Choosing a school that suits you is not easy! What are the characteristics of the most important forms of education and for whom are the forms of education suitable?
How do I choose the right school?
There are already a lot of sites where information can be found about a particular form of education, but despite this it is often difficult for parents/guardians to determine from that information whether a particular form of education suits them or not. This article not only contains brief descriptions of the most important types of education in the Netherlands without passing judgment. There are also a number of points that can provide more clarity about whether that type of school is suitable for you or not.
- Montessori school: individual development and independence
- Dalton school: independence, cooperation and limited freedom
- Jenaplanschool: collaboration and creativity
- Freinetschool: Individual development, freedom and interaction
- Waldorf School: inner development
- Elkewijsschool: complete freedom
Montessori school: individual development and independence
In Montessori education, children work as independently as possible. They often use materials developed by the Italian educational reformer Maria Montessori. Preschoolers are often allowed to choose what they do, for example drawing, building blocks or learning to write. The older children are given daily or weekly tasks. These must be completed at a certain time, but the students can choose where and when they do a certain assignment and also whether they do it alone or whether they work together. The teacher (in Montessori terms: leader or leader) determines which assignments a child receives; she or he monitors the development of each individual child as closely as possible so that she or he provides the right things. A child at a Montessori school therefore always works at his or her own level. It cannot be ahead or behind the group, what matters is that the child itself progresses. A group at a Montessori school often consists of children of different ages.
In short, a Montessori school suits you and your child
- Considers individual development important and believes that every child should progress at their own level, pace and interests.
- I think it is important that children quickly become independent.
- Considers a lot of freedom good, but believes that freedom should not be unlimited; There must be rules and deadlines within which certain assignments must be made.
But not if you
- You want to make sure that your child has acquired a certain number of skills and facts before they reach a certain age.
- You want to make sure that your child works together a lot.
- You want your child to be in a group with all children his or her own age.
- You want your child to be taught in a classroom manner.
Dalton school: independence, cooperation and limited freedom
Children also work as independently as possible at a Dalton school. Children are given daily or weekly tasks that must be completed by the end of the day or week, but they can plan exactly when they will do the assignments. The assignments often offer less freedom than within Montessori education. There is often more information about how the assignment should be carried out. Collaboration is also mandatory much more often. The assignments are as appropriate as possible to the level of the child, but they are usually given slightly less importance than at a Montessori school. At a Dalton school, the children are usually in groups of the same age.
In short, a Dalton school is a good choice if you
- Considers independence important
- It is also important that your child works together a lot
- It’s good if your child gets some freedom, but not too much
- You think it is good that your child learns to plan
But not if you
- Want your child to receive classroom lessons
- Believes that children of different ages should sit together in the group.
- I think it is important that students can always decide for themselves whether they are going to work together or not.
Jenaplanschool: collaboration and creativity
The ideal of Jenaplan education is that children discover the world together by not only reading books but also by discovering and investigating things themselves. At a Jenaplan school, children of different ages sit together in a group. Cooperation between children of the same age and children of different ages is considered important. It is also important that all children are equal and can contribute to, for example, which themes are discussed (on the basis of which the children then conduct their research). This is evident in the many group discussions that take place at a Jenaplan school. Furthermore, the development of creativity and social-emotional skills is just as important as learning facts, reading, writing and arithmetic. At a Jenaplan school, the students usually work independently with daily or weekly tasks. They are given tasks that match their own level in subjects such as arithmetic and reading comprehension. At a Jenaplan school there is a (usually fixed) weekly schedule in which time for group discussions, independent work, working together on a theme, creative subjects and celebrations are alternated as best as possible.
A Jenaplan school is a good choice if you
- You want your child to develop as fully as possible in creative and social-emotional areas
- Want your child to have an investigative, curious attitude towards the world
- Your child will become confident in society in which he or she knows how to stand up for himself or herself and express his or her opinion.
- You find collaboration important.
But not if you
- You want to be sure that your child has learned a certain number of facts before he or she reaches a certain age.
- You want to have a good chance of having a very obedient child
- Considers rules, order, peace and structure at school to be of great importance
- You believe that learning arithmetic, reading and spelling should be the most important things at school.
- You want your child to receive classroom lessons.
Freinetschool: Individual development, freedom and interaction
A Freinet school is very similar to a Jenaplan school. A Jenaplan school often also combines ideas from Freinet education with its own education or vice versa. However, there are a number of differences. They have been developed by various educationalists; the Jenaplan by the German Peter Petersen and the Freinet by the French Célestin Freinet. At a Freinet school the children often work more individually. They also get more freedom. At some Freinet schools, children are never required to complete an assignment within a certain period. Children at a Freinet school also have a lot of say in the themes that are discussed. It is assumed that children encounter enough things to become interested in through their environment, at home, at school or wherever else. They can then find out things about this at school. They can propose a theme that they sometimes work on alone, sometimes in a small group that is also interested in the subject. Sometimes the entire class works on a theme if the topic appeals to the entire group. Many group discussions also take place at a Freinet school. In a group discussion, children can talk about what they are interested in and what they want to learn about, but also what problems they have, for example that certain items are not always put back in their place. A solution is then sought in the discussion with the entire group. The students’ work is also discussed in the group discussions. On the one hand, people at a Freinet school consider it important that children develop individually, on the other hand, interaction between children is important. Children of different ages sit together in a group.
