Pasadena Waldorf School

My child spent 5 years at the school with 2 wonderful teachers. Unfortunately 1 very bad teacher changed everything for us. The problems we faced we faced alone. There was no support for parents no leadership at the school that was willing to do anything about this horrific teacher. The administration was of no help at all. Sadly this teacher is still employed even though the class has lost a half dozen students.

Our child is in the first freshman class at the new Pasadena Waldorf High School and we are more than delighted with the quality of education she is receiving so far. All of the teachers appear to be highly qualified educators who are very attuned to the developmental needs of adolescents. The students LOVE learning which says a great deal about the quality of instruction. The curriculum itself is academically challenging using original sources (such as reading Sophocles & Shakespeare) rather than textbooks in the humanities. This is an education that will prepare students expertly for college and beyond.

Wow I am amazed at how one teacher can dominate the school and cause massive trouble for our family! The school is run by the College of Teachers with no administrative check or balance. Literally one teacher has caused us so much trouble and no other teacher or administrator has had the courage to say its not right. We are *very* disappointed and feel this school does not "walk the talk" of Rudolf Steiner's values or vision.

Ultimately as a parent it is our responsibility to protect our children from all forms of misconduct whether by their peers or by those in authority (i.e. teachers). It is unfortunate that it only takes 1 or 2 people to spoil the whole idea of a safe and nurturing environment for our children. After 5 years we are happily away from Pasadena Waldorf and the insidious and ridiculous system called the College of Teachers.

This school has been the most amazing journey for my children AND for us! My children have a sense of reverence and respect; they not only have achieved academic excellence but they actually care about and love to learn. The arts are now a deep part of their souls and infuse their lives -- and I'm certain that is for the rest of their lives. They have been given a clear sense of themselves and a sense of the interconnectedness of all things and all academic subjects. What a gift! Thank you PWS for this incredible education.

Its true that your Waldorf experience depends deeply on the teacher your child has for 8 years. We liked our teacher but ultimately the College of Teachers Leadership Group is the body that runs the school and we found them horribly self-serving political secretive and unprofessional. They care more about their authoritarian grip on power than about the students. Problem teachers are protected and its the kids who are forced out. Sad and frustrating.

I would not trade my children's Waldorf education for anything. The thing about Waldorf is that it truly honors the individual child and does not seek to make them fit into a box or teach to the test. These kids come out confident engaged and engaging individuals. Some parents talk about the need to hire tutors...I have two kids who have gone through and do not need tutors...you can be in public school or other private schools and need tutors. Is PWS the perfect school? No of course not. Like any school some teachers are better than others and there are things that need to be addressed. But overall this is a unique approach to education where the emphasis is on deep engagement and creative thinking to enable each child to reach their full capabilities and be forces of social change not just be taught to the test.

What am amazing school. My children were valued and learned more about *everything* there than can be imagined. Music art literature poetry singing math science handwork neighborhood games foreign languages - my children are interested in it *all*!

PWS was a wonderful experience for our family. I am the parent of two graduates both attended from kindergarten through eighth grade and I am so impressed with who they are now as teenagers. They know themselves more than I knew myself at their ages and they appear to be moving through adolescence gracefully. Academically they have different strengths and weaknesses (don't we all?) and each is doing well in high school - I regret we didn't send them to a Waldorf high school though I really believe Waldorf offers a deeper education. When we started at PWS I didn't realize how important the school community would be for our family...it was a busy eleven years filled with interesting activities and we still enjoy participating when we can we're Elves' Faire lifers!

Pasadena Waldorf School has a fairy tale approach to life and does not prepare children for the real world. The school's administration has no oversight and teachers are free to instruct and discipline children any way they see fit. My children had to be tutored after leaving Waldorf just to catch up with mainstream society. The campus is beautiful and the ideals are romantic. The story telling and performances are fun but do not begin to educate children in today's complex world. There are some valuable lessons being taught but negated by the fact that a child cannot write correctly or spell. There is no test taking and no monitoring of the educational process. Waldorf creates it's own rules and changes them on a whim. I would not recommend this school to anyone who takes their child's education seriously.

I feel so fortunate that we could be part of this community for the past two years. Our daughter has received tender and attentive care of the most authentic and inspired quality. Consciousness depth purposefulness and goodness abound. Our world needs more of this. May Waldorf schools flourish so that all those who want to take part in this great movement in education are able to.

I have 3 children at Pasadena Waldorf School and their experiences love of learning appreciation for others and the world around them is a treasure to behold. I have spent 32 years in public education as a teacher and administrator and not a day goes by that I don't wish we could do more of the Waldorf approaches to education in the public school setting. The Waldorf approach is one that helps create individuals that will be prepared for an unkown future. Be prepared for continual parental involvement because it is the union of school and community that makes the Waldorf system work for students.

The intentions are good but it falls far short of it's goals.

This is a great school. We have 3 children at the school and are amazed everyday that they want to go to school. My 5th grader has missed maybe 3 days in 5 years. I hope you can say that for your kids. Unless you have to be on the fast track why not give yourself a break and check out our greast school.

I am not sure the Waldorf model works in today's multicultural environment. Having the same teacher from K-8 sounds romantic but it is rare to find an individual with a skill set that can meet a child's needs over 9 years of education. Parental involvement is very high and the atmosphere is nurturing. I would not recommend a Waldorf Education unless you are prepared to supplement your child's education w/ tutors and other outlets for both academic and sporting activities.

After having my daughter at this school for 5 years I pulled her out. They have lost most of their good teachers and there is no oversight on poor performing teachers. We most definitely would not recommend it for a quality educaton.

My daughter attended Pasadena Waldorf School from kindergarten through eighth grade. Students from her graduating eighth grade class were accepted into a variety of high schools including Westridge L.A. County High School for the Arts LaSalle Mayfield Sacred Heart Maranatha Alverno and St. Francis and two decided to continue with their Waldorf education at Highland Hall's high school even though it is located far from Pasadena in the San Fernando Valley. My daughter had a beautiful positive experience at PWS that prepared her well for high school and for a happy life. She is a fine thinking young woman with a clear sense of herself and compassion for others. These qualities were nurtured by PWS. The school community is loving and our family has many wonderful memories of our time there. I highly recommend that parents investigate Waldorf education for their children.

Pasadena Waldorf School is a competent and even excellent institution for the Waldorf education system. Children are eminently happy deeply nurtured and profoundly educated. Much depends however on the individual teacher since the school like all Waldorf schools has no administration to hold teachers accountable. If one is concerned about competitiveness in the rat race of modern life Waldorf is not the choice for you. If one is concerned with raising creative confident and surprisingly calm young people Waldorf is the choice for you.