Date,q01,q02,q03,q04-home,q04-no,q04-private,q04-public,q05,q06,q07,q08,q09,q10,q11,q12,q13,q14,q15,q16,q17,q18,q19,q20,q21,q22,q23,q24,q25,q26,q27,q28,q29,q30,q31,q32,q33,q34,q35,q36,q37-american,q37-european,q37-minorities,q37-nonwestern,q37-women,q38,q39,q40,q41-earthy,q41-easyg,q41-impressive,q41-nonacad,q41-professional,q41-progressive,q41-respectable,q41-rigorous,q41-text,q41-traditional,q41-up,q41-vague,q42,q43,q44,q45,q46,q47,q48,q49,q50,q51,q52,q53,q54,q55,q56,q57,q58-comments, 05/07/03 12:30,2,2,1,,1,,,3,1,2,2,3,2,Fear of Weirdness,1,2,4,5,2,3,2,3,1,4,2,2,2,2,2,3,1,3,1,3,2,3,3,1,1,,,1,1,1,1,3,3,1,,,1,,,,,cultish,,,1,3,1,2,3,1,2,1,1,2,3,2,3,3,3,3,4,brilliant survey!, 05/12/03 21:02,3,2,7,,1,,,3,1,1,1,2,1,,2,2,4,4,2,3,4,3,2,4,2,2,1,1,2,3,1,3,3,2,2,3,2,2,1,,,1,1,,3,4,2,1,,1,,1,1,,,,,,,3,1,2,2,1,2,,1,1,3,1,2,3,1,1,4,For a student to attend this wonderful school the students and parents should be aware that it is a privilage to attend such a school with the thoughtful caring and dedicated Faculty. If parents and students see this school in another vision then they should seek other means of educating their children. It is vital to this school that demands be placed not only on the students but on the parents as well. This will be the best school to send their children if they see the importance of this type of commitment.,2, 05/12/03 21:17,2,2,10,,,,1,5,3,2,2,1,1,,1,4,2,4,2,3,2,3,3,4,3,1,1,2,2,3,1,3,1,2,3,2,2,2,3,1,,,,,3,2,3,,1,,1,,,,,,,,1,3,1,1,2,1,1,3,1,3,3,2,3,3,2,3,4,I would not want my children with any other teachers. They are great at teaching. But they are terrible at running the school otherwise. They are some of the weakest business people trying to run an almost 2 million dollar not for profit business. As a result many people have a bad experience here at our school.,, 05/13/03 11:47,2,2,3,,1,,,5,1,2,2,2,1,,1,1,4,4,1,2,4,2,2,4,3,2,1,2,3,1,1,3,1,3,3,3,2,1,9,,,1,1,1,2,2,3,1,,1,,,,,,,,1,1,2,1,1,2,1,1,,2,3,3,2,3,2,2,3,4,These certainly are complex and I would like more opportunity for parents to be able to discuss some of them as a group. I worry about the financial picture and how to keep the people who love the concept of the education but are not happy with the lack of good facilities clear adminsitration etc. It seems as if we need to be able to really deliver the things we advertise so that people can stay for the duration. There are lots of great things happening also! We really want this to work out for our children!,2, 05/13/03 12:24,3,2,6,,1,,,5,1,2,2,3,2,,4,4,5,4,2,2,4,3,3,5,2,2,2,2,2,,,3,1,,3,3,2,9,2,,,,,,3,2,1,1,,,,,,,,,,,,2,1,1,1,1,,,,2,,,,1,,2,5,,2, 05/13/03 14:00,1,1,5,,,,1,4,1,2,2,2,1,,5,4,5,5,4,2,3,2,3,5,1,3,2,2,2,2,2,2,4,2,3,3,2,2,2,,,1,1,,2,3,3,1,,,1,,1,1,,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,,2,4,4,2,4,2,4,1,5,,2, 05/13/03 15:05,1,1,1,,,,1,2,1,1,1,3,2,,5,5,4,3,3,3,5,3,3,5,1,2,3,3,3,3,2,3,4,3,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,2,3,,,,,,1,,,,,,1,4,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,4,1,1,1,4,3,5,,, 05/13/03 16:01,1,2,3,,,,1,3,1,1,1,3,1,special needs issues and money,2,3,5,5,5,2,3,3,1,4,2,2,2,2,3,3,1,2,1,2,2,3,3,2,2,,,,,,2,4,3,1,1,1,1,,1,1,1,I only list non academic because of the Waldorf Kindergarten vs. the public school Kindergarten. christian and cultish are words I have heard to describe the school. ,,1,,3,1,3,1,1,4,3,1,2,3,1,1,2,2,3,4,My strongest concerns deal with class size and lack of consequences for disciplinary issues. I think the school needs a Head of School desperately! If not that then a Dean of Students might be extremely helpful. I feel that the teachers are too loose with discipline and the children aren t as respectful as they need to be. Having 24 or 26 children in a class which is the case in the 3rd and 1st grade is not conducive to learning. I am concerned that the school will lose children due to large class sizes because it is more likely that some will fall through the cracks and it is more likely that less will be taught due to the behavioral issues of some children. I am also concerned about rememdial and reading issues. It is obvious that more than a full time remedial teacher is needed for our student body. I also worry about the children that can t read and spell well in 3rd grade and beyond! I think the fundamentals need to be taught and practiced more frequently. I love so much about the school and I appreciate this survey format to voice my concerns. Thank you! ,, 05/13/03 17:31,3,2,6,,1,,,4,1,2,1,3,1,severe social issues with one child in her class,4,2,4,4,2,2,3,3,2,4,2,2,3,3,3,3,,3,2,3,2,3,2,2,2,,,1,1,1,3,4,3,,,,,,1,1,,,,1,,3,1,1,1,1,2,3,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,2,5,,, 05/13/03 21:21,1,2,3,1,,1,,2,2,2,2,3,3,We are concerned with the emphasis on western culture which seems to be to the exclusion of other cultures or even of people of color s contributions to US history. ,4,2,4,5,2,4,2,2,1,4,1,2,1,1,3,2,1,2,1,3,3,3,3,1,1,,,1,1,1,1,3,3,1,1,,1,,,,,,,,1,3,1,3,1,1,2,,1,3,2,2,3,2,2,1,4,We have two children in the school so some of my responses to these questions vary depending on which child I am refering to. I think it is a difficult philosophy to understand and therefor many parental myths emerge we fill in the blanks with what we want to believe. I thinkk the school does not do a very good job at educating parents. Our family is stretched by the financial commitment to the school and then many of the lectures and workshops cost to attend. I think there should be some basic education of the parent body that is included in our tuition. I mentioned i have concerns about the western focus and I am also concerned about the traditional fairy tales and the gender roles. Is any effort made to include tales of strong women that may or not be beautiful? the large class size is a real concern. I undersand the Waldorf philosophy on this but I disagree and am unwilling to pay this tuition for my child to be one out of 28. I love the small size of the school overall. I think the children are allowed to be children and are treated respectfully by their teachers. I love the kindness and community that I see expressed in my children s classes. I love the emphasis on the arts and the varied work that the children create with their own hands. ,2, 05/14/03 20:26,2,2,10,,,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,1,,1,4,5,4,2,1,5,1,3,4,1,1,1,1,2,,1,2,1,1,3,2,3,1,2,,1,1,1,1,,,2,1,,,,,,,,I have been told that my children s school is full of hippies. ,,,1,3,4,4,2,2,2,3,4,2,3,3,1,2,4,2,2,,, 05/14/03 21:23,2,2,3,,1,,,3,1,2,1,3,1,Lack of remedial services,2,3,4,1,2,2,5,3,1,2,2,3,1,1,2,3,4,2,1,1,1,3,2,2,2,1,,,,,3,3,1,1,1,,1,,,,,,,,,2,1,3,1,3,3,3,2,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,4,,, 05/15/03 12:54,2,2,7,,,,1,5,1,2,3,2,1,,4,2,5,5,4,4,4,3,2,5,2,2,2,1,2,3,3,3,1,3,2,3,2,1,2,,,,,,2,3,3,1,,,,,,,,,,,1,2,1,2,2,1,2,1,1,1,4,1,1,1,2,3,5,,, 05/15/03 15:13,3,2,11,,,,1,4,1,1,1,2,1,,5,3,5,5,5,3,3,2,3,5,,,2,2,3,3,3,3,4,3,3,3,9,9,9,,1,1,1,1,,,3,1,1,1,,1,1,1,1,The community involved with the Waldorf School is a real bonus to the education that the students receive. I have met some wonderful people throughout the years. These are friendships that will last forever. This Community tries to make families cared for outside of the classroom. When meeting other familes in this school you find you have a lot more in common than in the public school. It is a stronger sense of values that make you realize you are in the right place at the right time. The teachers not only care for the students but they also care for the student s family because the student s family is in fact part of the student. The involvement in this school has helped me as a parent to grow in ways that I know I never would have. That in turn helps the child succeed.,1,1,,4,1,4,1,1,4,4,4,4,4,1,1,1,4,1,5,All of the above questions that were answered with Not Sure made me wonder if I wasn t getting