dont want to step on any toes, just offering an opnion is all. i dont have children of this age as yet, just going by what i have seen in other children.

i know three children well who have been enrolled in steiner kinders or schools and all three of them are very naughty children. as in loud, obnoxious, not sharing, hitting etc. etc. i like the theory's behind the school, but when the children are screaming at their taechers or classmates and the response is, "now how do you think that behaviour makes me feel?" i dont think the children identify with that kind of teaching well enough. Given, all three children are extremely smart, but they have no social skills whatsover because they are not taught them, and i think this is important eraly on.
If the parents don't live some of the Steiner philosphy at home than the school isn't going to perform miracles - no school will!

Steiner schools are not just private schools that teaches them a certain lifestyle, it enhances what you as parents already teach them at home. As far as your experience with the naughty children, all I can say is that nobody is perfect and surely there will be some 'bad apples' in every crop.

However, overall the Steiner schools are an excellent choice, provided you remember what I said to begin with. I went to a Steiner Kindergarten, then years 1, 2 and 8 because we lived away from Steiner schools at the other times. Yet, those three years of school were better for me than any other schooling I had.

My daughter is going to a Steiner playgroup in a large Steiner school and all the children there are well behaved, respectful and friendly. Very unlike some of the children I see at my local playground, who fight, argue, hit etc. But as I said before, if you start at home, teach them love and respect for others then it's the right place for them.