http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-francisco-waldorf-high-school-san-francisco
I spent 3 years as a student, and for the first time in my life, threw in the towel and requested to take the GED and get it over with. Like Tasha pointed out, The school has a few avenues depending on the child's willingness to play along. The whole experience was very soft and dreamy, as is the belief in, and surrounding philosophies of fairies and gnomes. I found that Waldorf is comprised of two types of teachers. Those with actual experience and work history, who are somewhat forced to play along with the druidic rituals, and those who treat the school like a religious cult. What if I told you the craziest teachers were Waldorf students themselves?
I have mixed feelings about the curriculum because in my impression, high school is much more about social development than learning applicable knowledge, so the fact that we changed subjects every two or three weeks left me with the feeling of only having a superficial understanding about anything other than crayons and watercolor. When I compare my self development to friends who either left early or went to other schools, I felt like Adam staring at Eve taking a bite of the apple. I was sheltered, naive, and had little to no understanding of how the real world actually worked.
When criticized about their allergy to technology and the general reality of things, the school setup a pathetic attempt at an intro to computers class. It was obvious to me that their values lie within creating a protective culture to raise children to be happy and oblivious.
What I came here to write about is really the shock of the real world that followed my early departure. I felt like an Amish kid set loose in the city. You want to talk about wanton abandon? That's a good way to line up the pins. I had to party my ass off just to wipe away the frivolous programming and years of boredom that my family paid good money for. For the years following my high-school experience, I was grateful for a few things that Waldorf actually did provide. A handful of good friends who shared the post bubble-world shock either before or with me, the sometimes elusive ability to formulate a sentence, and a love of rebellion.
Should I put another person on the planet, I would perhaps consider early developmental years at a Montessori or Waldorf, but when middle school hits, you need to involve your child in a heap of activities and programs outside of the bubble or else they will be socially unequipped to deal with tomorrow's aggressive economy. Overall my experience was protective in the regard that I'm not addicted to meth, but it's taken me a good length of time to acclimate into the professional adult world, and now I'm the one catching up.
I chose three stars because two indicates that I've experienced better, and that's obviously a lie.
I have mixed feelings about the curriculum because in my impression, high school is much more about social development than learning applicable knowledge, so the fact that we changed subjects every two or three weeks left me with the feeling of only having a superficial understanding about anything other than crayons and watercolor. When I compare my self development to friends who either left early or went to other schools, I felt like Adam staring at Eve taking a bite of the apple. I was sheltered, naive, and had little to no understanding of how the real world actually worked.
When criticized about their allergy to technology and the general reality of things, the school setup a pathetic attempt at an intro to computers class. It was obvious to me that their values lie within creating a protective culture to raise children to be happy and oblivious.
What I came here to write about is really the shock of the real world that followed my early departure. I felt like an Amish kid set loose in the city. You want to talk about wanton abandon? That's a good way to line up the pins. I had to party my ass off just to wipe away the frivolous programming and years of boredom that my family paid good money for. For the years following my high-school experience, I was grateful for a few things that Waldorf actually did provide. A handful of good friends who shared the post bubble-world shock either before or with me, the sometimes elusive ability to formulate a sentence, and a love of rebellion.
Should I put another person on the planet, I would perhaps consider early developmental years at a Montessori or Waldorf, but when middle school hits, you need to involve your child in a heap of activities and programs outside of the bubble or else they will be socially unequipped to deal with tomorrow's aggressive economy. Overall my experience was protective in the regard that I'm not addicted to meth, but it's taken me a good length of time to acclimate into the professional adult world, and now I'm the one catching up.
I chose three stars because two indicates that I've experienced better, and that's obviously a lie.
- Miki C.
- Ingleside, San Francisco, CA 3/21/2014
- this school.. has been the worst experience of my life!!!
i came in as the only asian american born and because i was asian everyone automatically treated me like an international.. the math here sucks which is sucks even more because math is my worst subject and needs extra explaining which the teachers did NONE OF.
i was a loner at the school because 90% of the people there came from the grade school and already were friends the other 10% were left to either be by themselves or be friends with the other outcasts. i came here only because my momforced me into it. thank god i survived two years without pucturing myself with a knife.. im now a junior at lincoln highschool and even though its been a week im all happy with 6 one hour class everyday than having 3 free periods the sane dayy... also because the topics at waldorf are so scattered my transcript is uncomplete so i havd to take multiple outside classes just to get the credits (two years of highschool and tuition down the drain) and on top of that i have SAT prep and i still have actual school to focus on.. ...
so waldorf... you ruined my highschool experience.. because my two years were the years i honestly had suicidal thoughts my junior year is crammed with all the classes i shouldve tooken but couldnt because of waldorfs messed up system and senior year will be busy because i need to take AP classes WHICH WALDORF DOESNT PROVIDE SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.. bottom line.. i was shunned and didnt gain any learning experience.. except to not send my kid here - James S.
- San Francisco, CA
- 3/18/2014
- I was part of the "waldorf community" for around 13 years. During this time I learnt absolutely nothing. Most of my friends (apart from those whose parents were teachers) needed to be tutored for just about everything because the teaching system and their "philosophy" is absurd. They did not teach us to properly read until about 5th grade, and we started learning basic math in 7th grade. The high school wasn't much better. I DO NOT recommend that you send your children to this school, they are better off at one of the normal private schools where they will actually get a good education and not end up in community college like so many of the graduates.
This is from first hand experience. My parents wasted about $800,000 putting me and my brother through this school and they full heartedly regret it.- Tasha A.
- San Francisco, CA
- 6/29/2011
I'm going to try to sum this up and be brief.
