Richmond Waldorf School Reviews by Parents

http://www.localschooldirectory.com/private-school/27347/VA

* Reviewed by Parent or Guardian on May 28, 2011
* Before even considering this school, research anthrosophy and ask very
specific questions about HOW much math is taught each day. Ask what history and
science (very little actually) will be taught in lower grades and will the
school accommodate an early reader (no they won't). And get tuition insurance,
so if you are unhappy with the school and the lack of emphasis placed on
academics you can get your tuition refunded. I am a former Waldorf parent. I
have intimate knowledge with this school and its practices. There are other
schools, better schools, pass this woefully inadequate, albeit lovely pastel
school by.

* Reviewed by Parent/Guardian on September 23, 2010
* Absolutely awful - security concerns - they are just winging it. Ask them
about graduates! Watch them squirm!

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knitter ‎ - Jul 14, 2008
okay for Kindergarten, but go elswhere after that. My daughter attended Richmond
Waldorf for two years before starting first grade there. Their Kindergarten is
for ages 3-6 and it's a gentle, playful atmosphere. The focus was on creative
play, which was fine by me and my daughter loved it. She expected to love first
grade too. After less than two months in Waldorf first grade, my outgoing,
happy, very social and confident little girl turned into an anxious, worried
child who no longer liked school, fell apart and started crying when she made
mistakes and became afraid of meeting new children. I took her out and it was
months before she was back to her old self. I felt her teacher's methods of
working with the children were passive aggressive and emphasized perfectionism.
I also thought she was sometimes flat out cruel to some of the kids. Because
Waldorf is a teacher run school, there isn't much you can do about it when you
have a problem with the teacher. There was only one first grade, so wasn't
possible to tranfer classes. I'm ... My daughter attended Richmond Waldorf for
two years before starting first grade there. Their Kindergarten is for ages 3-6
and it's a gentle, playful atmosphere. The focus was on creative play, which was
fine by me and my daughter loved it. She expected to love first grade too. After
less than two months in Waldorf first grade, my outgoing, happy, very social and
confident little girl turned into an anxious, worried child who no longer liked
school, fell apart and started crying when she made mistakes and became afraid
of meeting new children. I took her out and it was months before she was back to
her old self. I felt her teacher's methods of working with the children were
passive aggressive and emphasized perfectionism. I also thought she was
sometimes flat out cruel to some of the kids. Because Waldorf is a teacher run
school, there isn't much you can do about it when you have a problem with the
teacher. There was only one first grade, so wasn't possible to tranfer classes.
I'm not sure I'd have done that if I could have anyway, because I suspect this
teacher was using accepted Waldorf methods for classroom management. Not that
anyone there would tell you that. Ask a straight yes or no question of a Waldorf
teacher and you get a ten minute answer about child development and Waldorf
philosophy and later you realize your question was never actually answered.
Despite how much my daughter loved her school and the friends she made there,
we've never regretted taking her out. She's never expressed an interest in going
back either.
http://richmond.citysearch.com/profile/44134701/richmond_va/richmond_waldorf_sch\
ool.html

DO NOT believe their website
by Libby365 at Citysearch

As a parent with a child that was in grade 2 and 3 at Richmond Waldorf, I can
tell you this school constantly looses students once the parents realize their
children are not receiving an education that will allow them to successfully
matriculate to other schools. My child came in to RWS after attending
kindergarten and first grade at a nationally recognized Virginia school
district. She was on target for math and above grade in reading. After a year
and a half, her math and reading skills declined. She didn't learn anything of
real substance in history or science.

Waldorf is based on unproven ideas of a man Ruldof Steiner, who didn't have
children or an education in either early childhood education or child
psychology. Steiner's decision to teach reading in second grade is based on
children loosing baby teeth, not any concrete studies on child reading
readiness.

Student evaluations is like reading an astrological chart, with statements like
"not fully reincarnated in body", instead of useful evaluations on academic
progress. You, as the parent, will never be told by RWS whether your child is
doing well academically or not. There is no quantitative evaluation, no
recording of grades.

The children do not have modern school aids (handouts, workbooks, worksheets).
Instead, the students copy black boards full of teacher written narratives and a
drawing that the students must copy. This comprises of the "main lesson", which
is usually a myth or from the bible, rather than real history or real science.

There are better private schools here in Richmond that have real certified
teachers that will teach your child to read, write and a solid foundation and
mastery of math.

Please do not send your child to this school.

Not accredited... hires untrained, uncertified teachers
by Anonymous at Insider Pages
This school IS NOT an alternative to area public or private schools. RWS doesn't
provide textbooks to lower grades, does not test and doesn't equip the child
academically to matriculate successfully to another school at the next grade.…

http://www.yellowpages.com/richmond-va/mip/richmond-waldorf-school-k-8-8988943

FormerRWSparent 12/26/2011
This is in response to RWS Parent.

