more and more emphasis is being placed on getting kids off to a good start.So how do you get kids off to a good start and which school should you choose. Should you choose private or public, religious or secular, Steiner or Montessori?
As a general rule schools are what you make of them. And, as another general rule, young children are better off at their neighbourhood school where they can build up an in-school and out-of-school network of friends. Travelling lots of kilometres to and from school daily and then having no one familiar near by to play with unless a parent performs a complex shuttle service can be a bit stressful for everyone concerned. But there are many other factors that go into this decision.
Choosing a Primary School Checklist. Look for some of these features, but don't expect all of them! If you score on more than half then you've found a good school:
-Preschool children are invited to at least one orientation day before starting
-A school introductory brochure is available for new parents
-The school is close to home and/or is easily accessible
-Your child's friends from preschool and/or neighbourhood are also starting school there
-Other kids in the family have done well and enjoyed the school
-Students look reasonably happy going into the school (and better, if they look reasonably happy coming out!)
-School entrances are busy, chatty places
-Most kids wear the school uniform where uniforms are a school rule
-The school has an active clothing pool
-The school has taken steps to help the kids avoid skin cancer such as prescribing wide brimmed hats in summer or has plenty of shade areas
-The children at play look busy and happy, and the teachers on playground duty seem interested and involved with them
-Teachers' cars are in the car-park well before the start of schoolSchool secretaries are warm, friendly and helpful people
-The school has a clear welfare or pastoral care policy
-There are regular parent-teacher nights
-Parents are involved in school affairs
- The school rules are simple, clearly stated, positive and well enforced
-You've heard good things about the school
-The principal and teachers seem keen to meet parents and involve them in school activities
-There is opportunity for the children eventually to join special after school or lunchtime groups or activities such as music groups, sporting teams, debating teams and environmental clubs
-The school has a reputation for excelling in some particular area
-Reports of the school’s success appear in the local media
-The school grounds are well presented and clean
-Playground equipment looks plentiful and in good shape
-The library is well stocked, open and inviting
-There are lots of resources like computers and musical instruments
-The school canteen is clean, sells mostly healthy food and the helpers are friendly
-There are special provisions for children with physical or learning difficulties
-The buildings are in good repair even if not modern
-Classrooms are generally attractive and busy with activity and colour
-Positive comments are heard coming from the classroom
- The teachers' morale appears good
-Kids and teachers greet each other both in and out of school
-The staff look after their appearance
-The school notice board hints of good morale - it's always worth reading and appears to be very encouraging of staff, students and parents.
Choosing a good school is a sensitive issue requiring consideration of so many factors. For many families there may be no choice, but every family can choose to make the most of the school the kids attend and to give that school every bit of support so it does the best job for our future. For every teacher turned off teaching, there are at least 30 kids turned off learning.
Montessori Vs Steiner schools
Although the philosophy behind the two schools is somewhat different there are some similarities. Both rely on community and parental support, both generally have dedicated, devoted and passionate education programs, both were developed at about the same era (early 1900's) and both are claiming research that their graduates are outperforming students in mainstream schools. Children attending such schools have the advantage of more individual attention and a good educational environment but face more educational uncertainty as the prosperity of the school depends on the on-going commitment of a stable body of parents, teachers and financial resources - this can be a problem and the education of the child can be a little less secure.
Steiner schools
So called Steiner schools are correctly called Waldorf or Steiner-Waldorf schools based on the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner. The emphasis is on the whole child as a spiritual being (but not attached to particular religions), on cooperation rather than competition, on individual readiness and on experience, artistic and imaginative learning with lots of oral reading but formal reading only beginning at about age 7 (however research shows that these children do catch up and may even overtake "normal" reading programs).
The curriculum has lots of drama, music, artistic movement and craft with attention to the rhythm of life, a broad based balanced curriculum and the four seasons. The teacher tends to stay with the group as they advance (rather than different teachers each year) through the 7-14 age group. In the 14+ high school age group education is seen as focusing on intellectual understanding, ethical thinking including taking social responsibility.
Advocates of Steiner education point to the ease with which children can slip back into mainstream education and the research showing superior university performance of graduates. Detractors express concern about individual teachers imposing excess "spirituality" on children, on the rejection of TV in children's lives, on the reliance on teacher continuity etc. However it is interesting that the method has enthusiastic support from UNESCO, researchers on outcomes in USA, UK and Australia and from Child Development experts.
Maybe, as UK researchers conclude, it would be a shot in the arm for mainstream education if they paid more attention to the philosophy and techniques of Steiner education. Parents interested in pursuing this option should contact a Steiner school and maybe look up the Steiner school website, eg the wikipedia review:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_education
Montessori schools
Maria Montessori developed her theories and schooling at much the same time as Rudolph Steiner and was also developmentally sensitive but I see her emphasis more on the cognitive development of children (rather than the child as a spiritual holistic being as did Steiner) and on self directed learning with the teacher acting more as observer and facilitator.
The Montessori Method stresses the importance of adapting the child's learning environment to his developmental level, and of the role of physical activity in absorbing academic concepts and practical skills. The learning environment had to allow maximum independent learning and discovery so didactic materials that are self correcting are used as much as possible.
Montessori teachers also stock their classrooms with nature shelves, living plants and small pets, or perhaps a window sill garden, allowing children to experience as much of the natural world as possible given modern constraints. Although experiential learning is fundamental, a child does not engage in an activity until the teacher or another student has demonstrated its proper use.
Critics claim the method stifles creativity and does not enhance social interaction. But recent research by Stoll Lillard in 2005 indicates that students in later years of schooling do better in all subject areas than non-Montessori students. A 2006 study published in the 'Science" journal concluded "when strictly implemented, Montessori education fosters social and academic skills that are equal or superior to those fostered by a pool of other types of schools."
Again parents interested in further information are advised to contact a local Montessori school or check their website - in particular the wikipedia reference that follows:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montessori
For all the pros and cons, after many years as a researcher and teacher, I think that the biggest variable in effectiveness is the teacher, their warmth and interest and the relationship that they have with the child and family they serve. For every teacher turned on to education there are 30 children turned on to learning.
Dr John Irvine
* This information was sourced from '9am with David and Kim'.
