Testimonial From the 1990s

By Dr Iris Duhn

a note from Australia from a former kindy teacher at the school, who also had two children there. My daughter was bullied by her class teacher (a Mr Thompson) at the time (yes, one of my colleagues) and we had similar experiences with the school pretending that we were the ones with the problem. I have nasty memories of that time, as has my daughter. There was (and by the looks of it still is) a culture of bullying a the school which was so at odds with the 'public' face and the overall mission. Sad to hear that your daughter suffered at the school and sad that nothing seems to have changed.

I was there between 1990 and 1996. This particular episode happened '94/'95. I think this kind of behaviour is deeply embedded in the school culture. I am inclined to go one step further and make this an issue that is somehow specific to Steiner Ed because the School in Christchurch had definite bullying problems (we tried the school when we moved to Chch) that were completely ignored. Both of my daughters have sad and disturbing stories to tell.