MADAM – If Dr Richard House (letters, July 23) really believes that mainstream education is responsible for a good deal of mental illness, then would it not be better to reform those aspects which he believes are damaging, rather than promoting divisive schooling based on a pseudo-scientific cult?
Dr House neglects to mention that as well as being an educational consultant he is also a Steiner school teacher and pro-Steiner campaigner.
Nonetheless we can agree that mainstream schools are subjected to excessive testing, which does put pressure on staff and pupils alike.
But lets not perpetuate the myth that Steiner schools are child-centred havens free from pressure.
You do not need to look far to find evidence of pressure to conform to the Steiner ideal.
So yes, education can be improved but Steiner is not the answer nor is a crude smear campaign against mainstream schools.
Jim Watson Selsley
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