This is in response to RWS... read more 1861-1925 and nothing learned in the
past 87 years in childhood education are used. Modern workbooks are not used.
The student created "workbooks" are simply the students copying down word for
word what the teacher writes on the blackboard for main lesson which in lower
school is either a legend, bible story or fantasy.

3) As far as RWS children returning to public schools... unless the parents
homeschool them, they are far behind their peers in public schools. I spoke to
the admissions director of the Orchard House School about Waldorf kids. Orchard
House is a private girls middle school that is talked about as a middle school
at RWS. The director told me herself that Waldorf girls must be CAUGHT UP!! I
don't know about you, but I expect my child's school to prepare her for the next
grade or the next school. I took my daughter to Montissori and the initial
testing was that she was 2 grades behind!! She was at grade level when she came
to RWS in 2nd grade in math and above grade level in reading. A year and a half
at RWS and Montissori said she was 2 GRADES BEHIND!!! Another child in her class
that left after 3rd grade, after attending kindergarten thru 3rd grade at
Waldorf was unable to read and spent half of 4th grade in remedial classes
trying to get caught up.

Waldorf schools also try to tell you how to raise your child and run your
household. They are staunchly against technology (but the teachers drive cars to
school). They want you to get rid of your TV, computer and cd collection. The
children cannot wear light up shoes, clothes with cartoons or popular culture.
Also, black is strongly frowned on. Can't wear it nor can the children color
with it. Seriously, no black crayons!!! The lovely water color paintings you see
on the walls, aren't as lovely as you think when you find out that the teacher
requires the children to paint the very same picture, the very same way. It's
not so much as a technique lesson in painting as a Rudolf Steiner pedagogic
anthroposophic thing. Speaking of Rudolf Steiner... blond haired children or
favored by Steiner anthros over dark haired kids and white kids over non-white
kids. This is totally out right true, even though the school will probably
vehemently deny it. A little digging on Steiner, anthroposophy and race will
reveal the truth.

5. Finally... in selecting a school for your child, look for a school that is
accredited by other bodies than themselves, make sure the teachers attended
universities or colleges that are accredited by other bodies than themselves and
have state certification. If there is no headmaster or principal...look for
another school. The teachers are in charge at Waldorf schools and if the parents
have any problems or concerns, they are generally ignored.

6. Waldorf is not a cheap school, the tuition is in line with other extremely
excellent private schools like St. Michael's Episicopal, however the education
that your child will receive at Waldorf will be worse than the worst public
school. If you have $10k to spend on a private education, please look somewhere
else. The academic and psychological harm is simply not worth the pretty pastel
walls, or all the beeswax or knit crafts in the world.

Lib 365 07/02/2011
DO NOT believe their website

Provided by Citysearch

As a parent with a child that was in grade 2 and 3 at... read more grade in
reading. After a year and a half, her math and reading skills declined. She
didn't learn anything of real substance in history or science. Waldorf is based
on unproven ideas of a man Ruldof Steiner, who didn't have children or an
education in either early childhood education or child psychology. Steiner's
decision to teach reading in second grade is based on children loosing baby
teeth, not any concrete studies on child reading readiness. Student evaluations
is like reading an astrological chart, with statements like "not fully
reincarnated in body", instead of useful evaluations on academic progress. You,
as the parent, will never be told by RWS whether your child is doing well
academically or not. There is no quantitative evaluation, no recording of
grades. The children do not have modern school aids (handouts, workbooks,
worksheets). Instead, the students copy black boards full of teacher written
narratives and a drawing that the students must copy. This comprises of the
"main lesson", which is usually a myth or from the bible, rather than real
history or real science. There are better private schools here in Richmond that
have real certified teachers that will teach your child to read, write and a
solid foundation and mastery of math. Please do not send your child to this
school.

http://www.education.com/schoolfinder/us/virginia/richmond/richmond-waldorf-scho\
ol/

Our experience with this school was terrible; our child's teacher told students
that they weren't smart, left children unaccompanied outside ... just awful.
Submitted by a Parent on Mar 15, 2010

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/6508795094/richmond-waldorf-school-richmond

Not accredited... hires untrained, uncertified teachers

Anonymous

This school IS NOT an alternative to area public or private schools. RWS doesn't provide textbooks to lower grades, does not test and doesn't equip the child academically to matriculate successfully to another school at the next grade. What usually happens is the child must either be homeschooled for a year or repeat the year. RWS is not accredited, nor is it required by VA state regulations to provide trained, certified teachers. Probably an ok school for preschoolers, though. If your child is learning disabled, there are other schools with teachers trained in special education that will provide your child with a better education.

March 16, 2011

http://www.greatschools.org/school/parentReviews.page?id=2455&state=VA&sortBy=dd&page=2#revPagination

Posted December 13, 2011

We had a terrible experience with this school once my child entered the "grades." If its so wonderful, why do so few students stay through eighth grade? —Submitted by a parent

Posted August 28, 2007

The website states that they teach the whole child. However, in my experience, they are not taught the basics enough to transfer at grade level to another school.  —Submitted by a parent