Free schools are a free ride

“Alan Swindell makes some interesting points (State should pay for choice, Letters 7 March) when replying to my critique of academy and free schools in general and the Exeter Steiner Academy, of which he is Principal Designate, in particular. However, as might be expected, I take issue with him in a number of respects.

First, not all parents are delighted that the government is willing to pay for Steiner education, particularly those who resent the fact that the establishment of his school means that there will be fewer places in Exeter for those who do not want a Steiner education for their children. The extension of choice for those who want a Steiner school results in its reduction for those who do not.

Secondly, the mere fact that other countries provide state funding for Steiner schools (although in Germany this does not cover all the costs) is no reason why we should do so in the UK. Since long before the establishment of so-called free schools our state-funded education system supported some schools with a religious affiliation, such as voluntary aided or controlled C of E or RC schools. Providing they are not academies these 'church' schools must follow the national curriculum in full. Steiner free schools, however, follow their own curriculum. Of course, the Steiner movement tells us that anthroposophy, the belief system that underpins it, is not a religion, but a 'philosophy' or even a 'science' (sic). It is thus not open to Steiner schools to claim that they should be state funded so that they can provide for the special requirements of a significant religious group whilst maintaining a mainstream educational approach, as, for example, C of E and RC schools have done.

Thirdly, Steiner education is not innovative or forward thinking. It is based on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) who claimed that he had access to a higher consciousness through a clairvoyant knowledge of the spiritual world, through what he called his 'occult experience'. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Swindell that schools should educate children to make choices and find their own way in life, learning to question everything. However, a Steiner school is not capable of achieving this given its theoretical underpinnings.

Finally, yes Finland did come first in the recent global league table published by the education firm Pearson based on data obtained in 2006 and 2010. However, the next European country was the UK which was ranked sixth, just above Holland and significantly above Germany and the USA. Finland's lofty position is undeniable, but it cannot be attributed to its Steiner schools. Finland has over 3,000 state-funded 'comprehensive' schools for 7-15 year-olds, but according to Freunde Waldorf Finland only 17 of these are Steiner schools.

Nowhere, of course, does Mr Swindell deny that Steiner's guiding ideas involve notions of karma, reincarnation, astrology, homeopathy, gnomes and a racial hierarchy of spiritual development. I echo his call for readers to find out more for themselves. I am sure that the more parents know about this bizarre cult the less likely they are to entrust their children to its followers.

Andy Hannan (Labour County Council candidate for Priory & St Leonard's, Exeter)”

“Alan Swindell makes some interesting points (State should pay for choice, Letters 7 March) when replying to my critique of academy and free schools in general and the Exeter Steiner Academy, of which he is Principal Designate, in particular. However, as might be expected, I take issue with him in a number of respects.

First, not all parents are delighted that the government is willing to pay for Steiner education, particularly those who resent the fact that the establishment of his school means that there will be fewer places in Exeter for those who do not want a Steiner education for their children. The extension of choice for those who want a Steiner school results in its reduction for those who do not.

Secondly, the mere fact that other countries provide state funding for Steiner schools (although in Germany this does not cover all the costs) is no reason why we should do so in the UK. Since long before the establishment of so-called free schools our state-funded education system supported some schools with a religious affiliation, such as voluntary aided or controlled C of E or RC schools. Providing they are not academies these 'church' schools must follow the national curriculum in full. Steiner free schools, however, follow their own curriculum. Of course, the Steiner movement tells us that anthroposophy, the belief system that underpins it, is not a religion, but a 'philosophy' or even a 'science' (sic). It is thus not open to Steiner schools to claim that they should be state funded so that they can provide for the special requirements of a significant religious group whilst maintaining a mainstream educational approach, as, for example, C of E and RC schools have done.

Thirdly, Steiner education is not innovative or forward thinking. It is based on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) who claimed that he had access to a higher consciousness through a clairvoyant knowledge of the spiritual world, through what he called his 'occult experience'. I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Swindell that schools should educate children to make choices and find their own way in life, learning to question everything. However, a Steiner school is not capable of achieving this given its theoretical underpinnings.

Finally, yes Finland did come first in the recent global league table published by the education firm Pearson based on data obtained in 2006 and 2010. However, the next European country was the UK which was ranked sixth, just above Holland and significantly above Germany and the USA. Finland's lofty position is undeniable, but it cannot be attributed to its Steiner schools. Finland has over 3,000 state-funded 'comprehensive' schools for 7-15 year-olds, but according to Freunde Waldorf Finland only 17 of these are Steiner schools.

Nowhere, of course, does Mr Swindell deny that Steiner's guiding ideas involve notions of karma, reincarnation, astrology, homeopathy, gnomes and a racial hierarchy of spiritual development. I echo his call for readers to find out more for themselves. I am sure that the more parents know about this bizarre cult the less likely they are to entrust their children to its followers.