A Freinet school suits you well if you…
- You want your child to be able to develop individually.
- You don’t want your child to have to spend too much time at school.
- Can learn about things it is interested in.
- He or she should know what he/she is doing, when, where and how.
- You also find interaction important and want your child to have a strong position in society in which he or she dares to express his or her opinion.
But not if you
- You want to be sure that your child has learned a certain number of facts before he or she reaches a certain age.
- You want to have a good chance of having an obedient child.
- Considers rules, order, peace and structure at school to be of great importance.
- You believe that learning arithmetic, reading and spelling should be the most important things at school.
- You want your child to receive classroom lessons.
Waldorf School: inner development
At the Free School, the development of the entire person is stimulated: the head (thinking), the heart (feeling) and the hands (making). This is done in the anthroposophical manner as prescribed by Rudolf Steiner. Until the age of seven, children experience the good as much as possible. In a kindergarten class at a Waldorf School, children are allowed to do everything except learn (think with their heads). The atmosphere in the nursery class is warm, safe and living room-like. We play and craft with natural materials such as wood and wool. Rhythm and repetition are considered important at the Vrije School, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Between the ages of seven and fourteen, children at the Free School are introduced to the beautiful. This is done in a classical manner. If possible, the teacher will remain with the class during this entire period. A close-knit class often develops and the teacher gets to know all the children well, although the situation in the Netherlands is usually such that the children attend the Free Primary School with the same teacher until the age of 12, and then move on to a Free School for secondary education or a regular secondary school. The children receive lessons in periods of 3 to 4 weeks. During a period, the first hours of the morning are devoted to a specific subject, such as language, arithmetic or geography. After these hours there are professional lessons in all kinds of creative and musical subjects. These classes are at the same time every week. During the lessons, attention is always paid to the beautiful, whether something is true is of less importance. Between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one, truth will be most important according to anthroposophy. Stories and parties are also very important at a Waldorf School. Every day at the Free School a story is told that is appropriate for the age of the children. There are many celebrations that come back every year. During these festivals, spirituality is important and people are reminded of the divine.
The Vrije School is a good choice if you
- Want your child to be part of a close-knit group.
- You want your child to be taught by a teacher who gets to know him or her well.
- I think it is important that the whole person is developed at school, not just the mind.
- Classroom education is better than independent, individual work.
- You do not want your child to come into contact with modern media such as computers too early.
- I think it is important that your child only has to learn things when he or she is ready for it and does not have to meet all kinds of requirements as a toddler.
- Want your child to grow up with respect for spirituality, nature, art and craftsmanship.
But not if you
- You want your child to be free to choose what to do at school all the time.
- I think it is important that your child learns to read and write at school as a toddler, if he or she wants to.
- You want your child to be taught by a different person throughout the years.
- You want your child to become independent as early as possible.
- You want your child to have the opportunity to work individually and to plan what to do and when.
- Believes that children should develop cognitively as early and as best as possible.
- You want to be sure that your child can learn at his own pace and at his own level, even if that level is much higher or lower than the group average.
- Want your child to have things explained in many different ways, not just Rudolf Steiner’s way.
Elkewijsschool: complete freedom
There are also schools where children can always decide for themselves what they are doing: the Elkewijs schools. At these schools, students never have to meet a certain standard. They never have to complete certain tasks within a certain period. They only have to learn things if they want to. So it is never said now you have to do this, but wouldn’t you also like to learn to write your name? Children ask for lessons from their supervisors or other children if they want to learn something, or they find out for themselves. An Elkewijsschool consists of one group in which everyone is equal. A meeting is often held several times a week to discuss what everyone is doing and what problems there are. From the age of four, the children have as much say as anyone else, including the supervisors. The meeting is often the only thing that is mandatory. Furthermore, there are usually some basic rules, such as you don’t hit each other and you don’t break things on purpose.
An Elkwijsschool is suitable if you
- Want your child to learn according to his or her own interests.
- You want your child to be able to choose what they want to do at school, where, when, how and to decide for themselves whether they want help with something or not.
- I think it is important that your child learns that everyone is equal.
- Want your child to be around children of all ages all day long.
- You want your child to have little or nothing to do.
- Believes that children should never have to meet certain requirements.
But not if you
- Rules, order, peace and structure are important.
- Believes that freedom should not be too unlimited.
- Believes that children should obey adults, even if they disagree.
- Want to be certain about what will be on the school curriculum in the near future and about what your child will learn.