involved. But the ones who become most involved almost always leave disgusted, never to come back to this site to update the realities of what they have come to see.
—Submitted by a parent

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/attraction/valley-waldorf-city-school-17424-sherman-way-van-nuys-ca-91406-us 

Get as far away from this place as you can. My kid went here for two years. Last year the school lost about 20 families, there were only maybe 60 kids in the whole school. Mid year this school year they lost another 25! Teachers are leaving left and right. I see two of the reviews here were left by people who took their kids out. They are dishonest and many of the teachers they have here, which all happen to be related to each other have been fired or banned from even setting foot on other Waldorf school campuses. Horrible place and the are breaking laws too.

plaths added: 03/04/2011

 https://plus.google.com/109032643936425144561/about?hl=en

Run the other way! This is a tiny school run by teachers who are all related to each other - many of them have been fired from other schools for racism, child abuse, harassment and even banned from setting foot on other Waldorf school campuses. Last year the school had maybe 60 students they lost about 25 and this year they lost about the same amount in the middle of the school year! Teachers and staff are quitting left and right and families who are smart enough to see the truth and have become aware of the incredible dishonesty and the illegal goings on at this place.

http://www.bestplaces.net/schools/california/van_nuys/valley_waldorf_city_school

To quote another reviewer "The school has changed over the years, into an abusive institution, towards children, parents and teachers. There are many reasons for this shift, as the huge amount of families (and teachers) who have left the school over the last two years can attest to, but the bottom line is that the school has become an environment where untruths dominate." The Facts: The last year my child was here there was about 60 children in preschool-8th grade -- the largest the school population has been in it's history. In the past 2 years approximately 45 or more have left - most of them mid year. Teacher after teacher has left, (again almost all of them in the middle of the school year). Most of the teachers that remain all happen to be from the same family (5 of them). I urge you to ask "why?" in hopes of saving your family from what so many others have gone through.  3/28/2011 parent

I agree with the previous reviewer - what was once beautiful became distorted and ugly based on decisions that were made in the best interests of a few teachers, without consideration for the children's best interests. The majority of good and honest teachers have left the school already as well as many parents. My own children were verbally abused and virtually ignored academically, all in the interest of pedagogy that I was told I couldn't possibly understand without becoming a Waldorf teacher myself. A sad, sad situation, and one that we are so happy we have left.  3/9/2011  parent

Valley Waldorf School once was a magical place. This is no longer the case. The school has changed over the years, into an abusive institution, towards children, parents and teachers. There are many reasons for this shift, as the huge amount of families (and teachers) who have left the school over the last two years can attest to, but the bottom line is that the school has become an environment where untruths dominate the entire system, led by the administration and unfortunately, many of the remaining teachers. As someone who has seen the dark side of this place firsthand, I urge you not to trust your child to a place that is so deeply dysfunctional and damaging. 3/7/2011 parent

A little Gnome sent me the following information regarding this school:

When prospective parents read reviews of Waldorf schools they might not know whom to believe. Effusive and glowing reviews minimize the problems and down play the student drop out rates. Most parents who are dissatisfied don't write reviews, they vote with their feet and pull their children out often after several years - often a difficult decision. The credibility of parents who do take the time to write critical reviews is often questioned.

The actual student enrollment numbers support the critical reviews. Here are the enrollment numbers for Valley Waldorf City School as reported by the school itself to the U.S.  government :

	2003-04	2005-06	2007-08	2009-10
pre-k			7	14
k	14	11	9	13
1st	3	4	4	8
2nd	6	7	11	10
3rd	4	3	4	4
4th	3	1	5	10
5th	2	3	1	2
6th	7	5	4	4
7th	1	1	3	0
8th	1	2	0	2
totals	41	37	48	67

I would note the following points:

1) These numbers do not show the number of new students recruited each year which might mask a larger drop out rate - meaning if the school loses 6 students from a class and recruits 3 to the same class the numbers will show a loss of 3 students, not the actual loss of 6 students.

Following the enrollment of a particular class as it moves thru the years suggests heavy efforts at recruiting new students to replace the students whose parents removed them from the school.

2) The dramatic fluctuations in enrollment for each cohort of kids as they travel from year to year. For example the 2003-04 kindergarten class started with 14 kids then dropped down to 4 kids for 1st grade in 2005-06, jumped up to 11 kids for 2nd grade in 2007-08 and fell again to 4 kids for 3rd grade in 2009-10. Similar patterns can be seen with each class if one follows the class' progression thru the years starting in 2003-04 and moving diagonally downward thru the years.

3) Any notion of stability in a child's social relations with their classmates is belied by these numbers. A child starting out with one group of classmates is likely to graduate with an almost entirely different group of kids - if they remain at waldorf and actually graduate.

4) Enrollment numbers form other waldorf schools show this student turnover pattern is the norm at most Waldorf schools.

Waldorf Schools and Discipline

Waldorf teacher Steve Sagarin has written a blog about Waldorf discipline methods here: http://ssagarin.blogspot.se/2012/06/glance-at-discipline-methods-in-waldorf.html

There are some great comments there.  Here's one of the posts describing a parent's Waldorf school experience.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for raising the discipline question in Waldorf schools Steve. When our family joined a Waldorf school, I was confident that the teachers would use warm, loving discipline to carry the children and move the classroom dynamics. I witnessed this in the kindergarten and when my children went into the grade school, quite frankly, I was shocked at the lack of skills the teachers had and at the great lengths the teachers went to from owning their own dysfunctional behavior. Waldorf schools can be one of the unhealthiest and most dysfunctional social environments I have ever experienced. Teachers target children, make disparaging comments about them to other parents and in the hallways and fail to look within when classroom behavior gets out of hand. In my community over the years we have had several crisis classes and the school failed to rally and bring healthy communication and process to the classes and the classroom dynamics. Entire classes have been labeled troubled yet no intervention, no healing, no help was brought in. When that was suggested/requested by parents in a few classes in crisis that our children were in, the school stonewalled the parents and gave us the usual "waldorfese" or "That's not how WE do things" I was very disappointed and realized that the social life of the community, the health of the children and the quality of education are really nothing like what is promised in all the lovely videos. Parents removed their children from our school after watching the videos of the Waldorf promise because our school is so far from delivering that image in real life when you get beyond the lazured walls and the pretty pictures and the "Waldorfese" of the staff. Ironically our school has a Kim Payne conflict "expert"

July 14, 2012 11:43 AM