information I should know about. I am assuming because I am not sure it is information I do not need to be concerned with. Also we may not volunteer so many hours per month but it could end up on a percentage basis as many hours per year. Some projects i.e. Junior Internships golf tournament may take many hours concentrated at one time.,, 05/15/03 20:13,1,1,9,,,1,1,5,1,2,2,2,1,I do not like the Foreign Languages offered,5,4,3,3,5,5,5,3,2,4,1,2,3,2,3,3,1,3,2,2,3,3,9,9,2,,,,,,,,2,1,1,1,,1,1,1,,,,,,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,,2,4,If the school did ever move I would hope that careful and adequste planning be put into the parking situation. Both buildings have difficult and almost non existant parking. My car has been hit twice while I was parked in the last year due to narrow streets and careless drivers.,, 05/16/03 07:24,1,1,1,,1,,,3,1,2,2,3,3,Frustrated with lack of leadership and crisis management. Not enough business people involved with financial decisions. Too many decisions seem to be impulse driven without consideration for long term effects. Concerned that the parent body will be expected to foot the bill for bad decisions or poor planning. Too much volunteerism expected. Class size is too large. ,1,3,4,4,3,1,3,4,1,4,3,1,2,2,3,3,,3,1,2,,2,3,9,9,,,,,,1,3,2,1,1,,1,,1,,,,,1,1,3,2,3,2,1,2,3,2,2,3,2,3,1,4,1,,While it feels like the school is trying to move in the right direction in the few years of our participation there is still an overwhelming sense that someone could make a decision that will jerk the wheel and crash us all into a tree. The teachers should be teaching and not expected to handle running the school as well. The school is large enough now and complex enough that it needs a QUALIFIED Administrative Head who has both business and educational experience. I know the school has managed to limp along or rather careen along for the last 2 decades. And it looks like it s hell bent on continuing in the same dysfunctional manner. There is a severe morale problem all round that needs to be addressed. If I just focus on my child s day with Abigail Reed I m pleased with the experience albeit as I mentioned the class is too big If I look anywhere else the condition of the buildings the expectations on the parents to keep coughing up more and more money and more and more time the unproductive bordering on destructive way the school is run it all gives me a whopping headache. I would really like to be able to keep my child at the school but I fear these other issues will plain wear me out and I won t want to deal with it anymore. I just want to be able to send my child to a school where I m not daily worried about its survival. If a teacher or board member were to read this they might make the mistake of thinking this is just a disgruntled parent who complains rather than pitches in. Nothing could be further from the truth. We ve jumped in with both feet in many ways trying to be constructive contributing members financially morally and creatively. ,, 05/16/03 19:27,3,2,8,,1,,,5,1,2,2,3,2,program limitations in the high school especially in regards to expra curricular offerings ,2,2,5,5,1,1,4,2,2,4,3,2,3,3,3,2,1,3,1,2,3,3,2,1,2,,,1,,1,3,3,2,1,,,1,,,,,,,1,1,2,2,1,1,1,2,,1,2,3,2,2,2,3,1,4,,2, 05/16/03 21:54,1,1,100,,1,,,4,1,2,2,1,1,,5,5,5,5,3,3,5,3,3,5,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,3,1,9,,,,,,2,3,2,,,,,,,,,no idea have not talked to non waldorf non UU parents about it. Very positive reputation in the Unitarian community. ,,,,4,1,4,2,4,4,1,1,4,4,4,1,2,4,1,5,Concerned that my child may be bored in 1st 2nd grades as he can already read some simple words and sentences and is not yet 6 years old. ,, 05/17/03 13:41,2,1,2,,1,,,3,1,1,1,2,1,,2,5,5,4,4,3,5,3,3,5,1,3,2,3,3,3,1,3,2,3,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,1,3,1,1,,,,,,,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,,2,2,3,2,1,1,4,3,5,,2, 05/19/03 16:01,1,1,1000,,1,,,5,1,2,2,2,2,,5,4,2,2,1,1,2,3,3,4,1,2,2,2,2,3,1,2,1,1,2,2,2,1,1,,,,1,,1,2,1,1,,,1,,,,,,,,,3,2,2,2,1,2,1,1,3,3,3,1,2,2,1,4,,, 05/19/03 20:56,2,1,3,,,,1,3,1,2,3,3,2,,2,5,5,4,2,2,5,5,3,4,1,2,2,2,3,2,1,2,1,2,3,3,2,2,2,,,1,,,1,3,3,1,,,1,,,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,2,,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,4,,2, 05/19/03 22:35,1,2,3,,,1,,5,1,2,2,1,1,Unhappy with the pace. Not sure whether the learning is advanced enough to be competitive with a public school education especially with respect to all reading writing spelling issues etc. Lack of homework makes it hard to track what learning is really going on in the class. Feel that the lack of student writing assignments outside of class could have a big impact on the ability to keep up with a competitive middle and high school environment where students in public school are used to doing these activities on a regular basis. Lack of sports and other extracurricular programs would be a concern especially as my children enter the middle and high school years.,2,1,4,2,1,1,3,2,1,2,1,2,1,1,1,3,1,1,1,2,3,3,2,9,1,,1,1,1,1,3,4,2,1,,,1,,,,,,,,1,2,1,3,3,1,2,3,2,2,2,,2,2,4,1,1,,, 05/20/03 08:42,2,2,1,,1,,,3,1,1,1,3,2,,4,3,5,3,2,3,3,3,3,5,2,2,2,3,3,2,,3,2,3,2,3,2,2,9,,,,,,3,4,2,1,,1,,,1,,,,1,,,1,4,3,1,1,4,1,4,4,2,1,4,1,4,1,5,,, 05/20/03 11:39,1,1,6,,,,1,1,3,1,1,1,1,Greman Classes are to strict,4,1,2,3,2,1,5,3,2,4,1,3,2,3,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,2,1,2,,1,1,1,1,1,3,1,,,,,,,1,1,I feel that the school is very dirty and there should be a day the students and teachers twice a month should clean both in and out and extend the year for the missed days at no extra charge,,,,3,1,3,2,2,2,3,4,,4,3,2,4,3,1,4,i think when people come and visit the school they notice alot of dirt on the wooden floors and the classrooms being un tidy and the out side image VERY DISGUSTING! I feel that we need to have the older students grades 5 8 and 9 12 clean the buildings and plant flowers and sweep the side walks and pick up loose trash around the building for I feel that because parents pay alot of money that the school should be somewhat clean even if this means the students clean for my child and a classmate are eager to clean for they feel it is disgusting. Other than that I feel that the german teacher can be but to strict.,, 05/20/03 19:55,2,1,2,,,1,1,5,1,2,2,1,1,,4,4,4,4,2,2,4,5,2,5,1,3,2,2,3,3,1,3,2,3,3,3,2,1,2,,,,1,1,1,2,2,,,,,,1,1,,,,,,1,2,1,1,2,2,1,1,1,2,1,2,2,2,3,5,We are concerned that there may not be sufficient support for newer techers with respect to those areas in which they my be less strong e.g. remediating students who are having problems with particular subject matters to avoid the need for outside tutoring.Also concerned about depth of math curriculum at upper grades.,, 05/21/03 05:32,3,2,5,,1,,,4,1,2,2,1,1,,4,4,5,4,5,4,5,2,3,5,1,2,3,3,3,1,1,3,3,1,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,4,3,1,1,,,,1,,,arts movement whole child,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,2,1,1,3,1,2,5,,, 05/21/03 09:45,1,2,3,,,,,5,1,2,2,2,1,We have a child coming into first grade and we will be assessing the match with her new teacher. If for any reason we feel that the new teacher is not appropriate we would consider moving our child out of the school.,4,3,4,3,4,3,5,4,3,5,1,2,1,2,3,3,3,3,1,3,1,3,3,1,1,1,,1,1,1,2,2,2,1,1,,1,,,,,not especially friendly to families with two working parents,,,1,1,4,4,2,1,2,3,2,4,2,2,3,2,3,3,5,We have a child in the Early Childhood Center and a child at York Avenue; many of the questions above would call for different answers depending on the program. We are very satisfied overall with the curriculum in both programs and we very much admire both of our children s teachers. However it is clear to us that not all of the school s teachers are equally solid and we would not remain in the school if our children ended up with someone who seemed less than excellent. In general