Alice Springs parents strive to establish new homeschool hub for Stiener highschool education

A GROUP of passionate parents are going to great lengths to see their kids are provided an alternative secondary education opportunity

The Alice Springs Steiner High School Action Group was established this year to explore avenues to provide a Steiner education from Year 9 in 2021 extending to Year 12 in the coming years.

A GROUP of passionate Alice Springs parents are trying to raise funds to establish a Steiner (Waldorf) high school homeschooling hub after the school announced they were not able to provide classes beyond Year 8.

The parents intend to establish the Steiner Senior Education Ayepe Hub (SSEA Hub) and employ a registered teacher to lead the Year 9 class in 2021.

The Alice Springs Steiner High School Action Group was established this year to explore avenues to provide a Steiner education from Year 9 in 2021 extending to Year 12 in the coming years, after the Alice Springs Steiner announced in April that due to a lack of funds the school was no longer able to continue education beyond Year 8.

Steiner Education Australia described the education as “a holistic learning environment that is oriented towards moral growth, social consciousness and citizenship”.

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Subjects are set out in a curriculum and up until the age of 12 or 13 students are taught by one teacher.

From the age of 13, specialist teachers are brought in to teach subjects.

A GoFundMe page, Make Alice Springs Steiner senior School Education Happen, has been set up to raise funds to finance a learning venue, teachers and transport for Year 9, 2021 and beyond.

Mother of three Erin Maitland, whose two sons are enrolled in Alice Springs Steiner, said there was some “stigma” associated with school.

“People don’t know what we’re about and because of that people shy away from us,” Ms Maitland said.

“I do understand it’s not for everyone, just like mainstream is not for everyone.

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“Steiner looks at the individual child and where they are at in their life and what they need, they work on that and then they find their strengths and work on that.”

Parent Sita Hergarten said it was “very exciting that we are a part of this new endeavour into creating an environment for many children to be able to continue their Waldorf/Steiner high school education.”