Andy Hannan (Labour County Council candidate for Priory & St Leonard's, Exeter)”

“"My child was taught Steiner's racist ideas directly - as SCIENCE. Not only that, but the school defended the racist lesson on two different occasions. As part of physiology class, my child was taught that "The blood of people from Europe is more evolved than the blood of people from Africa and Asia". Again, this shameful lesson was defended by teachers at the school and by administrators and board members. http://tinyurl.com/arg2hkn

Waldorf schools believe children of color, despite starting lower on the spiritual evolutionary ladder, can benefit from a Waldorf education. They don't discriminate when enrolling children of color for that reason.

Waldorf teachers are trained to work with the temperaments and to treat each child in accordance with their temperament. The distinguish between large and small-headed children and assess them accordingly. They look at left-handed children differently. Is it possible, considering how they find such apparently silly distinctions between children and treat them in accordance with their distinctions, that Steiner/Waldorf teachers find NO distinction between white children and children of color, and don't think of white and black children differently? Despite everything Steiner said about the races? Large/small-headed children, different, black/white children same. Left/right-handed children different, black/white children same. Choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic children each with very important differences, white/black/brown/red/yellow children all the same. Really? Does anyone seriously believe Steiner/Waldorf teachers find all these imaginary distinctions and overlook race hierarchy - the very cornerstone of spiritual evolution according to Steiner?"

Alan Swindell writes: "The only `belief system` that has a place in a school worthy of the name is the belief that children must be educated to make their own choices and find their own way in life, learning to question everything."

Waldorf hides much of what Steiner taught and indeed much of what teachers rely on when working with other people's children. The dishonesty displayed by Waldorf proponents leads me to wonder if they believe in PARENTAL rights to "make their own choices". Parents... learn to question EVERYTHING!”

“One of the characteristics of a totalitarian regime is that it attempts to exert total control over the education system. One of the characteristics of liberal government is that it allows individuals freedoms to choose their own ways of life.

What rational reason is there for supposing that the UK, or any government, is the wisest available arbiter of educational curriculum and teaching methods, or that a "one size fits all" approach can be applied to educating children? We expect more choice in our breakfast cereals, than in our school system.

Gove is not threatening "state-funded education", he is loosening the control of the state over how schools can respond to the real needs of children. The government should supervise schools to ensure they are working well, but the rest should be left in the hands of schools and educators, as it is in many enlightened countries that are achieving superior results. As Alan Swindell mentions, Finland is one of these; Holland is another.”

“Those who are supporting the Steiner proposal are aligining themselves with the most reactionary Education Secretary we have seen in a generation. For them it doesn't matter that Gove is trying to privatise our schools, force students to endure an outdated 1950s curriculum and see a backdoor return to the bad old days of Grammar Schools and Secondary Moderns (which failed far more students than they benefited).

No - all that matters to them is that they can have what they see as their own little progressive school - and let the rest of the population go hang.

Don't Steiner's supporters see that they are being used as a progressive fig leaf for Gove's reactionary plans? They are indeed Mr Gove's "useful idiots".”

“Steiner education is governed by rules that Steiner laid down based on his theory of the occult and reincarnation. There is no rational basis for these rules, which cover at what age children are allowed to read and use computers; what musical instruments and scales they can experience, and at what age; what pictures they have to copy in their art classes; the compulsory occult dance known as eurythmy; the classification of children based on medieval medicine etc.

Parents who choose a Steiner education should understand that the anthroposophy movement which controls the schools believes that Steiner's ideas are a higher form of knowledge that can only be discussed by occult initiates. So when Alan Swindell says that Steiner teaches children to "question everything", he should perhaps explain why the first thing they can't question is Steiner education based on occult nonsense.”

“Mr. Hannan is right in at least one respect: (Free Schools Free Ride letter, March 1st). Parents are indeed delighted that the government is willing to pay for Steiner education. Why wouldn't they be? Parents in nearly all European countries and the rest of the English-speaking world get Steiner education for free, provided by their state, just as Andy Hannan gets his choice paid for. Why should Exeter parents who want Steiner education be treated as second class because they are not living in Germany, Holland, Scandinavia or the USA or because they make different choices to those of Mr. Hannan? Why should choice be extended only to those who can afford to pay for private education? For many years local authorities have enjoyed a monopoly in their right to set up new state schools. They now appear to have lost this monopoly as successive governments look for the diversity of provision that may yet give our children what they deserve.
Exeter is fortunate to be acquiring a Steiner Academy. It confirms the city's position as a place of innovation and forward thinking. It will not be based on an `occult` or hidden philosophy: check `anthroposophy` on Amazon and place your order. The only `belief system` that has a place in a school worthy of the name is the belief that children must be educated to make their own choices and find their own way in life, learning to question everything.
We must all make our own minds up about the government's wider educational policies, but next time we read about what can be learned from the excellent school systems of countries such as Finland (with its many Steiner schools), we might wonder what that success is based on. The answer, in a word, is choice.
Alan Swindell
Principal Designate
Steiner Academy Exeter”