we have been extremely happy with the Early Childhood program but have some concerns about the grade school program. Notably the after school program at York needs more serious consideration and the expectations regarding parent involvement sometimes border on unreasonable. Specifically the word is out that it is difficult to remain in this school if you are a family with two working parents mostly because of the enormous pressure to be constantly involved. We see this as a very large problem. We also feel that there is a subtle message sent that moms who work are somehow not quite as good as moms who don t. As parents of a daughter we are very concerned about this. Finally the school is suffering from lack of administrative leadership. Too often it seems that no one can provide a clear answer to our questions. The school is growing and can no longer be led responsibly in the way it is has been in the past that is with everyone being involved in every discussion. We stay with the school because we support the curriculum; however we see that surrounding problems regarding logistics playgroup for instance or the school s calendar ; administrative inconsistencies; and birdensome expectations for parents can and do drive potential families away. This is unfortunate as the benefits of a Waldorf education are numerous! The school would do well to pay a bit more attention to these tangential issues so that new families have the chance to see the beauties of the curriculum.,, 05/21/03 10:30,3,2,3,,1,,,5,1,1,3,2,1,We regularly evaluate whether or not our children s educational needs are best met by Waldorf education. We weigh the benefits and shortcomings of Waldorf against public school education annually. And we have to ask ourselves the question Is the expense of Waldorf justified or might we better enhance our children s experiences by using that money to make other opportunities available to them? So far we have decided that what a Waldorf education is offering the children is worth the expense. But because of issues such as boundaries and discipline within the school much larger class sizes insufficient feedback on how our children are progressing and the financial health or rather lack thereof of the school it is not an easy obvious choice. ,4,3,4,2,4,3,3,3,3,4,2,2,1,1,2,2,,3,4,2,3,3,2,9,9,,,,,,2,4,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,1,2,4,1,2,,4,4,3,4,2,2,4,3,4,,2, 05/21/03 13:05,3,1,100,,1,,,2,1,1,1,3,1,,4,4,4,2,2,1,3,2,1,4,1,2,2,4,2,3,1,3,2,3,3,3,9,9,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,2,1,,,1,,,,,Hands on.,,,1,3,1,2,3,1,3,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,4,Great vehicle for obtaining information that might otherwise not be given due to anonymity. Thank you for these efforts.,, 05/21/03 18:58,2,3,5,1,,,,5,1,2,2,1,1,,4,1,4,2,1,2,2,4,4,4,3,2,2,2,2,3,1,3,3,3,1,3,2,2,,,,1,1,,2,3,2,1,1,,1,,,,,I fear that the school has the image of being a last resort for special needs children who don t fit elsewhere.,,,,2,1,1,3,1,2,,1,2,3,2,2,1,1,1,5,I have several requests:1 that the teachers work as hard to challenge the average healthy students as they work to help the special needs students.2 that the teacher salaries be raised to a living wage regardless of spouse or outside help and3 that the teachers be freed from the bulk of their administrative responsabilities so that they will have time to do the research and studies related to their work.Waldorf teachers are supposed to have a meditative life but few actually find space for this in their daily lives.,2, 05/22/03 12:24,1,1,9,,,,1,3,2,2,2,2,1,,5,4,3,1,3,1,4,4,4,4,1,2,1,2,3,3,3,3,1,3,3,3,9,9,2,,,,,,,,2,1,,,1,,1,,,artsy creative,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,,2,1,3,2,2,2,1,2,1,,2, 05/22/03 13:57,3,1,2,,1,,,4,1,2,3,3,2,,5,4,5,5,4,2,4,2,2,5,2,2,3,3,3,3,1,3,2,3,2,3,3,1,9,,,1,,1,2,3,3,1,,1,1,,1,,,,,1,,2,1,1,3,1,2,1,1,2,2,1,2,1,2,3,5,issues to think about: being careful to avoid letting the school become a safe haven for special needs students; appropriate remedial resources and support; addressing disruptive behavioral issues i know people have perceived the school as a wild playground free for all both in and out of the classroom; making sure all children are challenged appropriately and creatively; do not let the more academically ready children wallow while the others wait to awake.,, 05/23/03 12:06,1,1,2,1,,1,,4,1,,1,3,1,,5,5,5,5,4,4,3,3,3,5,2,3,3,3,3,3,1,3,4,2,3,3,1,2,2,,,,,,3,1,2,1,1,,,,,,,,,,,4,1,4,1,1,4,1,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,1,5,,, 05/24/03 09:53,1,1,2,,,,1,4,1,2,2,2,2,,4,5,5,5,4,4,,4,3,4,1,2,2,2,2,3,1,2,1,2,3,3,2,2,2,1,1,1,,,1,3,3,1,,,1,,1,,,,,,1,4,1,2,2,1,1,,4,2,2,2,1,2,2,1,4,,2, 05/24/03 10:01,1,1,2,,,,1,4,1,2,2,2,1,,4,4,5,2,4,3,4,3,3,4,2,2,3,3,3,3,2,2,1,3,3,3,3,3,1,,,1,1,1,1,3,2,1,1,,,,1,,,,,,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,,2,2,3,3,2,1,2,2,2,,2, 05/24/03 21:31,2,2,6,,,,1,3,2,2,2,2,1,,4,4,4,4,3,2,3,3,3,4,1,3,2,2,3,3,2,3,2,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,2,3,2,,,,,,1,,,,,1,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,5,,, 05/25/03 09:45,1,1,5,,,,1,4,1,2,3,3,2,One of the reasons our family chose the Waldorf School was for the small and intimate class size. The class size has increased dramatially since last year and I understand there are additional children scheduled to enter next year. This is a grave concern because the number of children in the class is exceeding what we encountered in the public school system. The children entering have obvious learning difficulties and I do not feel the teacher is able to adequately address the childrens individual needs with the larger class size. What is the cap on the number of children in each class? Is there a cap? I as a parent do not know what the philosophy of the school is on this issue which is a real concern to me. I did not expect the class to exceed 20 students.,2,1,4,4,2,2,1,1,2,4,2,3,1,1,2,3,1,3,3,2,3,3,2,1,2,1,,,,,2,3,2,1,1,,,,,1,,,,,1,3,1,3,3,1,3,,2,3,2,1,4,1,3,2,4,Our child loves the Waldorf school but does express the yearning for more information and would like to move ahead in several subjects to prevent boredom and encourage intellectual development on an individual basis. I as a parent want to see teachers teaching strategies for organizing their work and assignments study skills etc. that will be essential for success in the upper grades.I as a parent expect my child to go on to college and expect he will be educated to the highest level to surpass all of the rigorous testing he will encounter to qualify for admission to a favorable college. I expect that a school will communicate with parents more frequently than one conference a year. One progress report is not enough especially when we do not receive it untill school is completed for that year. I expect more accurate information regarding my child s performance academically in each subject so as a parent we can establish a plan of action immediately to address any deficits. I don t feel the teacher understands the childs learning needs as an individual. I would like to see more teacher training in the areas of special education since the school is accepting more children with learning disabilities. The teacher needs to be knowledgeable in this area to successfully address the childrens learning style. One idea would be for our school to host continuing education conferences in the area. This would provide free training for our teachers while also being a fundraiser for our school. Of course this would entail an inital financial cost which would be made up by charging for participation from outside sources. It would also give our school great exposure in the community and abroad. I also want to address field trips and safety issues that arise from the driving situations. I am uncomfortable with the lack of regulations in determing what is safe for our children