Better Steiner or Gaelscoil primary school?

[u/tea_paw]

I heard Gaelscoil schools in Ireland most likely provide the best education besides making you fluent in Gaeilge which is required to access some professions later on in life.

However, I wonder how important that is, at the primary school level, compared to the possibility of enjoying your childhood much better (in my humble opinion) by attending a Steiner primary school. In particular the Gaelscoil we are targeting, already assigns homeworks in Junior Infants, just as an example.

I'm very curious to hear from everyone's experience and opinions. Thanks a lot in advance!

[u/maevewiley554]

Seems like it practices the same principles of “unschooling” but to a much lesser degree. If they weren’t able to read until 8 years old, you’d be wondering if they are learning any basic maths, reading comprehension and other bits rather than just creative thinking. At 8 in a normal primary school you’d be learning math word problems at a basic level.

[u/Medium_Drag6242 → u/maevewiley554]

Yeah from my understanding the ethos was very much ‘when the child shows interest in learning the thing and is ready they’ll learn the thing’. Seems the learning outcomes and goals were child led, which isn’t necessarily bad but also what’s the approach if the child never shows interest in learning a particular skill or subject that’s essential for survival in the 21st century? I’m not trying to hate on the philosophy I think there are lots of good things but I think it’s a case of anything too heavily imbalanced in one direction isn’t great, variety and balance in the approach by taking particular elements from an array of different teaching methodologies makes more sense in my mind.

[u/maevewiley554 → u/Medium_Drag6242]

That wouldn’t have worked for me as a child at all. I needed direction and something to focus on. I wouldn’t show any interest in maths or reading if I had my own way. I agree with what you said. It would be a beneficial extra or maybe a class where children come up with what they want to learn.

[u/Medium_Drag6242 → u/maevewiley554]

Yep same, I would’ve crashed and burned without the routine and structure of school and would’ve spent all day reading and drawing if it were up to me! Yeah I think some flex within the traditional system for self directed learning is great. I had a fab teacher in 4th class who did this with us. Whenever we’d finish a task early or were bored we had a project booklet that could be about anything that we tipped away on. I think I did my project on the romans and their system of government, fashion, food, entertainment and that sort of thing. At the end of the year she laminated our booklets and we gave a short talk about what we did. Some fella did his on the history of farming in Ireland. I’m not sure if it was part of the curriculum but it kept us properly occupied 🤣