In reply to mtn :
I'm not going to try and explain the difference as I'm not really qualified and it would take pages. Suffice to say, from the outside they are very similar, but from the inside they are totally different. Both use activities, stories, myths, hands on experiential learning to teach. Critics say there is not enough academics and it comes in too late. The truth is that children adsorb, learn and most importantly learn to observe and question at a young age. These skills teach them science, the humanities etc. without the children get board or distracted. Instead they lap it up and are eager for more. I fell it turns out intelligent questioning adults rather than tread mill automatons. Waldorf the fastest growing education system in the world, although not here in the US. I think that's because here we are addicted to test, test, test as the answer, despite evidence to the contrary. Also the founder of Waldorf education was Rudolph Steiner who also founded the philosophical movement 'Anthroposophy' which is closely aligned to Theosophy which can be quite contentious. There is a lot of religious fables used in and religious celebrations and holidays observed. This is not to say it's a religious school though, it isn't. I'm known here as an atheist, which I am. That does not mean I don't recognize the lessons in the allegory of many religions and their teaching, in fact that's what I see religion as, an allegory to help people understand the world we live in.. I'm obviously convinced by the education, I feel it's the best way for kids to learn. You or others may not. That's fine. But I would urge those who are looking for something outside of public education to look closely at it.