during road trips regarding vehicles. I have witnessed children under the age of 12 seated in the passenger seat which are unsafe due to the air bag and it is the most dangerous seat in the car if it were involved in an accident. I have also witnessed children sharing a seat belt which is very negligent. We as parents and teachers are responsible for the safety of our children. This disregard for safety is very unsettling. Please develop stringent rules for drivers on field trips and I feel the teacher needs to supply a formal account of who is driving and how the children will be driven to the destination for review prior to the trip as a safeguard. The plan needs to be finalized prior to the day of the trip rather than just randomly stuffing children into vehicles. Overall our experience has been a positive one. The schol offers many advantages and our child is happy here. The fact that this survey has been developed demonstrates a sincere effort to improve our school. ,2, 05/26/03 20:27,3,1,5,,1,,,3,1,1,1,3,3,wea non challenging academic curriculm,4,4,4,2,4,4,2,2,2,4,1,2,1,2,2,3,,2,2,3,1,3,9,9,2,,,,,,2,3,2,,1,,,,,1,,elitist; protects childhood; ,,,1,4,1,1,3,1,2,4,4,2,2,2,2,1,4,1,4,,, 05/26/03 21:56,3,2,5,,,,1,5,1,2,2,3,2,,4,2,5,5,2,3,4,4,5,5,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,4,3,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,1,3,1,3,,,1,,,1,1,,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,4,1,1,1,1,3,4,My only concern is the math curriculum. I am willing to meet with a committee to gain a better understanding of the k 12 math curriculum and perhaps make changes. I am a curriculum coordinator. ,, 05/27/03 10:42,1,1,100,,1,,,2,1,2,3,3,3,,4,3,4,2,3,3,3,3,4,5,1,2,2,3,2,2,1,3,1,3,3,3,3,9,1,1,,1,,1,2,3,3,1,1,,1,,1,,,,,,,4,1,2,2,2,4,3,2,,2,2,3,2,4,1,4,A 6.5 increase of tuition in this economy is too radical trying to weed out the riff raff? ,, 05/27/03 11:45,1,1,6,,,,1,3,1,2,3,2,1,,5,2,5,4,4,2,3,3,3,5,1,3,4,4,3,2,2,3,2,2,3,3,9,9,2,,,,1,,3,4,2,1,,,,,,,,,,1,,1,1,1,1,1,1,4,1,4,4,1,4,1,4,3,5,My family has only been involved with the school for a short time. I am mostly impressed by the quality of the teachers who are so tuned in to keeping the children intellectually and emotionally engaged in what happens in the school community. There is a beautiful balance between traditional hands on and emotional learning that maintains student receptivity to education. I agree that to have a good teacher for many consecutive years creates a level of trust understanding and commitment that childern need at younger ages to be their bests.,, 05/27/03 19:29,1,1,100,,1,,,1,2,2,3,3,2,,4,3,4,3,3,3,3,3,3,5,1,3,1,2,4,1,,3,1,2,2,2,2,9,9,,,,,,2,2,2,1,,,1,,1,,,expensive,,,1,1,2,1,4,1,4,1,4,2,4,1,4,1,4,2,3,,, 05/27/03 22:01,2,2,1,,1,,,5,1,2,2,1,1,,1,3,5,4,2,3,3,2,3,5,3,2,2,2,3,3,1,3,2,3,3,3,3,1,2,1,,1,1,1,3,2,2,1,1,,1,,,,,sloppy undisciplined,,,1,2,1,3,2,1,2,,2,2,3,2,2,2,2,1,5,There should be a facilities fund set up to finance the seriously needed renovation of the York Avenue building. There should be an administrative fundraising position the job should not be left to the vagaries of a mainly volunteer process. Th pick up and drop off times at York Avenue are disorganized and dangerous the bus kids should get out and load 15 minutes earlier than everyone else. An organized parking policy thoughtfully developed by the administration and delivered by post to every family would be more effective in increasing our children s safety than occasional whiney commentary in the Journal by the well intentioned office staff.,2, 05/27/03 22:18,1,1,9,,,1,1,5,2,2,2,2,2,Mr. Whittle,2,1,2,2,3,1,4,4,2,4,1,1,1,2,2,3,3,,2,3,3,3,3,1,1,,,,1,1,4,4,2,1,1,,1,,,,,,,,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,2,3,1,2,4,,, 05/28/03 17:23,1,1,1000,,1,,,3,1,2,1,2,1,,5,3,4,4,2,3,3,3,3,5,1,2,2,2,3,3,4,3,4,3,3,3,9,9,9,1,1,1,1,1,3,1,1,1,1,,,,1,,,,,,1,4,1,1,1,1,1,1,4,4,4,1,1,1,1,1,5,,, 05/28/03 19:29,2,2,6,1,,1,,4,1,2,2,2,1,frustration with general environment,2,1,4,3,3,1,2,2,1,4,2,2,1,1,2,3,1,3,3,3,2,3,1,1,2,,,,,1,3,3,3,1,1,,,,,,,,,,1,3,2,1,2,4,1,1,1,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,4,,, 05/29/03 09:35,3,2,3,,1,,,4,1,2,2,3,3,Our main financial burden is not tuition; there are other business issues affecting our ability to afford ANYTHING extra.,4,4,5,5,4,4,5,3,3,5,1,1,3,3,3,1,1,3,3,2,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,,2,3,2,1,,,,,,1,,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,1,1,2,1,3,5,,, 05/29/03 12:49,1,1,5,,,,1,4,1,2,3,3,1,,5,3,5,3,5,5,5,3,5,5,1,3,1,1,3,3,3,3,4,4,1,3,9,2,2,,,,,,3,4,3,,,,,,,1,,expensive or too expensive to consider,,,1,4,1,3,4,1,1,1,4,4,4,,2,2,4,1,5,,, 05/29/03 19:58,2,1,8,,,,1,5,1,2,2,3,2,,4,2,4,2,4,4,3,3,2,4,2,1,2,2,3,3,1,3,1,2,1,3,9,2,2,,,,,1,2,3,2,1,,,1,,,,,,,,1,3,2,1,2,1,1,3,1,4,4,1,2,2,4,2,4,,, 05/31/03 15:47,2,2,2,,1,,,5,1,2,2,1,1,Poor financial management of the school and lack of leadership.,1,3,4,4,1,1,4,2,3,4,3,2,2,2,3,3,,3,4,2,3,3,9,9,9,,,,,,3,3,3,1,,,1,,,,,,,,1,3,1,1,2,1,4,,4,3,3,2,3,2,3,1,4,Presently my biggest concerns with the school are the poor fudiciary decisions and the serious lack of leadership. Had I taken this survey 6 mos ago I may have been more positive. My current feeling is that I do not want to spend my time volunteering to raise money for the school only to have that money spent by misguided faculty. If I leave it will be for these reasons. Furthermore I am hesitant to bring my friends into the school at the present time given its current lack of direction and leadership. On a brighter note I feel that my children are getting a good education while simultaneously being loved and cared for which is why I didn t pull out this year. They will not get either in a public school.,2, 05/31/03 15:55,2,2,4,,,1,,4,1,2,2,2,1,,3,2,5,4,4,2,2,2,1,4,1,2,1,1,2,3,1,3,3,2,2,3,1,2,2,,,,,1,2,3,2,1,1,,,,,,,,,,,3,2,1,2,1,2,,1,2,3,2,3,3,3,3,4,I think that theneed for aftercare and the schedule of working parents is not understood valued appreciated by the faculty school. This seems to be demonstrated by the scheduling of open house teacher conference hours the different start and stop times of the of each school building at the beginning and the end of the school year the space allotted to aftercare. Little and big messages seem to come across from the faculty that parents aren t doing a good job parenting if they need the school to be aware of the reality of work schedules. Isn t waldorf education supposed to have the the best solutions to childcare whenever it is needed?,2, 06/02/03 10:15,3,2,5,,1,,,2,1,2,2,2,1,not challenging or rigorous enough academics not enough attention being paid to my children who are the very capable ones in their classes,2,2,5,3,4,4,3,2,3,5,2,2,3,3,2,3,4,3,1,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,2,2,1,1,,1,,,,,,,,1,2,1,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,2,1,2,2,4,,, 06/02/03 19:05,3,1,11,1,1,1,,2,1,1,1,3,1,,2,4,4,4,2,5,4,4,2,5,3,3,3,3,3,1,1,3,3,2,4,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,2,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,2,1,1,1,1,,4,1,2,4,3,2,2,1,5,,2, 06/03/03 12:46,2,2,9,,,1,,2,3,1,2,1,1,,2,3,3,3,2,2,1,1,1,5,2,2,2,2,3,4,4,3,4,3,4,2,2,1,2,,,1,,,2,3,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,2,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,3,5,,, 06/03/03 19:37,2,2,1,,1,,,4,1,2,3,3,3,need to relocate out of the area,4,4,5,4,2,4,5,4,3,5,1,2,3,3,2,3,1,3,1,3,2,3,2,2,2,1,,1,,,3,3,2,1,,1,,,,,,artsy,,,,2,1,2,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,3,5,,, 06/03/03 21:08,3,2,6,,1,,,4,1,2,3,3,1,,4,1,4,2,1,4,3,3,2,5,3,2,2,2,3,1,1,3,2,3,2,3,2,1,1,,,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,1,,1,,1,,,,,1,1,2,2,1,2,1,2,1,2,3,2,2,2,1,2,3,5,Generally the school is doing well with a tough mission providing a good education to an involved community at a reasonable price. Keep the process open minded