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There are serious problems at the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay, in Palm Harbor, Florida. This blog is intended to serve as a resource for anyone seeking to understand the story that continues to unfold there. Approximately half of the families that were enrolled in the grades at the school during the 2022-2023 school year will not be returning . A similar exodus happened at the school only four years ago, an event that prompted the school to change its name from the Suncoast Waldorf School. What is going on at this school?
Many former parents would have benefitted from understanding the problems at The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay and saved themselves , and their children, the emotional and financial punishment that resulted from enrolling in this school. We hope that our story will help you make an informed decision if you are considering enrolling at the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay.
What is it Like to be a Parent at the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay?
Who Makes Decisions at the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay?
This summer, 19 students from 10 families, were expelled from the school. These were not "problem" children. The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay has refused to provide any of the families with rationale for why they were expelled other than "Adult Communication". The school has maintained that they have a right to expel anyone at anytime without providing cause or returning tuition. See here for the "Dear Parent" letter of expulsion. The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay is claiming right to over $250,000 of tuition for services not rendered.
All of the children who were expelled were from families that expressed concern about The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay's announcement of the hiring of the new first grade teacher. This is always a big deal for parents, but it's a much bigger deal for Waldorf parents. Waldorf schools practice what is known as "looping": the teacher that begins with the 1st grade class follows the class all the way through 8th grade. So, the class teacher is effectively a co-parent of the children in their classroom. As the old Suncoast website used to say: "...your child's needs do not come from a textbook but from the heart of the teacher..."
In the final week of school, the school administration announced the name of the new 1st grade teacher. This person was a surprise to the parents, as they were not allowed to participate in the selection process and were told repeatedly to "trust" that the school would make the very best choice for their children. The selection that the administration made was for an artist whose 'art' includes promotion of fantasies of violence against children and animals among other disturbing content. This is worth repeating with detail: this "art" included fantasies of burning children, twisting the head off of a cat, death threats against people not wearing masks during Covid, expressions of a desire to see an epileptic killed and fantasies of having sex with a teacher.
Take a moment to read a sample of the letters that were sent to the school by the expelled families: here, here and here. These are respectful letters written from a place of deep concern.
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