The philosophy does not fit in with what most of the world is expecting out of these kids.
We didn't have text books, (we had to make our own), we were not allowed to use computers...
Hypocritical, as the administration could use computers.
I found myself my 2nd year of high school dancing to spoken word poetry, writing by hand every single paper for years as the teacher dictated lengthy lectures. I learned nothing regarding a trade a vocation, or college prep.
All your teachers are the same, year after year. Possibly a great bond with your educator. However, If you're on not so great terms or have a personality clash you're potentially screwed from 1-8th grade. and 9-12th.
It didn't prepare me for college, it hindered me. I left before graduation.
The "Non-Waldorfians" as we transfers were called (who didn't grow up in the system since birth) ALL dropped out and transferred, most even before certain semesters were up.
It says something about the establishment that if "outsiders" all leave that something is probably wrong.
Just please don't put a child here who wants to be a graphic designer or really thrive in this competitive technology based society that most of us live in.
READ THIS LINK FROM THE NY TIMES (and the comments)
community.nytimes.com/co…
We were very excited about having our daughter attend Waldorf
High School It seemed like a perfect fit for her. My concerns began
at the first Parent/Teacher/Administrator get together. When asked
about getting progress reports on how our children were doing. We were
told that would only occur if they were failing. Try getting into a
good college with C s. My next concern was my daughter stating how
easy all her classes were. Coming from a student that has always
worked hard to achieve good grades this was a concern. Luckily we moved
to Marin and enrolled our children in a public school . Having always
felt private school was important to get the best education possible,
it was quite eye opening to hear from most of her new teachers that our
daughter was way behind in the basic s required for college. My
daughters fond memories of Waldorf turned into a nightmare for her in
the amount of additional work she needed to do to catch up. Other
friends who attended Waldorf were forced to spend several thousand
dollars to help their children score well on the SATs. Nice school, way
below average on teaching and preparing children for college.
Very rigid. Works well for children with absolutely no learning
issues, dyslexia etc. Otherwise it's a train wreck. The early grades,(
pre K-5), are fine to excellent if your child gets a good teacher as
they have the same class teacher for 8 years. However, even with the
best teacher, at the onset of adolescence problems arise. They seem to
have a very hard time letting children grow into young adults in an
urban environment in this century. There is drama, art and music but no
real creativity allowed. Parents are expected to provide a huge amount
of practical and financial support but have absolutely no voice in
school decisions. For the amount of tuition charged there are wiser
choices.
Our child has completed ten years at SFWS. While we
feel that the theoretical pedagogy is extraordinarily beautiful and one
every child anywhere would be nourished by... the bottom line is that
it is only as good as the teacher's own preparation. This is because
the child stays with the same teacher the entire 8 years of the lower
school. If the teacher's own academic preparation is mediocre and their
emotional fitness for the task of taking the children through the first
eight grades is tenuous than, this is naturally impacted upon the
child. As Waldorf is truly 'alternative' it tends to attract teachers
who are less rigorous academically and, definately more artistic! This
is lovely and makes for a highly sensitive and gentle curriculum but, it
can leave the student unprepared for today's secondary school
expectations eg. keyboarding and computer, math skills, creative writing
and standardized test taking. One can become 'locked-in' to the
Waldorf curriculum... at third grade there's no chance to leave because
most of the kids aren't reading yet; at sixth there's the fear of the
culture of public middle schools and, at ninth they don't have the
skills requisite for the fast track high schools (computer, math, test
taking). In the end, we are glad our son has gone to Waldorf but,
because this is such a different world than it was 30, 50 or 80 years
ago... perhaps we should have put him in a more competitive and
rigorously academic environment. The physical environment and the
performing arts of the K-8 lower school are wonderful.
http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/attraction/san-francisco-waldorf-school-2938-washington-street-san-francisco-ca-94115-us
Any prospective parents should learn about Anthroposophy, the
religion/philosophy, that Waldorf education is based upon. Information
and links to both pro and con Waldorf sites is available at Openwaldorf.com.
- Posted by Anonymous
No
Black crayons? No wearing Black? (Black is an "undesirable" color) No
photographs (except ones of Rudolf Steiner)? No mirrors? No reading
taught until your kid loses their baby teeth? The teachers believe that
gnomes are real life forms. They believe in curing cancer with
mistletoe. If all of the above makes sense to you, then you'll love
Waldorf Schools. - Posted by Anonymous
(Information on GoCityKids website is not
updated for this school) This school follows the Steiner
philosophy...arts-based, lovely curriculum but there is the anthroposophical underpinnings which potential parents should know about. Recently the school has had upheavals in the lower grades--poor
teachers and disgruntled parents. Please make sure you check out the
teacher for your child's grade before enrolling, as that teacher
remains with your child for 8 years! That said, you can find a very
pleasant, stress-free environment for your child, which is VERY
different from any other private school in the city. - Posted by Anonymous
Here's a great blog that goes into detail about this school:
http://thesfkfiles.blogspot.com/2009/10/san-francisco-waldorf-school.html
Don't miss the comments.
Here's a great blog that goes into detail about this school:
http://thesfkfiles.blogspot.com/2009/10/san-francisco-waldorf-school.html
Don't miss the comments.
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You may ask, "where are all the 5=Star reviews?" Well, the problem with those reviews is that many tend not to be too honest. I have included 4-star reviews that appear honest. Often, gushing reviews are placed by teachers and administrators - as some comments here indicate. "This school educates the whole child!!!" - 5 stars - by Anonymous... I say baloney! Notice, many of the reviewers have been misled by Waldorf and are still buying the PR, even after having been disappointed. Feel free to comment but understand the intent of this blog. Comments are no longer moderated.