and affordable to families from a variety of social backgrounds. While I admire and share much of the Anthrosophical philosophy and many of the associated beliefs we need the school to acknowledge other compatible philosophies and personalities to really grow and keep the movement relative while not losing its core focus. Also faculty should retain their special mission and status in the school but should work to avoid isolation from the general parent body and to avoid becoming clique ish. This seems to be less of a problem than it used to be for most of our faculty who are doing a wonderful job in working so hard for our children and community. There have been a few in the past that had to be reminded that there are many very educated parents who also work very hard for the children and the community. There are certainly many factors to balance in this small village that is our Waldorf School!,, 06/04/03 11:00,3,2,9,1,,,1,5,1,2,2,1,1,,1,2,4,4,4,1,1,1,1,4,2,1,2,2,2,3,2,3,1,2,3,2,3,1,1,,,1,1,,1,3,2,1,,,1,,1,,,,,,1,1,1,2,1,1,2,4,2,2,3,2,3,2,2,1,4,,, 06/04/03 11:52,3,4,4,,1,,,5,1,2,2,2,1,,4,2,5,5,1,1,4,3,1,4,1,2,2,2,3,3,1,2,1,1,2,3,3,2,2,,,,,,3,2,2,1,1,,1,,,,,Off the wall impression from bus driver and fellow soccer parents,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,4,2,2,3,1,4,1,5,,, 06/04/03 12:47,2,1,2,,,,1,2,1,2,,3,3,Poor school hygiene in the buildings specifically Your Ave. no school Dean or principal not enough diversity seems there is a small sample of families making decisions about the school that effect all of us. Raising tuition to balance the budget is a mistake. Faculty should pay partial tuition. There are quite a few faculty children currently enrolled and it should not be the burden of the non faculty staff parents to pay for faculty children s education. I am concerned about the Early Childhood teachers vulnerability to their student s actually injuries and possible future injuries. They are way too lax about safey of the children. Finally I was not confident my child s learning was at the level it should have been and I m not even really sure what level his learning was. Our parent teacher confrences last year were very vague. I love certain aspcects of anthroposophy however; some anthroposophical philosophy is way too antiquated.,1,2,5,4,1,4,3,2,3,2,1,,1,1,,3,2,3,2,1,2,3,3,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,1,,1,,,,,snobbish artsy unstructured,,,,3,1,3,2,1,2,,1,2,3,3,2,1,2,1,2,,2, 06/04/03 21:51,1,1,10,,,,,3,1,2,2,2,1,,4,2,3,4,2,2,4,3,2,5,2,3,2,3,3,1,1,3,2,2,1,2,3,1,2,,,,,,,,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,1,2,1,2,1,1,,1,2,2,4,2,2,4,1,5,The curriculum is wonderful. Management is sometimes not. Too slow takes too long for decisions to be made and communicated. The faculty may feel they need lots of time to properly discuss an issue but children don t quit growing and learning while the faculty is studying the issue whatever it is. Retention seems to be a bit of a problem in some classes.,2, 06/04/03 22:19,3,2,3,,1,,,5,1,2,2,3,2,,4,3,2,4,3,4,4,3,3,4,2,2,1,2,3,2,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,1,2,,,1,1,,3,4,2,,,,,,,,,I talked with a person who attended the fund raising breakfast in the fall and he said that he was sold on public school and if it was broken it should be fixed but I guess some people like private schools for some reason or another. He sat through the hole presentation and he could not differentiate WSSS from Saratoga Independent or Saratoga Catholic. I think the school message out in saratoga is either vague and undifferentiated or out there hippy school. It seems to me that the reason we cannot be differentiated is that deep down inside we dont want to be. We want all the children to go the the same colleges as the PS and want to simply say WSSS children do it better. It seems that most of the image committee cannot articulate what is unique and differnet about the school. They like to skip around the central fact that the school is based on a belief in the soul of the human being as primary. For fear the main stream will think us wierd. But you run the bigger risk that those who are actually coming to the school to get the Waldorf thing find it isnt really there either leaving use neither here better Public school alternative or there truely waldorf school . I believe this lacks integrity. By the time the children and parents get to the forth grade they figure out that a bait and switch program has happened and then they get really mad and storm out of the building and say really mean things about the school. It pretents to be this and that. I think we should activly educate the parents about the ciriculum about the stages of child development about the soul and yes about spirituality. I would rather be an under attended but ACTUAL Waldorf school than a fully attended attractive Private school . The measure of our sucess should not be how many kids go into harvard but how many kids find they are at home in the world and know there true calling and feel their soul and know it is in tact. Dont be worried about the parents that leave the school because it was too far out for them but be very worried about people leaving the school because it didnt seem to really BE a Waldorf school despite the name change . We have a great staff and a great school lets just keep putting some truth into the Waldorf and the right families will be drawn. Stop trying to attact the main stream. These folks are not likely to get converted anyway but they will contiue to water down the rest of the school with comments like the Renewal is offensive . Good grief that is pathetic. The only thing that comes home each month reminding us of the fact that it is a Waldorf program and some parents are offended! These folks should have been offended right at the get go not later after they enroll some one was not informing them what they were getting into because they wanted to soften the whole idea to boost enrollment. In short tighten up the image and act like a waldorf school instead of an ellite private school. Focus on the child and what he is doing now not on his future. Hey thanks for asking.,,1,1,4,4,2,3,1,1,4,3,3,3,2,2,4,4,3,4,I would very much like to have a much better road map of my children s ciriculum and a time table at the start of each year with goals layed out. For example I get letters home saying we are now in the XYZ block . I would like to have these blocks layed out in advance and down on paper at the beging of the year so I can follow along and support my childs development ask the right questions and enjoy the journey. As it is now my desire to follow along does not seem to be too important to the school. The plan is too loose without clearly defined goals by the end of the second year most kids will be able to read and do simple math understand poetry or what ever . It is not that I dont trust my class teacher it is just that I cannot support them at home in this reactive mode and it also sends a message that perhaps my involvment is not welcomed. It must also be said that I am not looking to critize or become overly suggestive I just would like to be able to see where we are going.,, 06/04/03 22:58,1,2,1,,1,,,3,1,1,1,3,1,,2,1,4,5,1,3,3,3,1,4,2,2,2,2,2,,,3,3,3,3,3,1,2,2,,,,,,1,3,2,,,,,,,,,,,,,3,1,2,4,4,4,1,4,4,2,4,1,1,1,1,5,,, 06/05/03 10:11,1,1,100,,1,,,3,1,2,2,2,2,Uncomfortable with having same teacher 1 8. 1 5 then 6 8 we would be more comfortable. We like the high school curriculum would like to return possibly in grade 6 or grade 9 and complete highschool if finances allow.,5,3,4,5,3,3,5,3,3,5,1,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,,,,,,1,3,2,1,1,1,,,1,1,,,,,,1,1,2,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,1,2,2,1,2,4,,, 06/05/03 14:56,3,1,7,,1,,,2,3,2,2,1,1,,2,4,4,2,2,2,5,4,2,4,2,2,2,4,2,1,1,3,2,3,3,3,3,1,1,,,1,1,1,1,3,3,1,,,,,,,,,,,,2,2,2,2,1,2,,4,3,3,2,2,2,2,1,4,,2, 06/05/03 15:17,3,2,5,,1,,,4,1,2,2,2,1,I am unlikely to send my children to the high school both because of cost and because graduates of this school seem to lack direction and to have trouble in college,4,4,4,3,2,3,4,2,2,5,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,3,1,3,2,3,2,1,2,,,1,1,,3,1,2,1,,,,,,,,,,,,2,1,1,2,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,4,3,1,3,5,All leaders faculty board etc. need to put more thought and effort into communicating with parents. For instance many parents don t know anything about music program until the need for lessons is sprung on them. Festivals and events such as lantern walk mayday even assemblies are not announced till the last minute and new parents don t know what they are or why they should attend.,, 06/05/03 15:30,1,1,100,,1,,,4,1,2,1,3,2,,2,3,3,3,2,1,3,3,3,4,1,3,2,2,4,3,4,3,3,3,3,3,9,9,9,1,,,,,1,3,1,1,,,,,,1,,,,,,4,1,3,1,1,4,1,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,1,3,I would like to see an expanded athletic department. I would like to see class sizes much smaller I would like to see a one campus school. I would like to know how the wood on your playground areas is treated? Are the chemicals safe for children? I would like to see tuition made more affordable. Thank You.,, 06/05/03 15:56,2,1,9,,,1,1,2,1,1,1,3,3,,2,4,3,4,2,2,3,2,3,4,2,2,1,1,3,2,1,3,2,2,3,3,2,2,2,,,1,,,3,1,3,1,,,1,,,,,hippy school,,,1,3,1,2,2,1,2,,2,2,3,2,4,2,,1,4,The school has evolved in unusual ways. There has been an emphasis on teaching training but without concern for individual gifts. The lower school has a serious problem with discipline and the school community overall is not respectful talking during performances letting kids run wild etc. The high school could do a much better job at letting parents know about what kind of guests are scheduled for forum. In addition instead of letting numerous blocks go by without report it would be great to receive these in a more timely manner. ,2, 06/05/03 19:15,2,2,2,,1,,,4,1,1,1,3,1,Finacial stress. We had to refinance our home to keep up with payments.,4,4,5,5,2,2,4,3,1,4,1,2,2,2,3,3,1,3,3,2,2,3,2,2,2,,,,,,2,4,3,1,1,,1,,,,,Artistic image. Public school district looks down upon Waldrof Ed. as being non academic and unstructured. They complain about students when they transfer to a public ed. setting stating that they are behind academically have difficulties with reading writing and rebel against homework. ,,,1,2,1,2,3,1,2,,1,2,4,2,1,1,1,1,4,Reading writing language arts concerns need to be addressed in the lower grades. Many students are non readers and are entering 3rd grade. Several parents are having students tutored and share these concerns. There are also no remedial programs or assessments to screen for learning difficulties. ,2, 06/06/03 08:02,3,1,4,,1,,,1,1,1,1,3,2,,5,5,5,5,4,4,4,3,3,5,1,3,2,2,3,2,4,3,2,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,2,2,3,1,,,1,,,1,,,,,1,2,1,1,4,1,2,,1,2,2,4,4,2,1,1,5,,2, 06/06/03 08:02,2,1,100,,,1,1,,,,,,,We left the school had nothing to do with financial reasons although we were upset when we learned that the school had no public financial guidlines to determine eligiblity so we did not even know if we should apply. ,3,4,3,3,5,3,1,3,1,2,2,,3,3,3,,1,1,1,,,,9,9,,,,,,,1,4,,,,,,,,,,I think people not involved with the school think its easy going alternate school. There is a growing community of people who have left the school and people who know them that talk about the school as having religious overtones not explained to the parents when they come in. This group feels the school has been less than forthright and this reputation is growing. ,,,,1,4,4,1,1,3,4,4,3,4,4,3,2,4,3,2,Some of the questions didn t give me the options I wanted so here s my opinion! After we left the school I really felt that I had a chance to sit back and get some perspective on what the school did that was wonderful for my child and what were the real problems. I ll start with the problems so I can end on a good note! There were three main areas I saw as seriously problematic and from the content of the survey you are probably aware of them . They were the following: 1. no administrator to discuss issues with or be responsible to anwer questions. I had a question that was of great concern to me that was not a classroom question but overall curriculum question about modification of my child s program and never got an answer no one seemed to have the authority to answer it. 2. Religious underpinings of school. I don t believe religion is taught in curriculum but the religious philosopy underlies everything that is done and pervades the educational choices and system. I think parents should be told about this before they enroll their children. There is a good article on the web called Who is Rudolph Steiner? It depends who s asking. The parents you are dealing with are mostly bright educated people who will discover the religious nature of the philosophy and feel ill used that they weren t given the information upfront. 3.Lack of individualism of curriculum. The school says the curriculum is developmental in today s language that implies developmental for the child i.e. teaches to where the particular child is not where a hypothetical 7 year old is etc. I want to say however that there were many many positive things my child got out of being at the school comfort with public speaking an opportunity to be in a small close knit group to do school plays and to be in an orchestra. There were many things I loved about our Waldorf experience but there were issues of concern to me. ,, 06/06/03 08:11,1,2,3,,,,1,5,1,2,2,1,1,,2,2,2,3,4,3,3,2,2,4,3,2,2,2,3,3,1,3,1,2,1,3,3,1,1,,,1,1,,2,3,3,,1,,1,,1,,,artsy granola ish loose,,1,1,1,1,2,4,1,1,3,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,4,,, 06/07/03 10:21,1,1,100,,1,,,3,1,2,2,1,1,,5,3,5,5,3,3,5,3,3,4,1,2,2,2,2,3,,3,3,3,2,2,3,2,9,,,,,,3,2,2,,,,,,,,,,,,1,2,1,4,4,1,4,1,2,4,4,4,4,2,4,3,4,My child attends the Vischer s Ferry Preschool and I wonder if some children are accepted based on financial ability rather than belief in the philosophy. My child seemed to be exposed to more violent influences than we would have wanted at such a young vulnerable age ie talk of guns weapons killing. Also most prospective families that I have met who are looking into preschools in the Clifton Park area do not know that Waldorf exists in Clifton Park. Most are also unfamiliar with the philosopy.,, 06/07/03 19:19,3,1,5,,1,,,3,1,2,2,2,2,,4,2,5,4,2,1,4,4,1,4,2,2,1,1,1,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,2,3,1,,,1,,,,,granola hippy school children are not behaved in public,,,1,3,1,3,3,1,2,1,4,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,4,,, 06/07/03 19:50,2,3,12,,,1,1,2,3,1,1,3,1,,1,3,2,2,2,5,2,3,4,4,3,1,2,4,3,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,1,,3,3,3,,,1,1,,1,,,,,,,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,3,3,2,2,3,1,1,5,survey by parents for parents? It seems like an administrative survey to me. We are very satisfied with the curriculum and our children s teachers and very happy with the HS experience. We are perplexed by the visible uncooperation and lack of initiative and enthusiasm of some of the administrative staff. Communication is a serious problem not so much on the individual level than on the collective level: no communication whatsoever from the College the weekly journal is void of Anthroposophical inspiration. The whole experience of community is really mainstream and initiatives on that level are often qualified as unsolicited advice . It would be good I believe to have a look at how other waldorf schools stand their ground.,, 06/08/03 10:44,3,1,12,,1,,,4,1,2,2,2,1,,5,4,5,5,2,2,3,2,2,5,2,2,2,2,3,3,1,3,3,3,2,3,2,1,1,,,1,1,,,,3,1,,,,,1,1,,,,1,,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,5,Great job. Lots of room for improvement. I feel strongly that we must make a strong effort to be connected to the larger community local and global and that we must be a truly non denominationla or rather all denominational school with stories and celebrations from all cultures and religions. This may also mean going out to lower income minority students in the area and recruiting and guaranteeing 1 12 scholarship. I still think there needs to be a strong face that is on the poster of the buck stops here so people know that someone is in charge and they can go there with complaints instead of gossiping and panicking. Not EVERY decision needs to go to the whole faculty. Very impressive year. Keep up the great work.,, 06/09/03 06:04,3,2,8,,1,,,5,1,2,2,2,1,lack of variety of activities. Lack of faculty involvement in afterschool activities.,2,2,4,4,1,1,3,1,3,2,3,2,2,2,2,1,,1,1,3,3,3,2,2,2,1,,,,,3,3,2,1,1,,,,,,,,,,1,2,1,1,3,1,3,1,1,3,2,3,2,1,1,1,2,I feel there is a lack of faculty involvement in the students except for directly in the classroom. The faculty do not participate or take the lead in afterschool activity opportunities. It is also frustrating that there is no central person that you can communicate your concerns to. It is difficult to address the board faculty administration. ,, 06/11/03 19:09,1,1,9,,,,1,5,1,1,1,3,3,Too stressful on my child I ve noticed the work produces alot of unnessecary anxiety on my child. Sometimes the workload is ridiculous my child barely has time for anything else.,3,2,2,4,3,1,2,2,3,4,1,2,1,1,2,2,1,2,2,2,3,3,2,1,2,,1,1,1,1,,,3,1,1,,,,1,1,,,,,1,1,1,2,1,2,1,3,1,1,2,1,2,2,1,2,3,,, 06/11/03 20:14,1,1,11,,,,1,3,1,2,2,2,1,,5,5,3,3,5,4,5,3,3,5,1,2,3,3,3,3,1,2,2,2,3,3,9,9,2,,,,,1,,,1,1,,1,,,1,,1,values individuality,,,,2,1,1,1,1,1,4,4,4,3,1,1,2,4,2,5,One of the things I value the most is the faculty s respect for and sincere interest in the students as individuals. I think this results in very positive behavior toward adults in general an interest in adult opinions and experience and strong social skills. This is wonderful!!! The only problem I am aware of is a weakness in the high school gym program. It might be a good idea to offer alternative activities when kids don t like a particular sport.,, 06/11/03 22:22,3,2,3,,1,,,4,1,2,2,2,1,,4,4,4,4,2,2,4,3,3,5,3,2,2,2,2,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,1,2,,,,,,3,4,2,1,1,1,,,1,,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,,4,1,4,1,2,1,4,1,5,,2, 06/12/03 08:56,2,2,2,,1,,,2,3,2,2,1,1,,2,3,4,4,2,1,3,3,3,4,2,2,2,2,2,3,4,3,3,2,3,3,2,9,2,,,,,,2,3,2,1,,,,,,1,,,,1,,1,1,2,2,1,1,4,4,4,3,1,2,1,2,1,3,,, 06/12/03 11:05,3,2,5,,1,,,4,1,2,2,2,1,,2,1,2,4,4,4,2,1,1,2,1,2,2,2,2,1,1,2,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,,,1,1,1,3,4,3,1,,,1,,,,,A place for students who don t fit in other places.,,,1,3,1,2,2,1,1,1,2,2,3,2,2,3,2,3,4,I. 19 There are no student community service projects. II. Communication home especially to new families to all but non existent III. I am concerned that teachers receive adequate training for the upcoming next grade level. If the teachers are receiving training no one tells us. IV. Another issue of communication: The issue of theft of student property was never addressed. V. There was a very serious and negative letter to the Editor of The Saratogian after the May Day Festival . Yet there was no response to the larger community or to the Saratogian or to the person who wrote the letter to The Saratogian to see what could be done to improve our image in the community. Please note: These are just my impressions as someone who has been part of the community for 7 years.,, 06/13/03 10:01,1,2,3,,,,1,3,2,1,1,2,1,Year to year assessment of each child s learning environment and progress. More discipline and slightly more upgraded academic expectations would be nice.,4,5,4,4,3,4,3,3,2,5,1,2,2,2,3,2,2,3,1,2,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,2,2,3,1,,1,,,1,1,,child centered artsy,,1,,2,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,3,2,3,3,5,,, 06/16/03 10:51,3,3,9,1,,,1,3,1,1,1,3,3,the decision making process of the larger school which often disenfranchises and or invalidates the parents and school community such as renaming the school ; difficulty of school in coping with conflict resolution especially between teacher and parents; lack of voice for student body grades 7th and up .,2,2,5,4,1,2,3,2,1,3,3,2,2,2,2,1,1,3,1,3,3,3,3,1,1,1,,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,1,,1,,,,,,,,,3,1,1,2,1,2,3,4,2,3,2,2,2,3,3,4,I have had different experiences with each of my 3 children so some of my answers are not able to reflect that range. Also re 37 I want to encourage the curriculum to reflect more Native American studies especially as our region is steeped in the culture and history. Thank you for creating this instrument and seeking more feedback from the parents!,, 06/16/03 12:32,2,3,12,1,,,1,4,1,1,1,2,1,PLEASE SEE QUESTION 58 ,4,1,4,3,4,2,5,4,3,2,2,2,3,2,3,3,1,3,1,1,2,3,1,2,2,,,,,,1,3,2,1,,,,,1,1,,,,,,3,1,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,3,1,1,2,We have a child enrolled in Christine Sylvio s 4th grade class. While we have tremendous admiration for her and believe that she cares deeply about each student we are gravely concerened about the blatant disrespect for her as an authority figure. Some of the children are down right rude to her. They seldom listen to her correction and often times the classroom is unruly. We are very concerned because we do not want our child who I believe tries his best to be obedient to her to learn that people in authority are to be mocked and ignored. We have been seriously considering removing him from the class in an attempt to put him in a situatuion where he will learn to respect authority. Again we LOVE Christine and feel badly for her in this situation but MUST look out for our son s well being. We are also concerned that his math and handwriting skills seem to be farther behind than they should be.,, 06/16/03 16:33,1,1,1000,,1,,,4,1,2,2,3,3,,2,3,5,4,3,3,5,3,3,4,1,1,2,2,3,1,1,2,1,3,3,3,9,3,2,,,,,,2,3,2,1,,,1,,1,1,,,,,1,2,1,1,1,1,2,3,1,4,4,1,4,2,1,3,5,,, 06/23/03 08:05,1,1,7,,,,1,,1,2,3,3,1,,4,4,4,4,4,2,4,4,3,5,1,2,3,3,3,3,3,1,1,1,3,3,9,9,2,,,,,,3,2,3,1,,,1,,,,,A lot of people object to the lack of reading in lower grades. I think this also promotes the non academic image.,,,,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,4,2,1,1,4,2,4,My daughter recently completed her first year at Waldorf. While she has always been an excellent student she is now a happy one as well. Thank you for having a school where students are challenged with life experiences spelunking strengthened by a warm social environment and enriched by an academic program with a strong interdisciplinary approach. ,, 06/23/03 08:50,3,1,11,,1,,,2,1,2,2,1,1,,4,2,2,5,2,2,1,2,2,4,1,2,2,2,2,2,1,3,3,2,1,3,3,1,2,,,,,,,,3,1,1,,,,,,,,,,1,3,2,1,2,1,2,,1,3,3,3,2,2,2,3,4,Inconsistent Arbitrary Teachers are not united Too critical,2, 06/23/03 09:03,3,3,9,1,,,1,5,1,1,1,3,1,,4,5,5,4,1,4,4,2,1,5,2,2,1,3,3,2,,3,2,3,3,3,3,1,2,,,,,1,2,3,3,,1,,1,,1,,,lacking in structure and discipline for students,,,1,2,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,2,2,2,2,1,4,2,5,I am very pround to be an active member of this school communtiy. My children in Waldorf education are receiving a superior education to public school students as my background is in that public system. There is more that we can do to improve what we have and how we do things but we are definitely growing and moving in all the right directions. Thank you to this committee for providing the chance to give feedback. This is an example of moving in that right direction.,, 06/23/03 09:05,1,1,11,,,,1,2,1,,1,,,,5,4,5,4,4,4,5,5,3,5,2,3,3,3,3,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,1,,,,,2,,,,,,1,,, liberal children of 70 s parents I thinks that s positive but others may not,,,,4,1,1,2,1,1,1,4,4,4,1,,1,1,2,5,I m surprised that the survey doesn t address what seems to be the most serious issue the lack of ethnic diversity on staff and among the student populations: all teachers are white males of European ethicity!! Also why have somewhat satified and very satisfied as only positive responses? How about somewhat generally very satisfied? Somewhat sounds too minimal.,, 06/23/03 09:10,2,2,100,,1,,,4,1,2,2,3,2,The disorganization of the school in general and the haphazard approach handling finances. Lack of a viable growth plan. The academic quality varies wildly. Lack of individual student attention. Teachers seeming resistence to listen to parents concerns and recommendations. ,1,2,4,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,2,1,2,1,1,3,,2,1,2,,2,3,9,9,1,,1,,1,1,3,3,1,1,,1,,,,,promises more than it delivers,,1,1,3,,3,3,,2,3,2,3,3,2,3,,3,1,1,In theory the Waldorf approach is great. In reality it has a long way to go. I worry that it seems stuck in time around 1930 to be exact. If Steiner were alive I m betting these schools would be more progressive and would have evolved much more than they have. I wonder if part of the problem is the static nature of trying to keep everything to the letter of the Steiner philosophy instead of being more forward thinking. There s much about the philosophy and the school that s good. But boy is there room for improvement,, 06/23/03 11:00,1,1,8,,,1,,,1,2,2,3,2,My only concern is that the parents are NOT kept abreast as to what the children are doing in school and or when they will be out of the building. Permission is NEVER requested. In these times that IS an issue for me.,5,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,4,,,4,4,4,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,9,9,9,,,,,,1,2,2,1,1,,,,,1,,,,,,2,1,1,4,4,4,1,2,4,4,4,4,3,4,2,3,,, 06/23/03 22:24,2,1,8,,,1,,3,3,2,2,1,1,,2,2,4,4,2,2,4,2,1,4,1,2,2,1,2,4,1,3,2,2,2,3,3,1,1,1,,1,1,1,2,3,2,1,,,,,1,1,,,,,,2,2,1,2,1,2,1,2,2,2,1,4,2,4,1,5,this took more than 10 minutes.....,, 06/24/03 03:32,3,1,5,,1,,,4,1,2,2,1,1,,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4,2,,3,2,3,1,1,3,2,2,1,3,3,1,2,,,,1,1,2,3,2,,1,,1,,,,,,,1,1,2,2,1,2,1,1,,4,2,2,2,2,3,1,3,4,,2, 06/26/03 19:51,2,2,2,,1,,,1,1,1,1,2,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 06/30/03 06:49,2,1,100,,1,,,3,1,2,3,3,2,Beginning to feel that teachers feel compelled to burn themselves out. Not sure it s humanly possible or wise to expect teachers to teach 8 grades with all the multitude of subjects well. It s time for an administrator and a full time fundraiser. I hope the school wakes up and does more than some handwringing and leaving it up to things spiritually working out. God helps those who help themselves. Some intelligent consistent long term planning is desperately needed.,2,2,4,2,2,1,1,3,1,2,1,2,1,1,2,2,,2,1,3,3,2,3,9,9,,,,,,1,3,3,,1,,1,,1,,,,,,1,3,4,3,2,,2,,2,3,3,2,3,1,3,1,2,,2, 06/30/03 14:57,3,1,12,,1,,,5,1,2,2,1,1,,2,4,4,4,2,1,5,4,2,5,3,1,2,2,2,2,1,3,2,2,2,3,2,9,9,,,1,,,,,3,,1,,,,1,,,,,1,1,2,1,1,2,1,1,,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,3,5,Better language follow thru would be nice. Really check to see that all math skills are covered by 12th grade. More emphasis on quality of writing including spelling grammar etc. And lots more practice writing from 5th grade up!,2, 07/03/03 19:03,2,,100,,,,,4,1,2,2,2,1,general disorganizataion confused and or inconsistent fiscal and administrative policies very concerned about run down condition of school ,1,3,4,2,1,1,1,3,2,2,2,1,2,2,2,3,,2,2,3,3,2,3,9,1,1,,1,1,1,1,3,3,,,,1,,1,,,,,,1,3,4,3,2,4,3,3,3,3,3,2,3,1,3,1,2,There are days when the whole thing sounds better on paper than in reality. Beginning to feel like the teachers are out of touch with the real world which affects their ability to make wise choices that affect our children s future ability to be prepared for what they will face. Teachers appear overburdened and worn out. It s time for an administrator.,, 07/03/03 20:09,1,1,4,,,1,,2,1,,,,,,4,3,4,3,1,4,4,3,2,4,2,2,2,2,3,1,1,3,3,3,2,3,,,,,,,,,2,2,,,,,,,,,,,,,,2,1,2,1,2,2,1,4,2,2,4,4,1,2,1,5,The after school program and the children in it would benefit from a designated space that could be developed with the children in mind. Would create a more comfortable homey feel for the children and hopefully the teacher! . I am somewhat concerned that my child s class teacher does not do summer training to prepare for the upcoming year. I feel he may not be aware of the age appropriate educational goals for the class and does not have the opportunity to meet with and trade ideas with other teachers in that grade. ,, 07/07/03 21:03,2,2,11,,,,1,4,3,1,1,2,1,,4,4,5,3,4,3,,4,3,5,2,2,2,1,,3,3,3,1,2,,3,,,2,,,,,,3,1,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3,1,1,1,1,1,1,,4,4,,2,3,,3,5,There should be an I don t care option. For some questions it is not that I m not sure how I feel about something but I just don t give a hoot. You should know whether your respondant doesn t have an opinion I m not sure or has an opinion that the question is irrelevant. Also for some questions I would answer very differently for one child than for the other there isn t an average answer btween one child who loves handwrok and one who hates it one who has friends and one who struggles socially etc. One of the children for whom I am responding is not legally part of my family. Therefore the income financial aid etc don t make any sense. Our income is adequate to pay full tuition. We also pay half tuition for a child whose legal family has nearly no income. How to you compile that answer? These are comments on the questionare not on the school.,, 07/09/03 22:15,1,2,3,,,,1,,1,2,,2,1,,2,4,5,5,2,4,5,3,1,4,1,3,2,1,2,3,3,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,3,2,,,,,,,1,,,,,1,3,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,3,2,3,3,5,,, 07/09/03 22:20,2,2,1,,1,,,5,1,2,2,2,1,,2,3,4,2,1,2,3,1,1,4,3,2,4,2,1,3,1,3,2,3,2,3,9,9,9,,,,,,4,4,2,1,1,,1,,1,1,,,,1,1,2,1,1,4,1,1,,2,3,3,2,2,3,3,2,4,,2, 07/09/03 22:29,1,1,12,,,,1,5,1,2,2,1,1,,4,3,5,2,2,1,5,3,1,5,2,2,2,1,3,3,2,3,1,1,3,2,9,9,9,,,,,,,,2,1,1,,,,1,,, open classroom experimental,,,1,2,1,4,1,1,2,1,4,4,2,2,4,1,4,1,5, study hall time for HS students where teachers are accessible is needed. A child in HS who fails a main lesson if absent and teacher is unable to fit in time for supplemental study and reliance on fellow students to teach new concepts in a comprehensive manner is unrealistic. I realize all that is asked of Waldorf teachers but the main lesson block system lends itself to failure when illness interrupts.,, 07/10/03 09:15,1,3,3,,,1,,5,1,2,2,1,1,,2,3,5,5,4,2,3,3,3,4,1,2,2,3,3,2,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,,3,3,3,1,1,,1,,1,,,,,,1,3,1,2,1,1,1,,1,1,2,3,2,2,1,1,5,,2, 07/11/03 14:20,3,1,11,,,1,,1,1,1,1,2,1,,5,4,5,5,1,5,5,5,4,5,3,2,3,1,3,3,1,3,3,3,3,3,2,2,2,,,,,1,,,3,1,,,1,,,,,artsy,,,1,2,1,1,1,2,2,1,2,2,2,2,1,3,4,1,5,Please offer next year s Journal on E mail. It is a trial to get it from Main Lesson teachers. Worked well when V. Reamer handed out last year. Every week this is a problem to get Journal from teachers. Also wish the HS had a required recorder playing time...good group effort and wish that my child was using recorder. Also suggesting idea of recorder ensemble. Wish the front main HS office had a bit more friendly nature VR with less stress. Very grateful for Mr. Whittle s after school tutoring class this year. Wish this service was more available as my child needed this and really benefited from it. Also feel that there is more disrespect in the classroom student to student than I would like to see in my child s class.,, 07/14/03 13:46,2,1,1000,,1,,,1,1,2,3,2,1,,5,5,5,4,4,5,5,5,5,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 07/31/03 22:32,3,2,9,,1,,,4,3,2,2,1,1,,4,2,4,5,1,4,5,4,2,4,3,2,2,2,2,3,1,3,3,3,1,3,2,2,2,,,1,,,3,2,3,1,,1,,,1,1,,,,,1,2,2,1,2,1,1,1,1,2,2,1,2,2,1,1,5,,,